DACA/TPS

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, also known as DACA, is the name used for a process announced by the Secretary of Homeland Security on June 15, 2012, due to an executive order signed by former President Barack Obama. Although the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on June 18, 2020, to uphold DACA temporarily on a procedural issue, on July 16, 2021, a U.S. Federal District Court in the Southern District of Texas ruled that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) could not process new applications for DACA. 

Consistent with this order, DHS will continue to accept the filing of both initial and renewal DACA requests, as well as accompanying requests for employment authorization. However, pursuant to the July 16, 2021, order from the Southern District of Texas, DHS is prohibited from granting initial DACA requests and accompanying requests for employment authorization. Also consistent with that order, DHS will continue to grant or deny renewal DACA requests, according to existing policy. 

Under the 2012 DACA policy, if you came to the United States as a child and met several key guidelines, you could file an application with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), a branch of the Department of Homeland Security, to request consideration of deferred action. 

“Deferred action” refers to a decision to defer (delay or put off) removal action of an individual. DACA may be granted by USCIS for a period of two years and may be renewed under certain circumstances. Deferred action does not provide an individual with lawful status; however, recipients of deferred action may obtain work authorization. 

DACA students are individuals who applied for and received deferred action. DACA students typically are granted employment authorization and receive an employment authorization documented (EAD card). The EAD allows DACA students to apply for a Social Security Number and driver’s license. For more information and the latest updates, please visit the USCIS website. 

“DREAMer” is an inclusive term for undocumented individuals either with or without Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). DREAMers/undocumented students live in the U.S. and are not U.S citizens, legal permanent residents, and do not hold a currently valid non-immigrant visa. Undocumented students may or may not have entered on a visa (i.e. B-1/B-2) or previously held legal permanent residency status. 

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) program established in 1990 that allows migrants from designated countries to reside legally in the United States for a period of up to eighteen months. During that period, TPS holders are protected from deportation and can be issued an employment authorization documented (EAD card), and can be granted a Form I-512T, Authorization for Travel by a Noncitizen to the United States, to serve as travel authorization. The EAD card allows TPS students to apply for a Social Security Number and driver’s license. This program does not include a path to permanent residency or U.S. citizenship, but TPS recipients can apply for those designations separately. For more information on how to apply for these benefits and for a list of countries that are currently designated, please visit the USCIS website.  

Visit the Establishing Texas Residency webpage from the Registrar’s office for information on establishing Texas residency for in-state tuition. You can also visit the Residency FAQ page for more information. 

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is available for U.S. citizens and certain eligible noncitizens. For more information on eligibility requirements, please visit the Financial Aid Eligibility page.  

The Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA) is also available for students who are considered to be a resident of Texas but who are not able to complete the FAFSA because they are not a citizen of the United States or an eligible non-citizen. Additional eligibility information is available. 

For more information regarding financial aid, please contact the Financial Aid Office. 

If you have been granted DACA or TPS from USCIS, then you should have been issued an employment authorization documented (EAD card). With this EAD card, you are eligible to work in the United States and can apply for a Social Security Number and driver’s license. For more information on these benefits, please visit the USCIS website for DACA or TPS.

Yes, even if you did not work or receive an income, all individuals residing in the U.S. must file with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). With either DACA or TPS, you should have or are eligible to receive a social security number. You can apply for a Social Security number through the SSA website. Note that if you were using an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) before you received the SSN, you must stop using the ITIN to file your taxes and write to the IRS ITIN unit to inform them that you are no longer using your ITIN. UT Dallas has arranged access to Sprintax Tax Preparation, an online tax preparation software, specifically for nonresident alien students. To gain access to the software, you will need to complete the online registration form to determine your residency status as a taxpayer. Depending on how long you have been residing on U.S. soil with your status, you may be considered a resident for tax purposes and would not be eligible to utilize this service. For those classified as residents, local community resources may be available to help you file your taxes for free. You can enter your zip code on the IRS website to find places close to where you live.  Or you can call this free hotline: 1-800-906-9887. For more information on using Sprintax, you can visit the ISSO page. If you have any additional questions about tax filing, contact the UT Dallas Tax Compliance Office at taxcompliance@utdallas.edu.