DACA keeps you authorized to work and protected from deportation — but only if it stays current. Latif Law helps Columbus-area Dreamers renew on time, apply for advance parole, and plan for long-term options.
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Current DACA Status (2025)
DACA remains under active legal challenges. Federal courts have ruled the program unlawful for new applicants, but existing recipients can continue to renew. USCIS is processing renewals. The legal landscape can shift — working with an attorney helps ensure you file correctly and stay informed of any changes that affect your case.
We prepare and review your full renewal package — I-821D (DACA request), I-765 (work authorization), supporting documents, and filing fees. We track deadlines and file within the recommended window to avoid gaps in your work permit.
Need to travel internationally for school, work, or a family emergency? We prepare your advance parole application and advise you on the risks and requirements. Never leave the U.S. as a DACA recipient without approved advance parole.
DACA doesn't lead directly to a green card, but marriage to a U.S. citizen or LPR, employer sponsorship, or other qualifying circumstances might. We review your options and help you understand whether you can adjust status in the U.S. or would need consular processing.
If USCIS issues a Request for Evidence on your DACA renewal, we respond promptly with the documentation needed to satisfy their request. RFEs are time-sensitive — delays or incomplete responses can result in denial.
What we do not handle: Latif Law focuses on affirmative immigration matters — renewals, advance parole, and green card planning. We do not handle removal defense or immigration court proceedings. If you are in removal proceedings, contact us and we will refer you to an attorney who handles that work.
Timing your renewal correctly is critical. A gap in your DACA means a gap in your work authorization — which can affect your employment, driver's license, and other benefits tied to your status.
USCIS recommends submitting your renewal between 150 and 120 days before your current DACA expires. Filing in this window gives USCIS time to process your application before your current status runs out. Most applicants receive an automatic extension of their work permit while the renewal is pending.
If you missed the ideal window, file as soon as possible. USCIS still processes late renewals, but you risk a gap in your work authorization if processing takes longer than the remaining time on your current DACA.
USCIS has accepted late renewal requests in some circumstances. The situation is more complex and fact-specific. Contact us promptly — do not assume that an expired DACA means renewal is no longer possible without checking with an attorney.
DACA recipients can apply for advance parole to travel internationally for educational, employment, or humanitarian purposes — but the rules are strict and the stakes are high.
For some DACA recipients, traveling on advance parole and returning to the U.S. can create a path to adjust status to permanent residence that would not otherwise be available. This is a complex area of law that depends heavily on your individual entry history. If you are married to a U.S. citizen or have another qualifying family or employment relationship, ask us whether advance parole travel could benefit your long-term immigration situation.
Ohio is home to tens of thousands of DACA recipients. Columbus and Franklin County have a significant Dreamer population, concentrated in part in the city's Hispanic and Latino communities. Many recipients have grown up here, attended Columbus City Schools, and are working, studying, or raising families in Central Ohio.
Attorney Ali Latif speaks Spanish and can conduct your consultation and review your case in Spanish. We understand that navigating immigration paperwork in a second language adds stress to an already high-stakes process. Atendemos en español sin necesidad de intérprete.
DACA renewals are processed by USCIS service centers, not local offices — you typically do not need to appear in person for a renewal. Biometrics appointments (if required) are scheduled at the USCIS Application Support Center in Columbus. We guide you through every step.
Ohio issues driver's licenses to DACA recipients with valid Employment Authorization Documents (EADs). Keeping your DACA and EAD current is essential to maintaining your license eligibility. We help ensure there are no gaps in your work authorization that could affect your license.
Yes. Current DACA recipients can continue to renew. USCIS is accepting renewals from individuals who have previously received DACA. The program remains under legal challenge and is closed to first-time applicants, but existing recipients retain the ability to renew while litigation continues. File on time and work with an attorney to stay current on any changes.
USCIS recommends filing 150 to 120 days (about 5 to 4 months) before your current DACA expires. Filing in this window allows USCIS enough time to process before your status runs out. If you are within 120 days of expiration, file immediately. If your DACA has already expired, contact us — late renewals may still be possible.
Only with advance parole — a separate application (Form I-131) that must be approved before you leave. Never travel internationally as a DACA recipient without an approved advance parole document in hand. Leaving without it can result in being barred from returning to the United States.
DACA itself does not lead to a green card, but DACA recipients can obtain permanent residence through other qualifying relationships — most commonly marriage to a U.S. citizen or LPR, or employer sponsorship. Whether you can adjust status inside the U.S. or must go through consular processing abroad depends on your specific entry history. We can evaluate your situation in a consultation.
No. Latif Law focuses on affirmative immigration — DACA renewals, advance parole, and green card planning. We do not handle removal defense or immigration court proceedings. If you or a family member are in removal proceedings, we can provide a referral to an attorney who handles that work.
Don't risk a gap in your work authorization. Schedule a consultation to review your renewal timeline.
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