DACA renewal processing times have increased substantially
Many recipients are asking: how long is DACA renewal taking in 2026? The answer is materially longer than in prior years.
Approximately 120,000 DACA renewal applications are pending, the highest reported volume on record. At the same point in fiscal year 2025, approximately 37,000 renewal applications were pending.
USCIS approved only 53,855 DACA renewals during the first half of fiscal year 2026, compared with nearly 145,000 during the first half of fiscal year 2025. This represents an approximately 63% decline in approvals. USCIS approved approximately 34% of renewals submitted during the period, compared with 84% during the prior year.
Processing times have also increased:
- The average processing time was approximately 15 days in fiscal year 2025.
- Processing increased to approximately 70 days in early 2026.
- Some renewals are now taking four to six months or longer.
- Community case-tracking data has reported approval timelines approaching 200 days for some applicants.
A delay can create a gap in DACA and employment authorization. That gap can affect the recipient’s employment, income, professional licensing, and ability to satisfy employer Form I-9 requirements.
USCIS continues to accept and process renewal applications. It cannot currently approve first-time or initial DACA applications. Current DACA recipients must therefore treat timely renewal as an essential compliance matter.
The number of active DACA recipients continues to decline
As of March 31, 2026, there were approximately 455,170 active DACA recipients. This represents:
- A decrease of approximately 40,000 recipients from December 2025, when 495,320 recipients were active.
- A decrease from 537,730 recipients in March 2024.
The decline reflects several factors, including delayed renewals, departures from the program, adjustment to other immigration statuses, and the inability of new applicants to obtain initial DACA approval.
A lapsed DACA grant can result in:
- Loss of employment authorization.
- Job termination or suspension.
- Difficulty completing Form I-9 reverification.
- Potential accrual of unlawful presence, depending on the individual’s circumstances.
- Increased exposure to removal proceedings.
DACA is deferred action. It does not create lawful immigration status or a permanent immigration benefit.
When should a recipient file a DACA renewal?
USCIS recommends filing a renewal request 120 to 150 days before the expiration date shown on the current DACA approval notice and employment authorization document.
Recipients should follow these rules:
- Review the expiration date on both the DACA approval notice and the EAD.
- Identify the 150-day filing date.
- Prepare the renewal package before the 120-day deadline.
- File within the recommended 120-to-150-day window.
- Retain proof of electronic submission or delivery of a paper filing.
USCIS may reject a renewal filed earlier than 150 days before the current DACA expiration date. Filing too early does not accelerate adjudication.
Filing late creates a greater risk that USCIS will not complete the renewal before the existing DACA and EAD expire. A pending application does not automatically extend employment authorization for DACA recipients under the general automatic-extension rules that apply to certain other EAD categories.
DACA renewal requirements and filing fees
A standard DACA renewal filing includes the following forms:
- Form I-821D, Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.
- Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, using eligibility category (c)(33).
- Form I-765WS, Worksheet.
- Form G-1145, E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance, if filing by mail and requesting electronic notification.
The current stated fees are:
- $555 for online filing.
- $605 for paper filing.
There are no ordinary fee waivers for DACA renewal filings. Since October 28, 2025, USCIS no longer accepts paper checks or money orders. Paper filings must use an accepted electronic payment method, such as the applicable credit-card or ACH authorization process.
Applicants must use the correct form editions. USCIS will reject incomplete, unsigned, or outdated forms.
The new Form I-765 edition effective September 15, 2026
USCIS is changing Form I-765 on September 15, 2026. The following rules apply:
- USCIS will accept the prior edition if it was postmarked or electronically submitted before September 15, 2026.
- USCIS will reject the prior edition if it is postmarked or electronically submitted on or after September 15, 2026.
- Filings submitted on or after September 15, 2026 must use the 09/15/26 edition.
- There is no grace period.
Applicants should download the current forms directly from the USCIS Form I-821D page and the USCIS Form I-765 page. Applicants should not rely on saved forms or forms obtained from unofficial websites.
Review eligibility before submitting the renewal
A recipient should obtain legal review before filing if there have been changes involving travel, criminal history, residence, prior immigration filings, or removal proceedings.
