While DACA protects an individual from removal action for a certain period of time, it does not provide a pathway to U.S. citizenship, and people with DACA status previously were ineligible for any federally funded health coverage.
The DACA program took root in 2012, through an Executive Order during President Barack Obama's administration, as a way to provide temporary relief (renewable 2-year terms) from deportation and work authorization for certain individuals who came to the United States as children.
While many dreamers wait for a legislative solution, employment-based visas such as H-1B offer a viable alternative path. These visas are for specialty occupations that typically require a bachelor's degree. After obtaining an H-1B visa, one can apply for a green card through an employment-based immigrant visa.
An EAD issued to a DACA beneficiary will bear category code C33. 2 Certain EADs, depending on the category code, may be extended while a renewal application is pending. 3 Under previous iterations of the program, DACA beneficiaries were not eligible for such extensions, and the new regulation does not change that.
Also, you must be inside the USA when applying for the EAD, to prevent your I-765 from being considered 'abandoned' by the USCIS, we advise you to remain in the USA until the EAD is issued. You will need the following documents: Completed (paper version) of the Form I-765 Application for Employment Authorization.
While less common, some DACA recipients explore options like: Diversity Visa Lottery: This program provides a limited number of Green Cards annually to individuals from countries with low immigration rates to the U.S. However, eligibility criteria and the random nature of selection make it a less reliable option.
DACA recipients are still protected from deportation as long as they continue to renew their status on schedule, ing to the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, which has been representing DACA recipients in the legal challenges.
Form I-765 is the physical document. Form I-766 is an EAD card, which you can keep in your wallet. Both Form I-766 and I-765 are valid EADs. You actually use Form I-765 to apply for your Form 1-766 card.
An EAD issued to a DACA beneficiary will bear category code C33.
There are three parts to Form I-765WS. The first asks for your full name (your family name, given name, and middle name). The second part asks for your financial information. You'll have to report a U.S. dollar amount for your current annual income, current annual expenses, and the total current value of your assets.