Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, DACA, remains a lifeline for thousands of young people across South Carolina. For DACA recipients in Goose Creek, Summerville, Moncks Corner, and throughout the Charleston, SC area, timely renewal is the difference between staying on track at work and school and facing the panic of an expired EAD.
This guide explains exactly when to file, what to include, and what to do if life has thrown a complication, like an arrest, a move, or a missed window, into the renewal calendar.
When to File Your DACA Renewal
USCIS strongly recommends filing your renewal 120 to 150 days before your current DACA and EAD expire. In plain terms: roughly four to five months out. Filing in this window gives USCIS time to adjudicate the case before your work authorization lapses.
Filing too early, more than 150 days out, can result in rejection. Filing too late means a real risk of a gap in work authorization, which forces you to stop working until the new EAD arrives.
What to Include in Your Renewal Package
A complete DACA renewal package includes Form I-821D (Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization), Form I-765WS (Worksheet), the filing fee, and supporting documents that show you have continued to meet the DACA guidelines.
If nothing has changed since your last approval, same address, no arrests, no extended international travel, your evidence package will be relatively short. New encounters with law enforcement, new addresses, or any criminal history changes must be disclosed and explained.
Handling Arrests, Travel, and Other Complications
Any arrest, even one that was dismissed or expunged, must be disclosed. Bring certified court dispositions to your consultation, and do not file the renewal until those documents are in hand. Failing to disclose is worse than disclosing.
Advance parole travel must also be reported. If you traveled abroad on advance parole since your last DACA approval, include copies of the advance parole document and entry stamps. Unauthorized travel, leaving without advance parole, is a serious problem that needs to be addressed with an attorney before filing.
What to Do If You Are Already Late
If your DACA expired more than a year ago, your case is treated as an initial request, not a renewal. The standards and evidence are different. If it expired less than a year ago, you can typically still file as a renewal, but the gap in EAD is unavoidable.
Do not panic, and do not give up. Charleston-area DACA recipients in this situation have filed successfully many times, but the first step is a careful review with an immigration attorney.
Frequently Asked Questions
DACA renewal is one of the most time-sensitive filings in immigration law. A missed window costs you your job, your driver's license in many states, and months of stress. If you live in Goose Creek, Summerville, Moncks Corner, or anywhere in the Charleston, SC area and your DACA is approaching expiration, or has already expired, reach out today.
Schedule a consultation with Alvarez Benavidez Law and let us help you file a complete, on-time renewal so you can keep moving forward with your life.
Marcia A. Alvarez Benavidez, Esq.
Immigration Attorney
Marcia is a bilingual immigration attorney serving families across Goose Creek, Summerville, Moncks Corner, and the greater Charleston, SC area. Former Federal Court Deputy Clerk with deep experience in family-based petitions, removal defense, and naturalization.
