DACA Renewal in Orlando

Put Your DACA Renewal in the Context of Your Immigration History

Renewing DACA requires careful attention to eligibility, filing dates, required forms, and changes in criminal or immigration history. At Maney | Gordon | Zeller, P.A., our immigration consultations examine your current status and prior history before addressing potential immigration paths and relevant timelines.

Family relationships, employment connections, and earlier visa applications or denials may also shape the options worth discussing.

Call (407) 630-8455 to request an immigration consultation about your status, history, and available legal options.

What DACA Does & Doesn’t Provide

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, commonly called DACA, allows the government to postpone removal action for two years, subject to renewal, for people who came to the United States as children and meet the applicable guidelines.

DACA recipients may also request employment authorization. However, DACA doesn’t grant lawful immigration status, permanent residence, or citizenship. A renewal request should therefore be considered in the context of the recipient’s complete immigration history.

DACA Renewal Eligibility & Filing Materials

A renewal applicant must have met the original DACA guidelines and continue to satisfy the renewal requirements. USCIS also considers criminal history. A person generally can’t qualify after a felony conviction, a significant misdemeanor conviction, or three or more other misdemeanor convictions that didn’t arise from the same act.

A complete DACA renewal request includes these forms and the required fees:

• Form I-821D: Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals
• Form I-765: Application for Employment Authorization
• Form I-765WS: Worksheet explaining the applicant’s economic need for employment

Renewal applicants don’t ordinarily need to resubmit all evidence included with their initial request. They must disclose new criminal history and provide relevant documents concerning removal proceedings that arose after the most recent DACA approval. Complete and accurate disclosure matters because USCIS reviews the applicant’s circumstances when evaluating the request.

DACA Renewal Timing & Filing Fees for Orlando Residents

USCIS encourages recipients to submit renewal requests 120 to 150 days before the expiration date shown on the current Form I-797 DACA approval notice. Filing more than 150 days before expiration doesn’t produce a faster decision. Processing times vary, so filing within the recommended window doesn’t guarantee a decision before the existing DACA period or employment authorization expires.

A person whose DACA expired within the past year may still submit a renewal request. If more than one year has passed since the most recent DACA period expired, USCIS treats the filing as an initial request rather than a renewal.

As of November 4, 2026, the USCIS filing fees are:

• Form I-821D: $85
• Form I-765 filed by mail: $520
• Form I-765 filed online: $470

No fee waiver is available for Form I-821D or the DACA-related employment authorization application. Applicants should verify the filing method, current fee, and USCIS instructions before submitting their forms because government requirements can change.

Immigration Law Credentials & Nationwide Service

Our firm has been established for more than 40 years. Our immigration lawyers bring over 100 years of combined legal experience to immigration cases. Richard Maney, Christian Zeller, and Gerald P. Siepp are Board-Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law by The Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization & Education.

We serve immigration clients nationwide.

What We Review During an Immigration Consultation

For Orlando residents considering a DACA renewal, a consultation provides an opportunity to examine the facts that may shape their immigration options.

We may review:

• Current immigration status
• Criminal history and immigration history
• Relevant family relationships
• Relevant employment relationships
• Prior visa applications or denials
• Available legal options and applicable timelines

The options and timing depend on the individual’s history and present circumstances. We don’t predict an immigration outcome before reviewing the relevant information.

Discuss Your Immigration Circumstances

We consider your broader immigration circumstances before discussing potential next steps, rather than focusing on a form or expiration date in isolation.

Request an immigration consultation by calling (407) 630-8455 or using the Maney | Gordon | Zeller, P.A. contact form.