DACA renewal: how and when to renew
You renew DACA by filing Form I-821D, Form I-765 and the I-765WS worksheet with USCIS, online or by mail. USCIS strongly encourages filing 120 to 150 days before your current DACA expires. A renewal, if granted, gives deferred action for another 2 years, and work authorization with it.
Checked against USCIS guidance on September 22, 2026. The sources are listed at the end of this page.
8 steps · Checklist
Renew your DACA
The full list is at the end of the article.
Free · tick steps off on the web or in the app
Where DACA renewals stand
As of USCIS’s DACA page (last updated January 24, 2025): after a January 17, 2025 decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, USCIS says it continues to accept and process DACA renewal requests and the work permit applications filed with them. It continues to accept initial requests but is not processing them. Current grants of DACA and related work permits remain valid until they expire, unless individually terminated.
Court decisions can change this. Check the USCIS DACA page before you file, and get information only from official sources. USCIS warns about people promising faster service for a fee.
Who can renew
USCIS may consider a renewal if you met the guidelines for your initial DACA and you:
- Have not travelled outside the U.S. on or after August 15, 2012 without advance parole
- Have lived continuously in the U.S. since you submitted your most recent approved DACA request
- Have not been convicted of a felony, a significant misdemeanor, or 3 or more other misdemeanors, and are not a threat to national security or public safety
You don’t need to still be in school. The renewal form doesn’t ask about it. Turning 31 since you first got DACA doesn’t stop you renewing either. If you currently hold a valid grant of parole in place, USCIS will not renew DACA.
How to renew: the short version
- Mark the date 150 days before your current DACA expires. It’s on your I-797 approval notice and your work permit.
- Fill in Form I-821D, Form I-765 and Form I-765WS, using the most recent editions from USCIS.
- File online through a USCIS account, or mail all three to the USCIS lockbox listed on the I-821D page.
- Pay the fees: $85 for the I-821D, and $470 online or $520 on paper for the I-765. They cannot be waived.
- Go to biometrics if USCIS schedules an appointment.
- Track your case with the receipt number until the decision and the new card arrive.
Step by step, with what to include and what USCIS rejects, is in How to file a DACA renewal.
If your DACA has already expired
Within 1 year of expiring, you can still file a renewal. After more than a year, or if your DACA was terminated, USCIS says you would have to submit a new initial request, and USCIS is not processing initial requests at this time. While DACA is lapsed you can’t work, and you may accrue unlawful presence. More in What happens if DACA expires.
8 steps · Checklist
Renew your DACA
Find your DACA expiration date
On your I-797 approval notice and your work permit.
Mark the day 150 days before it
USCIS recommends filing 120 to 150 days ahead.
Check the USCIS DACA page for any changes
Complete Forms I-821D, I-765 and I-765WS
Use the most recent editions.
Pay $85 plus $470 online or $520 on paper
File online or mail everything to the USCIS lockbox
and 2 more — saving takes all of them.
Free, and yours to edit — tick items off on the web or in the MyCheck app.
Frequently asked questions
Is USCIS still accepting DACA renewals?
Yes. According to USCIS’s DACA page, after the Fifth Circuit’s January 17, 2025 decision USCIS continues to accept and process DACA renewal requests and the accompanying work permit applications. Initial requests are accepted but not processed. Check the USCIS DACA page for changes.
When should I renew DACA?
USCIS strongly encourages filing between 120 and 150 days (4 to 5 months) before your current DACA expires. Filing earlier won’t get a faster decision and can shorten your renewal period; filing later risks a gap.
How much does DACA renewal cost?
USCIS’s fee schedule lists $85 for Form I-821D and $520 on paper or $470 online for the Form I-765 filed with it: $605 on paper in total. DACA fees cannot be waived; only very limited exemptions exist.
Can I renew DACA online?
Yes. Create a USCIS online account and file Form I-821D, Form I-765 and Form I-765WS there with the fees. You can also mail them to the USCIS lockbox.
What forms do I need to renew DACA?
Form I-821D, Form I-765 and Form I-765WS (the worksheet), plus the fees. USCIS rejects a request that is missing any of them.
How long is a DACA renewal good for?
If USCIS renews it, deferred action is granted for another 2 years, with work authorization for that period if you show an economic need for it.
Do I need new documents to renew DACA?
Generally no. USCIS says you only need to send documents about removal proceedings or criminal history that you haven’t already submitted in an approved DACA request, though it can ask for more.
Read more
Sources
General information from USCIS guidance, not legal advice. MyCheck is not affiliated with USCIS or any government agency and doesn’t file forms. DACA is subject to ongoing litigation: check the USCIS DACA page before you file, and talk to an immigration attorney or DOJ-accredited representative about your situation.
