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DACA Lawyer in Fort Worth in texas
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If you are a current Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient in Fort Worth, the most important things you need to know are simple but critical: 1) renew within the 150-to-120-day window, 2) keep your work authorization active, and 3) make sure every form and fee is correct. If your DACA expired less than a year ago, you can still renew. If it expired more than a year ago, your case is treated as an initial request, which USCIS is not processing right now. If you have concerns with your DACA status, we might be able to help. Our team helps you move quickly, avoid mistakes, and keep your protection in place.
At Andrew T. Thomas, Attorneys at Law, we provide assistance with clarity, compassion, and relentless attention to detail. As your DACA lawyer in Fort Worth in Texas, we focus on timely renewals, risk management, and long-term planning so you can keep working, stay protected, and build your future. We are ready to help you file, renew, and explore strategic options the right way. Reach out to our team today.
DACA is deferred action for people who came to the United States as children and meet specific eligibility criteria. It is not a path to citizenship. Still, it offers vital benefits: protection from deportation and the ability to work lawfully with an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). In Fort Worth, this protection lets you continue your job, care for your family, and live with greater stability while we plan your next steps.
So who qualifies? In general, you must:
Have entered the U.S. before age 16
Have lived here continuously since June 15, 2007
Be under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012 (meaning you were born on or after June 16, 1981)
Have no lawful immigration status on June 15, 2012
Meet the national security requirements, including:
You have not been convicted of a felony.
You have not been convicted of a significant misdemeanor (e.g., domestic violence, drug distribution, unlawful possession/use of a firearm).
You have not been convicted of three or more other misdemeanors.
You do not otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety.
Meet one of the following requirements:
Currently enrolled in school (elementary, secondary, GED, or college).
Have graduated or obtained a certificate of completion from high school.
Have obtained a General Education Development (GED) certificate.
Are an honorably discharged veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard or the Armed Forces of the United States.
It is important to note that only DACA renewals are being currently processed by the USCIS. New applications or initial requests from those who have not been granted DACA renewals before are accepted but not processed and granted.
As your immigration attorney, we confirm your eligibility and prepare the strongest possible file for you. DACA matters in Fort Worth because it creates breathing room. It allows you to work, obtain a Social Security number, apply for a driver’s license, pay taxes, and move forward with your life while we protect your status and plan for a more permanent solution if one is available.
Timing is everything. To prevent a gap in work authorization, we file renewals 150 to 120 days before your current DACA expiration. Submitting too late can trigger a lapse in your EAD, even if USCIS is still reviewing your file.
To help with your DACA renewal needs, we manage the following for you:
Deadline tracking and reminders so you never miss the window
Early preparation of your I-821D and I-765 so your file is complete as soon as the window opens
Submission through the correct channel with the correct fee and evidence
We build in extra time to address any Requests for Evidence (RFE) and to help keep your work authorization continuous.
For DACA renewals, you typically file:
Form I-821D (Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals): This is the main form used to request the DACA status itself. There is no filing fee for this form, but you must submit it with the other two forms and their associated fees.
Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization): This form is filed concurrently to obtain your work permit (EAD card). This form has a filing fee that must be paid.
Form I-765WS (Worksheet): This worksheet is required to be filed along with Form I-765 to establish that you have an economic need to work.
USCIS offers online filing for certain forms. When online filing is available for your case, electronic payment is usually accepted by debit/credit card or ACH.
For eligible mail filings, USCIS directs how to pay (often by check or money order payable to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security) and may accept a credit card authorization form in some circumstances. Because policies and fee amounts can change, we verify the latest accepted payment methods and the current total fee at the time we file. Our goal is to prevent rejections and costly delays.
Our role is to ensure that you are using the current editions of all forms and you pay the correct fee amount on your filing day. We also prepare and package your evidence to avoid RFEs and denials.
Has your DACA status expired? How long your status has expired is crucial and often misunderstood. In a nutshell, if your DACA status has:
Expired less than one year: You can still renew. We move fast to restore your protection and your work authorization.
Expired more than one year: USCIS treats your filing as an initial request. Under current court orders, USCIS is not processing initial DACA applications. If you are in this situation, we review alternative options right away.
We help you evaluate other avenues when DACA is not currently renewable, including longer-term strategies described in our overview of possible pathways to citizenship.
DACA brings both protection and responsibility. Staying compliant protects everything you have built. Your key compliance points include:
Maintaining continuous presence in the U.S.
Keeping your address current with USCIS
Avoiding criminal activity or conduct that could raise security concerns
Renewing on time to prevent gaps in your work authorization
Travel is a frequent area of confusion. You must not leave the United States without approved Advance Parole. If you need to travel for humanitarian, education, or employment reasons, we help you assess eligibility and file a strong request.
As a responsible DACA Lawyer in Fort Worth, we also prepare contingency plans in case policies shift. We monitor the Texas legal landscape closely and keep your case strategy current.
We do far more than fill out forms. We plan, prepare, and protect your case from start to finish so you can move forward with confidence.
What we do for you:
Confirm eligibility and address any red flags early
Prepare the forms (I-821D, I-765, and I-765WS) with meticulous accuracy
Organize all the supporting evidence (school records, proof of residence, identity, employment records)
Track renewal windows and file early within the 150–120-day period (5 to 4 months)
Pay the correct fee and through the correct channel
Monitor your case and respond quickly to any USCIS request
We also prepare you for any interview requests. If your case requires consular processing in the future, we help you plan and prepare with our resource on consular interview preparation. With Andrew T. Thomas, Attorneys at Law, you gain a dedicated DACA Lawyer who treats your file like it matters—because it does.
DACA is temporary. Stability comes from building a long-term plan that fits your life. Our experienced team help you explore every option available and map a path toward permanent residency where possible.
Advance Parole allows approved travel for limited reasons—humanitarian, education, or employment—and a lawful return to the United States. For some recipients, a lawful reentry with Advance Parole may satisfy the “lawful entry” requirement, a key step toward adjusting status in the U.S. if you have an immediate relative who can petition for you..
We prepare a thorough Advance Parole package, explain the risks, and guide you through travel planning and reentry. We never recommend travel without reviewing your full immigration history and the most current rules.
If you have qualifying relatives, a family-based petition may be part of your strategy. We assess whether family-based immigration in Texas fits your case and outline the steps and timing. In other situations, forms of humanitarian relief, such as humanitarian parole, may provide short-term protection while we develop a long-term plan.
Every case is unique. We explain what you may qualify for and build a realistic timeline. Our role is to create a strategy that respects your goals, protects your status, and moves you closer to lasting security.
We focus on you—your timeline, your work authorization, your family, your future. We combine legal knowledge with relentless follow-through so your DACA renewal is complete, correct, and on time.
Some reasons why Fort Worth families trust us are our
Local experience with Texas-specific issues and court developments
Practical, proactive approach to deadlines and documentation
Clear communication and a caring, determined team that stands with you
We live and work in your community. We also support clients across North Texas, including Dallas and Houston.
You deserve a steady plan, a secure status, and a team that treats your case like it matters. At Andrew T. Thomas, Attorneys at Law, we protect your DACA renewal window, prevent lapses in your work authorization, and pursue strategic options that may lead to permanent residency when available. Whether you need help filing I-821D and I-765, exploring Advance Parole, or mapping out a family-based path, we stand with you—every step of the way.
Our immigration law firm prioritizes your peace of mind. Let’s protect your status and plan your future now. Schedule a confidential consultation today.
