DACA Form Filing Checklist — Required Documents Guide

What the DACA Filing Checklist Actually Covers

A DACA application filed under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals requires three forms, a fee or fee waiver request, and a carefully assembled evidence packet proving identity, continuous U.S. residence since June 15, 2007, educational status, and lack of disqualifying criminal history. USCIS does not accept partial filings or promise to request missing documents later — an incomplete packet triggers a Request for Evidence (RFE) that delays adjudication by months, or an outright denial if the deadline passes. This checklist walks through every required document, the acceptable formats USCIS publishes, and the defects that most often cause RFE issuance or rejection.

The core forms are Form I-821D (Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization), and Form I-765 Worksheet. Initial applications, renewals, and applications filed after a period of lapse all use the same base checklist, but renewals may submit less identity evidence if biometrics and address have not changed. Applicants who were previously granted DACA, allowed it to expire, and are re-applying file as initial applicants — the full evidence packet applies.

The Three Core Forms and Where to Obtain Them

Form I-821D, the DACA request itself, is available at uscis.gov/i-821d. The current edition as of January 2026 is dated 12/05/2023; using an outdated edition causes rejection. Form I-765, the employment authorization application that accompanies every DACA request, is found at uscis.gov/i-765, edition dated 10/15/2025. Form I-765 Worksheet calculates the requested validity period for the work permit and must be completed even though it is not separately filed — USCIS instructs applicants to keep the worksheet for their records and use it to answer Part 3 of Form I-765 accurately.

All three forms must be filled out completely. Leaving a field blank when an answer is required, writing "N/A" in a mandatory field, or failing to sign and date the forms are the most common technical errors USCIS flags. Each form provides specific instructions on which fields apply to DACA filers — follow them exactly.

Filing Fee and Fee Waiver Evidence

As of January 2026, USCIS lists the combined filing fee for Form I-821D and Form I-765 on the fee schedule at uscis.gov/forms. Fees change periodically; confirm the current amount before mailing the application. Payment is made by check or money order payable to "U.S. Department of Homeland Security." Personal checks are accepted; USCIS does not accept cash, and credit card payments are not available for these forms.

Applicants who cannot afford the fee may submit Form I-912 (Request for Fee Waiver) with evidence of financial hardship: documentation of receipt of a means-tested public benefit (SSI, SNAP, Medicaid, TANF), proof that household income is at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, or evidence of financial hardship such as unexpected medical bills, recent unemployment, or supporting dependents. The fee waiver must be approved before the application is adjudicated; fee waiver denial requires payment of the fee within a USCIS-set deadline or the application is denied for abandonment.

Identity and Biographical Evidence — What USCIS Accepts

USCIS requires one primary identity document. If you do not have a passport or birth certificate, USCIS permits substitution with a combination of secondary documents — school records with photo, medical records, employment records — but secondary documents require more corroboration and increase RFE risk. Applicants without a birth certificate should obtain one from the issuing authority in their country of birth if possible; some countries issue birth certificates to nationals abroad through consulates.

Proof of U.S. Arrival Before Your 16th Birthday

DACA requires that you entered the United States before turning 16 years old. USCIS does not accept self-testimony alone. Acceptable evidence, in order of preference:

• Passport with admission stamp showing entry date before your 16th birthday
• Form I-94 or I-95 (Arrival/Departure Record) issued by CBP, showing date of entry
• Travel records: airline tickets, boarding passes, baggage claim stubs, or travel itineraries dated before your 16th birthday and showing entry to the U.S.
• School records, medical records, or employment records from the U.S. dated shortly after your claimed entry date and before you turned 16

Many DACA applicants entered without inspection or overstayed a visa issued when they were children, so they lack passport stamps or I-94s. In that case, USCIS accepts contemporaneous documents: school enrollment records showing the first day of attendance, pediatric medical records, affidavits from individuals with direct knowledge of your entry. Affidavits must include the affiant's full name, address, date and place of birth, relationship to you, and detailed knowledge of your entry circumstances — vague affidavits or affidavits from family members alone are weak and should be supported by documentary evidence.

