DACA Attorneys in New Bern

Navigating DACA Renewals & Legal Updates in North Carolina

E. A. Wood Law Firm has represented DACA recipients throughout Craven County and across the country since long before the current wave of court rulings began. Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals looks different today than even two years ago. 

As of 2026, USCIS no longer approves new DACA applications, but the agency continues to process renewals for people who already hold status, and international travel under DACA now comes with new costs and restrictions.

What We Do at E. A. Wood Law Firm

Attorneys Elizabeth A. Wood and Isa Mari Gratacós-Padró bring more than 20 years of combined immigration experience to DACA matters and are both active members of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. 

Whether you hold DACA status right now, are worried about an upcoming renewal, or once expected to qualify but no longer do, our New Bern immigration attorneys can explain what applies to your situation today.

Call E. A. Wood Law Firm today at (800) 611-0821 or contact us online to schedule a consultation with our DACA attorneys in New Bern.

What Is the Current Situation of DACA?

Here's where DACA stands: 

• The legal fight over DACA has centered on the Texas v. United States case since 2018.
• In January 2025, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a ruling declaring the program unlawful in its current form.
• Existing DACA recipients can continue renewing their status while the case proceeds.
• USCIS accepts renewal applications but does not approve new, first-time DACA applications.
• Congress has never passed permanent legislation to replace or protect the program, meaning DACA's future continues to rest on ongoing court decisions.

What this could mean for you: Work authorization and protection from removal remain active for people who already hold status, but the margin for error has narrowed. A missed renewal deadline or an incomplete application carries more weight in a legal environment where starting over from a new application isn't an option.

Renewing Your DACA Status

DACA never grants permanent status. Renewal is due every 2 years, and USCIS asks for updated documentation showing continuous residence since your last approval, such as school records, utility bills, and bank statements.

Renewal processing times have grown less predictable, and any gap in status, even a short one, can interrupt work authorization. Our attorneys review renewal packets before submission, so any missing documents or inconsistencies in your residence history can be caught and corrected here rather than triggering a denial or a lengthy request for more evidence.

DACA Advance Parole and Travel

International travel has always carried risk for DACA recipients, and the risk has grown heavier in 2026. DACA holders who want to travel abroad and return must first request Advance Parole, and the total cost of that trip now comes in two separate pieces:

• Form I-131 Filing Fee: Filing for Advance Parole costs $580 online or $630 by mail, payable to USCIS at the time of application.
• CBP Re-Entry Surcharge: A new $1,000 fee applies at the port of entry, collected by Customs and Border Protection before a DACA recipient traveling on Advance Parole can come back into the country.

Both costs apply on top of any DACA renewal fees already due, and neither guarantees re-entry. Border officers keep discretionary authority to deny admission even with an approved Advance Parole document, so the financial and legal risk both land on the traveler.

If you're weighing a trip abroad for a family emergency, a wedding, or any other reason, talk with our attorneys first. Traveling on an Advance Parole without confirming your own eligibility puts your return to the United States at real risk.

If You Can't Renew, or Never Got DACA, What Are Your Options?

USCIS no longer approves new DACA applications, leaving many people who once qualified without this path forward. And DACA was never designed as a permanent solution for the people who already hold this status. 

Depending on your situation, other paths to lawful status and work authorization remain open:

• Family and Marriage-Based Petitions: A U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident spouse, parent, or adult child can sponsor a family or marriage-based visa without any dependence on DACA status.
• VAWA Self-Petitions: Survivors of abuse by a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident spouse or family member can pursue lawful permanent residence through a self-petition under the Violence Against Women Act, without needing cooperation from the abuser.
• U Visas: Victims of certain crimes who cooperate with law enforcement can pursue a U visa, a status designed to eventually lead to a green card.
• Deportation and Removal Defense: For someone already in removal proceedings, our attorneys handle deportation and removal defense and pursue relief entirely separate from DACA.

We represented a DACA recipient who went on to secure a green card and, later, full U.S. citizenship. Every immigration case differs, and past results don't predict future outcomes, but this case shows the kind of long-term path that remains open even when DACA itself is closed.

Get Legal Help from Our New Bern DACA Attorneys

DACA makes up one part of a much larger area of law, and our attorneys handle DACA matters as part of a full immigration practice, not a side service. 

E. A. Wood Law Firm works directly with clients at every stage of a case, and our team communicates in English, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and French, so language never stands between you and your understanding of your situation. 

We meet with clients at our New Bern office, by phone, or by secure video, whether you live down the street or across the world.

Don't wait to learn where your DACA status stands. Call E. A. Wood Law Firm today at (800) 611-0821 or contact us online to schedule a consultation with our New Bern DACA attorneys.