LAST month President Obama announced several executive actions which will provide deportation relief to many families, documented and undocumented. The executive action will aim at securing our borders, making convicted and dangerous criminal offenders a priority for removal. Under the new actions, hardworking and law abiding residents will be granted several benefits that will assist millions of undocumented immigrants in securing status and work authorization.
One of these benefits that the President has announced is an extension to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) to include any child that entered the U.S. before their 16th birthday before January 1, 2010, whereas before they had to have entered prior to June 15, 2007. Also, the age requirement that a person have not yet turned 31 years of age by June 15, 2012 is no longer part of the equation. This means that those people who previously could not apply because they were already 31 years old but meet all other requirements will now be able to apply. This will allow many more people to be included in the DACA program.
The immigration service announced that they will begin receiving applications under the new revised DACA guidelines February 18, 2015. Anyone who previously could not qualify for DACA under the prior guidelines should contact our office immediately to confirm eligibility and begin preparations to file. Considering the number of applicants expected to apply for the expanded DACA program, waiting to file could cause your case to be delayed. We urge you to act now to take advantage of this new benefit.
No one should ever assume that they do or do not qualify for DACA. There are many issues that should be considered before applying for DAPA or DACA. Do you have a DUI? What is your criminal background? Do you have prior deportation orders, in the United States or at a port of entry? These are only some of the questions that must be assessed and analyzed by a competent legal counsel before applying for new immigration relief.
Immigration consultants and notarios are in business to make money without ethical responsibility and without ensuring your safety. By filing a frivolous or impossible DACA application, a notario could be placing you or your loved one at risk. While they often charge less than immigration attorneys, they rarely have their non-immigrant clients’ interests at heart. Notarios often prey on trusting non-immigrants and frequently make promises and guarantees, which rarely can be kept. They lure in unsuspecting immigrants by charging lower fees and promising fast results. Once the non-citizens sign up, they learn quickly that more fees and charges await them, as consultants will often charge additional fees for very simple tasks. Most importantly, these consultants are not attorneys. Their grasp of complex immigration laws is usually inadequate. Please find a licensed immigration attorney to assist you in determining your eligibility for DACA benefits.
Now is the time to come and meet with one of our expert immigration attorneys to begin preparing to submit DACA applications under the revised guidelines. Always consult with a qualified immigration attorney prior to making decisions or submitting applications for immigration benefits.
At Wilner & O’Reilly, we specialize in the practice of immigration law. We have board certified specialists, former immigration officers, and experienced licensed attorneys to help you achieve your immigration goals. We will be filing DACA applications as soon as permitted by the government, and encourage everyone to schedule a consultation with us as soon as possible. We have office conveniently located in Orange, Riverside, Sacramento, San Francisco and Salt Lake City. Schedule your free consultation today.
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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].