Continuous Residence Evidence — June 15, 2007 to Present

Continuous residence means you have resided in the United States since June 15, 2007, without leaving for more than 90 days on a single trip or more than 180 days total across multiple trips. USCIS requires documentary proof spanning the entire period. The evidence packet should include documents from every year or as close as possible:

• School records: transcripts, report cards, attendance records, tuition receipts
• Employment records: W-2 forms, pay stubs, employer letters on letterhead stating dates of employment
• Medical and dental records dated throughout the period
• Financial records: bank statements, credit card statements, tax returns, rent or mortgage payment receipts, utility bills in your name or a parent's name at your U.S. address
• Insurance records: health, auto, renters insurance documents
• Affidavits from landlords, employers, teachers, coaches, clergy, or community members attesting to your presence in the U.S. during specific periods

Gaps in the documentary record trigger RFEs. If you cannot produce documents from a specific year, explain why in an attached cover letter and provide the closest surrounding documents. USCIS does not require proof from every month, but a multi-year gap with no explanation fails the continuous residence test.

Educational Status Evidence — In School, Graduated, or GED

To qualify for DACA, you must currently be in school, have graduated from high school, have obtained a GED, or have been honorably discharged from the U.S. military or Coast Guard. Acceptable evidence by category:

• Currently enrolled in school: Official transcript from your current school showing your name, the school's name, current enrollment status, and the current school term. A letter from the school registrar on official letterhead also satisfies this requirement if it states you are enrolled, the grade level or program, and the current term.
• High school diploma: Copy of the diploma itself or official transcripts showing graduation date and conferral of diploma.
• GED certificate: Copy of the certificate issued by the testing authority in your state.
• Honorable discharge from U.S. Armed Forces or Coast Guard: DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) showing honorable discharge status.

Applicants who dropped out of high school but later obtained a GED satisfy the educational requirement — the GED certificate is the proof. Applicants enrolled in adult education programs, community college, or vocational training satisfy the "in school" requirement as long as the program is state-recognized and you provide enrollment verification.

Biometric Services Fee and Appointment Notice

Form I-821D includes a biometric services fee. As of January 2026, USCIS lists the biometric services fee on the fee schedule at uscis.gov/forms; confirm the current amount before filing. This fee is separate from the I-821D and I-765 filing fees and is paid with the same check or money order.

After USCIS receives the application and fee, they mail an Appointment Notice (Form I-797C) scheduling biometrics collection at an Application Support Center (ASC). The notice provides the date, time, and address. Applicants must bring the notice, a government-issued photo ID (passport, driver's license, or state ID), and appear on time. Failure to attend the biometrics appointment without rescheduling in advance results in denial of the application.

Criminal History and Background Check — What You Must Disclose

DACA eligibility requires that you have not been convicted of a felony, significant misdemeanor, or three or more misdemeanors, and do not pose a threat to national security or public safety. USCIS conducts a background check on every applicant using biometrics, but you must also disclose all arrests and convictions on Form I-821D.

"Significant misdemeanor" includes DUI, domestic violence, sexual abuse or exploitation, burglary, unlawful possession or use of a firearm, drug distribution or trafficking, and any misdemeanor for which the sentence imposed was more than 90 days (even if suspended). Three or more non-significant misdemeanors also disqualify you.

If you have any criminal history, include certified court records for every arrest and conviction: the charging document, the disposition (judgment or plea agreement), and the sentencing order. If charges were dismissed or you were acquitted, include the dismissal order. Failing to disclose an arrest USCIS discovers in the background check results in denial for fraud. Applicants with criminal histories should consult an immigration attorney to determine eligibility before filing.

Here's the Honest Answer: USCIS Does Not Tell You What You Forgot

USCIS reviews the application for completeness when it arrives. If the forms are unsigned, the fee is missing, or required identity documents are not included, they reject the entire packet and mail it back unprocessed. If the packet passes the completeness check but lacks sufficient evidence of continuous residence, educational status, or another element, USCIS issues a Request for Evidence with a deadline to submit the missing documents. That deadline is firm — miss it, and the application is denied.

The RFE does not coach you on what to send. It states what element is missing or insufficient, but does not list specific acceptable documents. That is why assembling a complete packet before filing is critical. Waiting for an RFE to tell you what else you need adds months to the process and risks denial if the evidence does not exist or cannot be obtained within the deadline.

What If My Documents Are in a Foreign Language?

Every document submitted to USCIS that is not in English must be accompanied by a full, certified English translation. The translation must include a certification statement signed by the translator attesting that they are competent to translate from the source language to English and that the translation is complete and accurate. USCIS does not require that the translator be a professional or credentialed translator — any competent bilingual individual may translate and certify the document, as long as they are not the applicant or the applicant's attorney.

