In light of an impending Supreme Court decision about DACA amidst the COVID-19 crisis, we are recommending DACA recipients strongly consider renewing their status as soon as possible, so here’s what you need to know to do just that:

USCIS offices will be closed until May 3, but it is still processing DACA renewals. USCIS office closures and other announcements may affect your application. USCIS announced their offices will be closed to the public until at least May 3. This means all interviews and other appointments, i.e. biometrics, are cancelled until then, but other functions, like processing applications, are still happening.

USCIS Has Announced It Will Use Previously Submitted Biometrics to Process Renewals for People Who Had Biometrics Appointments Scheduled During the USCIS Closure. USCIS may use the information from your last visit and process your application that way. If your biometrics are needed to process your renewal request and the Application Support Center is closed, USCIS may use your previously submitted biometrics, meaning the background check that was used to evaluate your previous DACA request.

Renew Your DACA If Your DACA Expires in 2020, and Don’t Hesitate to Renew Early. With USCIS still processing renewals, consider renewing if your DACA expires in 2020, even if it’s early! Given the upcoming Supreme Court decision, we recommend you talk to an immigration attorney and send in your application through certified mail. It is better to send in your renewal before a potential court decision so that USCIS can process it!

What if a bad decision comes out before your DACA is renewed? We can’t know for sure what will happen yet. If USCIS has your application when the decision happens, there’s a chance that they might renew your DACA anyway, one last time. Again, that’s not a sure thing. But this is why we urge folks to consider renewing even if early and to send it in via certified mail so you have proof it arrived at USCIS before the decision. If USCIS decides not to process already received renewals, they may return your application and fees.

Support DACA Recipients by Donating to the DACA Renewal Fund! Support DACA recipients by helping to cover the expensive renewal fees they have to pay to renew. Go to DacaRenewalFund.com, and donate to help us fund DACA renewals.