Important renewal considerations include:
- Continued residence in the United States under the applicable DACA requirements.
- No disqualifying felony, significant misdemeanor, or three or more other misdemeanors.
- No conduct creating national security or public safety concerns.
- No unauthorized departure that interrupts eligibility.
- Accurate disclosure of arrests, charges, convictions, and prior immigration matters.
Departure from the United States without Advance Parole can disqualify a DACA renewal and create additional immigration consequences. The Board of Immigration Appeals decision in Matter of Delcarmen-Lara (2026) also changed the analysis of Advance Parole travel. A qualifying departure under Advance Parole may trigger a three-year or ten-year unlawful-presence bar when the statutory requirements are met.
Recipients should not travel internationally without a case-specific legal assessment. Advance Parole does not guarantee reentry into the United States.
Litigation and policy developments affecting DACA recipients
Texas litigation
The Fifth Circuit’s January 17, 2025 decision in Texas v. United States found the DACA Final Rule unlawful in significant respects and narrowed the relevant injunction to Texas. The decision has not yet been fully implemented.
As of September 2026, Judge Hanen has not issued a modified order implementing the Fifth Circuit’s decision. Current DACA recipients may continue renewing DACA and associated employment authorization while the existing stay remains operative.
If implemented, the decision could affect approximately 82,410 DACA recipients in Texas. Potential consequences include:
- Loss of employment authorization for Texas recipients.
- Continued protection from removal in some circumstances.
- Different treatment for recipients who move into or out of Texas.
- Requirements to demonstrate state residence when requesting an EAD.
Recipients in Texas should not move solely to address this litigation without obtaining individualized legal advice. Residence, employment authorization, and filing eligibility may be affected by future court orders.
DACA and removal proceedings
On April 24, 2026, the Board of Immigration Appeals ruled that DACA alone does not require termination of removal proceedings. DACA may support a request for termination, but an immigration judge must evaluate the complete circumstances and the Department of Homeland Security’s position.
A DACA recipient in removal proceedings should obtain counsel before assuming that an active DACA grant prevents the case from continuing.
Country-based processing pauses
Proclamation 10998 affected nationals of 39 countries through entry and visa restrictions, as well as related USCIS processing policies. On June 5, 2026, a federal court in Rhode Island ordered USCIS to lift the benefits-processing pause. USCIS stated that it would resume processing while the government’s appeal continued.
This development does not eliminate separate travel restrictions or guarantee approval. A DACA recipient connected to one of the affected countries should monitor USCIS notices and obtain legal advice if the renewal appears delayed because of additional screening.
What recipients should do now
DACA recipients should take the following steps:
- Confirm the DACA and EAD expiration dates.
- File within the 120-to-150-day recommended window.
- Use the correct Form I-765 edition for the filing date.
- Submit all required forms and fees together.
- Keep the address current with USCIS through Form AR-11 or a USCIS online account.
- Respond promptly to every Request for Evidence.
- Track the case through USCIS Case Status Online.
- Consider an outside-normal-processing-time inquiry if eligible.
- Consider an expedite request when USCIS criteria are satisfied.
- Request assistance from a congressional office when appropriate.
- Avoid international travel without legal review.
- Preserve copies of the complete filing, delivery confirmation, receipt notices, and prior approvals.
If USCIS denies or delays a renewal, the appropriate response depends on the reason. The recipient may need to correct an administrative error, submit a service request, respond to an RFE, or evaluate other humanitarian immigration options.
Consult Blasingame Law LLC regarding your renewal
The current DACA environment requires early filing, accurate forms, careful review of travel and criminal history, and continued monitoring of litigation. A delayed or rejected filing can result in loss of work authorization and increased immigration risk.
Blasingame Law LLC provides personalized assistance with DACA renewals, employment authorization, humanitarian immigration, removal-related concerns, and related family or employment-based strategies. Schedule a consultation or contact Blasingame Law LLC to discuss your circumstances.
This article provides general information and is not legal advice. It does not create an attorney-client relationship. Immigration consequences depend on the individual’s complete history, current notices, and applicable law.
