ON November 20, 2014, President Obama announced a series of executive actions which will greatly benefit many individuals residing in the United States without proper documentation. The main premise of the executive order is to promote family unity in the United States. To meet this goal, President Obama has announced DAPA, which stands for “Deferred Action for Parental Accountability.” DAPA will allow the parents of United States citizen or lawful permanent resident children or step children to obtain several benefits in the United States. These benefits include a promise by the government not to deport the DAPA recipient. The benefits will also include work authorization, the ability to get a driver’s license and social security number, and potentially, the ability to travel outside the United States with Advanced Parole. It will give DAPA recipients peace of mind and the freedom to work and live openly, without fear, in the United States.
These benefits, although somewhat narrow and limited, are amazing for those who qualify! The security that DAPA recipients will obtain will be life-changing. And the potential benefits down the line as more comprehensive reform laws pass in the future can be great, as many suggest that pathways to citizenship from DAPA may be created. If you qualify for DAPA, you should speak with an immigration attorney about applying to obtain benefits under the new law.
To qualify for DAPA benefits, an applicant must show (1) continual physical presence in the United States for the last five years, (2) actual physical presence on the day of the announcement, (3) parentage of at least one United States citizen or lawful permanent resident child, and (4) proof that the applicant has not been convicted of any felonies or significant misdemeanors.
Now that you know about DAPA and how a person may qualify for the benefits provided under the new executive order, let’s talk about the best way to mess it all up! What can YOU do to ruin your chances at benefiting from the new law, or from any other law that is passed down the line? ANSWER: Hire an uncertified, scam artist “document preparer” or “notario” to file your paperwork for you. I cannot count on my hands and feet the number of clients who come through our doors after their cases have been irreversibly damaged by an unlicensed “paralegals” who were hired at a cheap price offering “guaranteed quick success!” It is hard to tell a client who has been taken advantage of by an immigration scam artist that there is no way to fix what that person has done to their case. Many times, the damage cannot be undone. It is one of the saddest things we experience as immigration lawyers.
If you want real help from a licensed attorney who will give you honest advice about your options and risks, come to a reputable law firm. If someone makes promises that are too-good-to-be-true, asks you to pay in cash and says success is 100% guaranteed, you should walk away! He is most likely looking for a quick buck before he leaves you in the dust with a bad application and a one way ticket back home.
DO NOT be careless with your status in the United States. You have the ability to “get right” with the US government. You can fix your status and you can have rights and freedoms here with your family. You can obtain all of this so long as you take this process seriously. We cannot urge you enough to make the right decision. Come speak with a licensed, certified expert in immigration law at Wilner & O’Reilly law firm. You will not regret the decision to seek help from the experts and get your application done right, the first time!
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Kelly O’Reilly is a nationally known immigration expert and former immigration officer. He is a highly sought after speaker on immigration and employment compliance issues. Mr. O’Reilly serves as the current chair of the Riverside County Bar Association Immigration section and is a partner in the full-service immigration firm of Wilner & O’Reilly where he provides free consultations. Mr. O’Reilly can be contacted at (562)207-6789 or he welcomes email inquiries at [email protected].
