- Houston Independent School District
- DACA FAQs
General Questions
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Is my DACA still valid?
DACA and work permits (Employment Authorization Documents) will remain valid until the expiration date. To determine when your DACA and work permit expire, look at your I-795 Approval Notice and the bottom of your Employment Authorization Document (EAD).
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I don’t have DACA. If I am eligible, can I still apply?
USCIS is not accepting initial applications. No one applying for DACA for the first time will have their application processed by USCIS.
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My DACA is expiring soon. Can I renew it?
Yes. If you were granted DACA, you may submit an application to renew your DACA. You must also meet the following requirements in order to qualify for DACA renewal:- You must not have departed the U.S. on or after August 15, 2012, without first having been granted advance parole.
- You must have resided continuously in the U.S. from the time you submitted the initial request for DACA up until the present time.
- You must not have been convicted of a felony, a significant misdemeanor, or three or more misdemeanors, and must not otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety.
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I submitted my DACA renewal application already, what will happen to it?
If your application is currently pending, it will be adjudicated according to USCIS.
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Can I still apply for Advance Parole?
DACA recipients may once again apply for permission to travel abroad through Advance Parole. Advance Parole will only be granted for humanitarian, educational, and employment purposes. Read below for examples of purposes that Advance Parole may be granted:
- Humanitarian: travel to visit a sick relative, medical assistance, funeral services, or other urgent family-related matters
- Academic: study abroad programs through school or academic research
- Work/Employment: conferences and trainings, meetings, or overseas assignments
Driver's Licenses
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What happens to my Driver’s License when my work permit expires?
Driver’s license rules, including eligibility and document requirements, and procedures for renewing a license, vary from state to state. All 50 states allow DACA grantees to get a driver’s license if they are otherwise eligible.
In most states, a driver’s license expires when the deferred action grant or work authorization document expires. Depending on the state’s rules, you may need to show new proof that you are lawfully present in the U.S. or have a specific immigration status (other than DACA) when you renew your license.
You will need to check with your motor vehicles department for the specific requirements in your state.
Health Care
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Do I still have health insurance?
If you have health coverage through your employer, you should remain covered as long as you are employed.
If you have health coverage through your spouse’s or partner’s employer, you should remain covered. There are no immigration status requirements for such coverage.
DACA recipients are not eligible for health insurance through the health insurance marketplaces established under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), so the rescission of DACA did not affect their access to ACA plans. Anyone who doesn’t have another source of coverage can buy private health coverage directly from insurance companies and brokers, regardless of their immigration status. However, no financial assistance is available and coverage can only be purchased during an Open Enrollment or a Special Enrollment Period.
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I don’t have health insurance, do I have any other options for affordable health care?
Many local clinics and agencies provide health care services for their residents who are ineligible for comprehensive coverage, regardless of their immigration status. Access to those programs will not be affected by the rescission of DACA. These clinics include Harris Health System, where services are open to residents who qualify for the Gold Card program, which offers comprehensive health care up to emergency care at hospitals. Legacy Community Health is a clinic network offering primary care, behavioral health, dental care, OBGYN, HIV/STD testing, LGBT+ healthcare, pediatrics, pharmacy, and more. The IBN Sina Foundation is a clinic network offering primary care and dental services. Locations on Wilcrest, N. Shephard, and S. Post Oak. Centro de Corazon is a clinic network offering behavioral health, primary care, women’s health, and dental services. Locations in the East End and Southeast/Gulfgate. The Living Hope Wheelchair Foundation is a provider of wheelchair and other medical equipment/supplies and maintenance. In addition, the following health programs are available regardless of immigration status in all states, and remain an option for uninsured immigrants, including people who have DACA or whose DACA expired:- Emergency-room care
- Community health centers and free clinics
- Public and safety-net hospitals
- Public health services (immunizations, treatment of communicable diseases such as tuberculosis, HIV, sexually transmitted diseases)
- Emergency treatment under emergency Medicaid, including labor and delivery for pregnancy
- Hospital and community health center financial assistance programs (also known as “charity care”)
Finances
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How should I manage my finances?
- Select someone you trust at your job who can pick up your paycheck
- Have a list of banks and accounts opened
- Have a list of all utilities/bills
- Enroll someone you trust in your bank account who can deposit, withdraw or potentially close your bank account
- Start a savings account
- Have someone listed on your utility bills who can close accounts and collect deposits
- Add someone to your lease who can terminate it if need be and collect deposits
- Add someone to your mortgage who can continue making payments on your mortgage, close it or sell your property for you
- Add someone to your car lease who can continue payments, terminate purchase or sell vehicle for you
- Begin a savings plan immediately even if it’s not much, at least for each month. It might come in handy later
Taxes
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What will happen to my social security number?
Once you receive a Social Security Number (SSN) from the Social Security Administration, you must use your SSN for tax filing purposes and discontinue use of an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) if you had previously been issued one. If your work authorization is rescinded, your SSN remains valid for tax purposes so you should continue to use your SSN for that purpose. Note that this only applies to a valid SSN that has been assigned to you. You are required to file all your taxes under that single your SSN going forward. It is important not to present false information on tax forms—such as filing the return with an SSN that was not assigned to you–as this could affect your immigration case in the future. If you have questions about tax filing, you can visit a local tax clinic. In general, if you earn less than $54,000 a year, you are eligible for free services at Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites. You can find a local VITA site here: https://www.irs.gov/individuals/free-tax-return-preparation-for-you-by-volunteers.
Contact Us
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College & Career Readiness DepartmentHouston Independent School District1102 Telephone RoadHouston, TX 77023
Resource Guides & Downloads
- Latest DACA Update
- DACA Initial Application Guide
- DACA Application Video Walkthrough
- Immigrant Rights
- Take Action: Ways to Advocate
- Mental Health Emergency Toolkit
- How to Support Undocumented Students
- ESL Resources
- Inclusive Community Colleges
- Promoting Student Diversity
- DACA Repeal Overview
- Teaching Tolerance