The following is a breakdown of the government fees typically associated with I-821 Form:

Initial Temporary Protected Status:

• USCIS filing fee
• Biometrics fee: $85
• Employment authorization fee: $410 (must submit Form I-765 with application)

Re-registration for Temporary Protected Status:

• Biometrics fee: $85
• Employment authorization fee: $410 (must submit Form I-765 with application)

According to the Secretary of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano, the June 15th Memorandum on DACA was put in place so that the law enforcement resources of the U.S. were not expended on low-priority cases. Furthermore, the Obama Administration concluded that, since individuals eligible for this policy change were brought to the United States as children, they were too young to have any intent to violate U.S. immigration law and should not be set as targets for deportation as they are otherwise law-abiding individuals. The temporary nature of this memorandum, however, is particularly salient. The memorandum can easily be overturned by the next administration, as it was implemented via executive order, and not by Congressional law.

Requirements:

1. Applicant must also file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization;
2. Applicant must have been under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012;
3. Applicant must have arrived in the U.S. before reaching his/her 16th birthday;
4. Applicant must have continuously resided in the U.S. since June 15, 2007, up to the present time;
5. Applicant must have been present in the U.S. on June 15, 2012, and at the time of making his/her request for deferred action with USCIS;
6. Applicant must of had no lawful status on June 15, 2012, meaning that:
   1. Applicant never had lawful immigration status on or before June 15, 2012; or
   2. Any lawful immigration status or parole that applicant obtained prior to June 15, 2012 had expired as of June 15, 2012;
7. Applicant must either currently be in school, have graduated or obtained a certificate of completion from high school, have obtained a general education development (GED) certificate, or is an honorably discharged veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces or U.S. Coast Guard; and
8. Applicant has not been convicted of a felony, a significant misdemeanor, or three or more misdemeanors, and does not otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety;
9. Applicant must be at least 15 years of age to apply.

Limitations:

1. DACA status does not give applicants any sort of lawful status, and does not excuse the individual for previous periods of unlawful presence;
2. It is not a path to getting permanent residence or citizenship;
3. Individuals who receive DACA status will not be able to gain from federal benefits, such as financial aid for college;
4. The benefits of deferred action are not transferred to immediate relatives;
5. DACA recipients may not travel outside of the U.S. without an approved application for advance parole via Form I-131;
6. Those who travel outside of the U.S. before USCIS has determined their status will not be considered for deferred action;
7. Decisions on deferred action may not be appealed, reopened, or reconsidered;
8. The deferral is good for a period of 2 years, and is subject to renewal.

A brief, casual, and innocent absence from the U.S. will not interrupt continuous residence. If absent from the U.S. for any period of time, absence will be considered brief, casual, and innocent, if it was on or after June 15, 2007, and before August 15, 2012, and:

1. The absence was short and reasonably calculated to accomplish the purpose for the absence;
2. The absence was not because of an order of exclusion, deportation, or removal;
3. The absence was not because of an order of voluntary departure or an administrative grant of voluntary departure before placed in exclusion, deportation, or removal proceedings;
4. The purpose of the absence and/or actions while outside of the U.S. were not contrary to law.

A brief, casual, and innocent absence from the U.S. will not interrupt continuous residence. If absent from the U.S. for any period of time, absence will be considered brief, casual, and innocent, if it was on or after June 15, 2007, and before August 15, 2012, and:

1. The absence was short and reasonably calculated to accomplish the purpose for the absence;
2. The absence was not because of an order of exclusion, deportation, or removal;
3. The absence was not because of an order of voluntary departure or an administrative grant of voluntary departure before placed in exclusion, deportation, or removal proceedings;
4. The purpose of the absence and/or actions while outside of the U.S. were not contrary to law.

Each person seeking TPS must apply for him or herself on a separate Form I-821. There is no derivative TPS status, meaning that your spouse, children or parents cannot obtain TPS as a result of your approval for TPS. They must each qualify for TPS individually.

However, USCIS may accept late initial TPS applications from certain individuals who had a qualifying relationship to a spouse or child during the initial registration period for the TPS-designated country and that relative is also currently eligible for TPS. Even where such a relationship exists, the applicant must still meet all other TPS eligibility requirements before USCIS may grant TPS. Please see the TPS page on the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov/tps or the latest Federal Register Notice regarding the TPS designation for your country for further information on late initial filing.