This will be the third blog in our series on Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. After an examination of the program as a whole (LINK) and some of the program's specific guidelines (LINK), we will now take a look at the documentation needed to demonstrate for the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that guidelines have been met.
For proof of identity, an applicant must be able to submit one of the following: A passport/national identity document from the country of origin; a birth certificate with photo ID; a school or military ID; or a U.S. government immigration document containing both name and photo. For proof of immigration status the USCIS will accept a Form I-94/I-95/I-94W with authorized stay expiration date; final order of exclusion or deportation as of June 15, 2012; or a charging document which places the applicant into proceedings for removal.
Records from U.S. schools attended, travels records, Form I-94/I-95/I-94W, immigration documents from the DHS or INS stating date or entry or hospital records can be used to prove an applicant came to the U.S. prior to the age of 16.
To prove presence in the U.S. on June 15, 2012 and continuous residence since June 15, 2007, applicants can use: Rent receipts or utility bills, school or military records (report cards, Form DD-214, NGB Form 22, etc), copies of money orders sending money in or out of the country, passport entries, social security card, receipts for automobile licenses or registrations, mortgages or rental contracts, pay stubs or W-2s, and tax receipts or insurance policies.
To prove student status at the time deferment consideration is requested, the USCIS will accept school records from the current institution showing period of attendance, a high school diploma, or a U.S. GED certificate.
Proof of honorable discharge from the Armed Forces or Coast Guard can come in the form of a Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD-214); National Guard Report of Separation and Record of Service (NGB Form 22); military personnel records; or military health records.
The USCIS does not consider affidavits to be sufficient for proof that guidelines have been met by themselves. However, they can be used as supporting documentation for gaps proving the five-year continuous residence requirement and a lack of documentation related to the brief departures during the five-year period. Affidavits will not be accepted to help meet requirements related to criminal history, age entering the U.S., age on June 15, 2012, presence in the U.S. on June 15, 2012, or education and military background.
