What is DAPA?
by Angela MW Thanyachareon
3/4/2017


What is DAPA?

DAPA is Deferred Action for Parental Accountability. 

On November 20, 2014, the US President, Barack Obama, announced a new deferred action program called Deferred Action for Parental Accountability, DAPA.  .  

GUIDELINES:

  • DAPA comes with A 3 YR work authorization 

ELIGIBILITY:

  1. Has, as of November 20, 2014, a son or daughter who is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident;
  2. Has continuously resided in the U.S. since before January 1, 2010;
  3. Were physically present in the U.S. on November 20, 2014 and at the time of making a request for consideration of deferred action with USCIS;
  4. Had no lawful status on November 20, 2014;
  5. Is not an enforcement priority.

What is “deferred action”?

Deferred Action is a discretionary decision made by immigration authorities to not deport someone from the United States for a set period of time. 

Qualifications:

When the program Deferred Action for Parent Accountability (DAPA) for parents of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents comes into effect, apply if you are:

  • an undocumented individual living in the United States who, on the date of the announcement (November 20, 2014), is the parent of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (green card holder);
  • Have been in the United States since January 1, 2010 and have remained in the U.S. continuously since then; and
  • Is not an “enforcement priority” (meaning that you are not a priority for deportation under guidelines issued on November 20, 2014 by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)).

APPLICATION AVAILABLE?

  • Not yet!
  • USCIS has suspended the application submission date
  • Beware of Scams
  • Please check my website, www.ThanyachareonLaw.com for updates.  
  • You can also check the agency’s website, http://www.uscis.gov, for up-to-date information.

IN THE MEANTIME, PREPARE:

Please begin to collect documents that will prove your:

  • Identity;
  • Parental relationship to a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident; and
  • Continuous residence and life in the United States over the last five years or more.

For a more detailed list of documents that might be helpful to begin to collect, please email me at info@ThanyachareonLaw.com .

For more information on this topic, please go to the following websites:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deferred_Action_for_Parents_of_Americans

https://www.uscis.gov/immigrationaction

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/USCIS/ExecutiveActions/EAFlier_DAPA.pdf

http://immigrationpolicy.org/special-reports/guide-immigration-accountability-executive-action

https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/14_1120_memo_prosecutorial_discretion.pdf

https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/14_1120_memo_deferred_action_1.pdf