The Supreme Court has agreed to review the case regarding President Obama’s Immigration Executive Actions that he initially proposed on November 20, 2014. Among the Executive Actions is an exciting new deferred action program called Deferred Action for Parental Accountability, also known as DAPA. To qualify for DAPA, an individual must meet certain eligibility requirements relating to their entry into the United States and parental relationship with a U.S. Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident and also pass a criminal background check. If granted DAPA status, the person would receive a card with their photo on it demonstrating their DAPA status, a social security number from the Social Security Administration, protection from deportation while in the program, and employment authorization (work permit) to be able to work legally in the United States.
Should the Supreme Court rule in favor of President Obama’s Executive Actions, then DAPA will go into effect during the remaining months of the current presidency ending in January of 2017. This will leave a short window of time in which to apply, particularly if the new President decides to terminate the DAPA program. At the Shulman Law Group, LLC, we are urging our existing clients and potential future clients to start gathering appropriate background data and documents so they will be among the first to file their DAPA applications. Although specific instructions about what exact documents will be acceptable for DAPA are pending, our office can provide some ideas for paperwork that you may begin to gather now. For example, for DAPA, you must prove that you have lived in the United States continuously since January 1, 2010 so you should gather documents such as financial records (e.g. phone bills, utility bills, credit card bills), lease agreements, medical records, and school records (e.g. diplomas, GED certificates, school transcripts, report cards). As a rule of thumb, you should consider gathering at least one document for each 12-month period since January of 2010. Likewise, in order to prove for DAPA that you have a son, step-son, daughter, or step-daughter who is a United States Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident, you should start to gather relevant evidentiary documentation (e.g. birth certificates, passports, naturalization certificates). We also strongly recommend that you contact our office in advance of the Supreme Court’s decision to help analyze your case and determine if indeed you would be a good candidate to apply for DAPA. This way, should DAPA be allowed to move forward, our office will be ready to process your DAPA application expediently.