How long does a DACA renewal take in 2026?

Most renewals are decided within one to four months of filing, but processing times fluctuate and some cases take longer, especially if USCIS schedules new biometrics or issues a request for evidence. That is why USCIS recommends filing 120 to 150 days before your expiration date. We check current processing times when we file and let you know if your case falls outside them so we can request a follow-up.

Is DACA still available for renewals in Texas?

As of this writing, yes: USCIS continues to accept and decide renewal requests from current and recent DACA recipients, including those living in El Paso and elsewhere in Texas. The DACA program remains in litigation, and a future court order could change how renewals or work permits are handled for Texas residents. We follow those developments closely and will tell you the current rules at your consultation rather than guessing.

Can I apply for DACA for the first time?

Under the current court orders USCIS accepts initial DACA requests but is not allowed to approve them, so a first-time filing does not provide protection or a work permit right now. We do not recommend paying a fee to file an initial request unless the rules change. If you have never had DACA, contact us anyway: many El Paso residents who would have qualified are eligible for other relief, such as a family petition, that can be pursued today.

Do I have to go to court or an interview to renew DACA?

No. DACA renewals are decided on paper by USCIS. There is no court, no judge and normally no interview. The only appointment you might have is a biometrics (fingerprint and photo) appointment at the Application Support Center in El Paso, and USCIS often reuses your prior biometrics instead. Everything else happens by mail or through your online USCIS account, which we help you set up and monitor.

How much does a DACA renewal cost in El Paso?

There are two parts: the USCIS filing fees for the I-821D and I-765, which are paid to the government and are not eligible for a fee waiver except in very limited circumstances, and our flat attorney fee, which we quote before you sign. Our fee covers preparation, record retrieval, filing and case tracking, and we do not charge extra if USCIS sends a request for evidence. We tell you the current government fees when you call.

DACA Renewal Lawyer El Paso

DACA Renewal in El Paso: File on Time, Keep Your Work Permit, Avoid Costly Mistakes

Flat-fee preparation and filing of your DACA renewal (I-821D and I-765) with a review of anything that has changed since your last approval, so your protection and work permit continue without a gap.

Last reviewed by Robert Andrew Navar, Esq. · State Bar of Texas

Thousands of young adults in El Paso grew up here, went to school here and work here under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). Every two years the grant of deferred action and the accompanying work permit must be renewed, and a late or rejected renewal can mean losing a job, a driver's license or a professional license overnight. Our DACA renewal service is built for working people who cannot afford that gap: we prepare the forms correctly, file within the window USCIS recommends, and watch the case until the new approval notice and employment authorization card arrive in your mailbox.

DACA was created by a 2012 Department of Homeland Security memorandum and later codified in a 2022 regulation at 8 C.F.R. Part 236, which has been the subject of ongoing litigation in the federal courts, including a challenge led by the State of Texas. As of this writing, USCIS continues to accept and process renewal requests, and grants of deferred action and work permits remain valid; first-time (initial) requests are accepted but are not being adjudicated. Because court orders can change what USCIS is allowed to do, particularly for Texas residents, we confirm the current status at your consultation and never assume last year's rules still apply. A renewal is filed on Form I-821D together with Form I-765 and the I-765 Worksheet.

A DACA renewal never involves a court or a judge. USCIS reviews the forms, may reuse your previous biometrics or schedule a new fingerprint appointment at the Application Support Center in El Paso, and mails the decision. So why hire a lawyer for a renewal? Because the form asks whether you have been arrested, charged, left the country, or changed your address, and a wrong answer, an unreported citation, or a filing sent to the wrong lockbox can lead to rejection or denial with no easy appeal. We also screen every renewal client for something better: many DACA recipients in El Paso have become eligible for a family green card or another status without knowing it.

When to file and what happens if your DACA expires

USCIS recommends filing a renewal 120 to 150 days before your current DACA expires. Filing earlier than that can cause USCIS to hold the request; filing later risks a gap. If your DACA lapsed less than one year ago you can still file as a renewal. If it expired more than a year ago, or was terminated, USCIS treats the request as an initial filing, which is not currently being adjudicated, so timing matters more than ever. Your work permit is not automatically extended while a DACA renewal is pending, which is why we file at the front of the window and track the receipt.

Arrests, tickets and travel since your last renewal

DACA guidelines disqualify people with a felony, a significant misdemeanor, or three or more other misdemeanors, and USCIS can deny for public safety concerns in its discretion. Minor traffic tickets usually do not count, but a DWI does, and an El Paso Municipal Court case that was dismissed still has to be disclosed with certified records. Leaving the United States without advance parole ends DACA. Before we file we pull your court records, explain how each event will be viewed, and if a Texas conviction is a problem, discuss whether record cleanup options can help.

What's included

Review of your prior DACA approvals and everything that has changed since
Preparation of Form I-821D, Form I-765 and the I-765 Worksheet
Certified court record retrieval for any citation, arrest or charge
Filing with the correct USCIS lockbox or online account, with receipt tracking
Guidance for your biometrics appointment in El Paso if one is scheduled
Screening for a family green card or other status you may now qualify for

How it works

Quick consultation and record check

Bring your last approval notice, work permit and any tickets or court papers. We confirm you are inside the filing window, identify anything that must be disclosed, and quote the flat fee on the spot.

We prepare and file the renewal

We complete the I-821D and I-765, assemble your photos, identity documents and any court records, and file with USCIS. You get a copy of the full packet and the receipt numbers as soon as they issue.

Tracking through approval

We monitor the case, respond to any request for evidence, and follow up with USCIS if the decision runs past normal processing times. When approved, you receive a new I-821D approval notice and a new employment authorization card.