The certification statement must include the translator's name, signature, contact information, and the date. Attach the translation to the original foreign-language document; USCIS requires both. Birth certificates, school records, employment letters, court records, and affidavits are the documents most often requiring translation.

Continuous residence evidence does not require monthly documentation, but USCIS expects proof from multiple points across the period. If you cannot produce documents from a specific year, provide an explanation in a cover letter and submit the closest surrounding documents. Affidavits from individuals who knew you during the gap period help — parents, teachers, landlords, employers, or community members who can attest to your presence in the U.S. during that time.

The more documentary evidence you provide, the less weight affidavits need to carry. Bank statements and school records are stronger than affidavits, but affidavits combined with some contemporaneous records usually satisfy USCIS. Submitting no evidence from a multi-year period with no explanation results in an RFE or denial.

What If I Left the U.S. After June 15, 2012?

DACA requires that you were residing in the United States on June 15, 2012, and at the time you file the application. Brief trips abroad after June 15, 2012, are permitted under advance parole granted by USCIS. If you traveled abroad without advance parole after June 15, 2012, you broke continuous residence and are ineligible for DACA.

Travel before June 15, 2012, is evaluated differently: departures of 90 days or less on a single trip, or 180 days or less total, do not break continuous residence as long as you were present on June 15, 2007, and have resided in the U.S. since. Travel records showing dates of departure and return — passport stamps, I-94s, boarding passes, travel itineraries — prove the length of the absence. If your trips were brief and you returned, include those records to show compliance.

Mailing the Application and Tracking Receipt

As of January 2026, USCIS posts the filing address for Form I-821D on the form instructions at uscis.gov/i-821d. The address varies depending on whether you are filing from within the United States or abroad and whether you are filing a fee waiver. Use the correct address from the current instructions — USCIS updates addresses periodically, and using an outdated address delays processing.

Mail the packet via USPS, UPS, FedEx, or DHL with tracking and delivery confirmation. USCIS does not confirm receipt by email; the first notice you receive is a receipt notice (Form I-797C) with a case number, mailed 2-4 weeks after filing. Track the mailing; if delivery fails or the envelope is returned, the filing date is lost and you must refile.

The receipt notice confirms USCIS received the application, lists the case number, and provides instructions for checking case status online at uscis.gov/casestatus or by calling the USCIS Contact Center. The biometrics appointment notice follows within weeks of the receipt notice.

Copies, Originals, and What to Keep for Your Records

Submit clear, legible photocopies of all documents unless USCIS specifically requires an original. USCIS does not return original documents unless requested at the time of filing with a self-addressed stamped envelope, and many documents are never returned at all. Keep original identity documents, passports, birth certificates, diplomas, and court records in your possession; submit copies.

Make a complete copy of the entire application packet — forms, fee payment proof, and all evidence documents — before mailing. This is your record of what you submitted and is critical if USCIS loses the packet, issues an RFE, or later questions what was filed. Store the copy in a safe location.

How the Law Offices of Peter D. Chu Approach DACA Filings

The Law Offices of Peter D. Chu work with DACA applicants in San Diego and throughout Southern California to assemble complete, evidence-supported application packets before filing. The firm reviews every document against the USCIS checklist, identifies gaps in the evidence record, and advises on obtaining missing documents or explaining gaps that cannot be filled. For applicants with criminal histories, travel outside the U.S., or complex educational or employment records, legal review before filing reduces RFE risk and clarifies eligibility before the fee is paid.

A $250 initial consultation reviews your specific situation, the strength of your evidence, and whether DACA is the right pathway for you. Immigration law is federal, and USCIS applies the same standards nationwide, but local applicants benefit from in-person document review and preparation support. The firm's office at 4615 Convoy St, San Diego, CA 92111, is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM. Contact the office at 858-268-8823 to schedule a consultation or visit peterchu.com for more information on citizenship and immigration services.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information about DACA form filing requirements and is not legal advice. It does not create an attorney-client relationship between the reader and the Law Offices of Peter D. Chu. DACA eligibility and application outcomes depend on individual facts, criminal history, travel history, and the completeness of the evidence submitted. Immigration laws and USCIS policies change; confirm current requirements and fees at uscis.gov before filing. Consult a licensed immigration attorney for advice on your specific situation.

Schedule a consultation with the Law Offices of Peter D. Chu — 4615 Convoy St, San Diego, CA 92111 · 858-268-8823 · Mon–Fri, 8:30 AM–5:30 PM. Consultation fee: $250.