The Dream Act, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, is a new program launched by the Obama Administration. The Dream Act will allow undocumented immigrants who are currently in the United States to essentially apply for legal status if they meet certain requirements.

Here at the Dream Act Portal, we strive to provide you with up-to-date and relevant information about the Dream Act and DACA. We also aim to provide a place where you can engage in conversations about this important and timely topic. If you have any questions about Dream Act Portal and what kinds of material we accept, please see our FAQ page.

As you may already know, many states have already passed their own versions of the Dream Act legislation. These laws tend to vary from state to state and from program to program but they all aim to do the same thing: give undocumented young people a chance at higher education.

The dream act application requirements are as follows:

Must be under age 31 as of June 15, 2012;

Came to the U.S. before turning 16;

Continuously lived in the U.S. since June 15, 2007 until present;

Were physically present in the U.S. on June 15, 2012; Entered without inspection before June 15, 2012 or lawful

On June 15, 2012, President Obama announced the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program or DACA. This program is an administrative program that provides a temporary deferment of deportation and work authorization to undocumented immigrants who came to the United States as children. In 2014, USCIS started accepting applications for DACA.

On November 20, 2014, President Obama announced Executive Action on Immigration which created multiple new immigration benefits, including a three-year extension of DACA and a new program called Deferred Action for Parents (DAPA). However, at this time DAPA has been blocked by a federal judge in Texas and is not being implemented.

In November 2014 USCIS also announced that it would begin accepting applications for the extended version of DACA. This three-year extension means that people with DACA can now get work authorization until 2018. Because of this announcement we have seen many requests from California Dreamers asking how they can renew their DACA status.

USCIS is now accepting requests to extend DACA status for another two years, so long as your current status is about to expire between now and March 5th, 2018.

If you applied for DACA in the past and were approved, you will receive a renewal notice from USCIS 120 days before your DACA expiration date. This notice will tell you when you need to renew by. However, if you do not receive a renewal notice, it is important that you submit your application 90 days before your current DACA expires.

If you are eligible to apply for an extension of your DACA status and choose not to file the application and pay the $495 filing fee, your current employment authorization card and accompanying work permit will expire when your current term ends. This means that if USCIS does not receive a renewal application for your DACA status 180 days prior to expiration, then you will no longer be authorized to work or remain in the United States under the deferred action program that was established under President Obama’s administration.

There are no extensions on applications received after March 5th as this would be considered late filing.

If you’ve been waiting for the California Dream Act to pass, you can now let out a sigh of relief: On Saturday, Gov. Jerry Brown signed two bills that allow undocumented students who meet AB540 requirements to apply for state-administered financial aid.

This has been a long time coming for many undocumented students who have had their dreams deferred by DACA and DREAM Act rejections. The new law will allow thousands of students in California to fulfill their dreams and apply for financial aid and scholarships currently only available to US citizens and permanent residents.

To celebrate this momentous occasion, we at College Greenlight want to help students understand what this means for them and how they can take full advantage of the opportunities available to them. We’ve compiled a list of resources below that will help you navigate the application process so you can get on with applying to colleges and having a great college experience!

The California Dream Act Application (CADAA) allows undocumented and nonresident documented students who meet AB 540 criteria to receive state financial aid, including the following types of aid:

– Chafee Grant for Foster Youth

– Cal Grant A

– Cal Grant B

– Cal Grant C

– University Grants

– State University Grants

– Community College Fee Waivers

The first step in applying for these funds is filling out the California Dream Act Application (CADAA). This application is free and can be found at www.caldreamact.org. The CADAA does not determine eligibility for federal financial aid; it is used to determine eligibility for state financial aid only. Here are some tips for filling out the CADAA:

1. A Social Security Number is NOT required to fill out the CADAA. Students without a Social Security Number should put all zeros in the box that asks for their number.

2. Students who have never been to college before should choose “First Time College Student” on the personal information page of the application. Students who have attended a college before should choose “Transferring from Another School.” It’s important to get this right, as it could affect which schools are displayed on your account!

The California Dream Act is a set of state laws that allow undocumented and nonresident students who meet certain requirements to receive privately funded scholarships for public colleges and state-administered financial aid, such as Cal Grants, Chafee Grants and Board of Governors Fee Waivers.

Students who qualify for the Dream Act can submit their California Dream Act application through their college or universities financial aid office. They can also apply directly to the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC).

By allowing undocumented immigrants to apply for state-funded financial aid and private scholarships, the California Dream Act opens up access to higher education for those who would otherwise be unable to afford it. In addition, providing access to higher education is an investment in California’s future workforce. The state relies on graduates in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields to remain competitive in today’s technology economy.

Property Aids Students with Undocumented Status

In 2011, Governor Jerry Brown signed AB 131 into law, making it possible for undocumented students who meet certain requirements to receive state-funded financial aid. These students must have attended a California high school for three or more years and graduated from a California high school or received the equivalent of a high school diploma in this state. They must also sign an affidavit stating they

I am an immigrant. I was born in Mexico and came to the United States when I was 8 years old. Like many who have left their home country, I came here in pursuit of a better life.

I grew up believing that my immigration status would never define me or my future because this is my home. And like most Americans, I take pride in the notion that here one’s fate is not dictated by where they were born, but rather by their hard work and drive to succeed.

This is what drove me to pursue higher education so that I could be an example for others like me and show that we too can contribute to society. A few years ago, President Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program enabled me to realize my dream of attending one of the best universities in the country: UC Berkeley.

DACA made it possible for undocumented students like myself to not only live without fear of deportation, but to also pursue higher education and meaningful careers upon graduation. It gave us hope that our immigration status would no longer be an obstacle to achieving our dreams.