DACA renewal calculator — when to file + cost (2026)
Find the USCIS-recommended window to file a DACA renewal from your EAD expiration date: total cost by mail or online, and why a DACA EAD never auto-extends.
Last verified: 2026-09-16 ·
USCIS fees current 2024-2026
This tool only applies USCIS's published filing window (the 150–120-day rule) to the dates you enter. It does not assess your DACA eligibility and is not legal advice.
DACA renewal cost
I-821D (DACA renewal): $85
I-765 (EAD, work authorization): $520 paper · $470 online (where available)
Biometrics (I-765): $0 (included in the I-765 fee)
Total — paper (mailed):$605 ($85 + $520)
Total — online (where available):$555 ($85 + $470)
Most DACA renewals are mailed (Form I-821D is filed on paper), so $605 is the typical total. Fees can change. Always verify at uscis.gov/i-821d.
Critical deadlines to remember
Before 150 days pre-expiration: USCIS may reject as premature
150-120 days pre-expiration: ✅ USCIS-recommended optimal window
120-0 days pre-expiration: Can still file but risk of work authorization gap
After expiration: Loses DACA automatically. Must stop working immediately. Late renewal possible but special processes.
Enter your current EAD expiration date in the calculator above to see your optimal filing window and the total cost. Below is how the timing and fees work — and an important 2025 change you need to know.
Which form edition do you send? The 09/15/26 editions never took effect. A federal court postponed the rule behind them on September 14, 2026, so USCIS is still accepting the 08/21/25 Form I-765 (and the 08/28/24 Form I-539) and is not accepting the 09/15/26 editions. Form I-821D is unchanged at edition 01/20/25. The change could return if the court order is lifted — check the edition date on uscis.gov the day you file. Details are on our Form I-765 guide.
⚠️ Your EAD does not auto-extend while the renewal is pending
DACA (C-33) never qualified for the automatic EAD extension. The 540-day automatic extension that existed before October 30, 2025 applied to other categories — TPS (A-12/C-19), asylum applicants (C-8), adjustment applicants (C-9), and more — never to DACA renewals, because the underlying deferred-action request has to be approved first. A rule effective October 30, 2025 then removed the automatic extension for the categories that did have it. (Federal Register 2025-19702)
The practical rule for DACA has always been the same and is now true for nearly everyone: if your EAD expires before USCIS approves the renewal, you must stop working until the new card arrives. The fix: file early — at the early edge of the 120–150-day window — and monitor your case at USCIS Case Status.
How DACA renewal timing works
USCIS recommends filing 120–150 days before your DACA/EAD expires.
On its DACA page (checked October 15, 2026), USCIS states: “We continue to adjudicate the majority of DACA renewal requests within 120 days.” That USCIS statement is not a guaranteed deadline.
Filing more than 150 days out can be rejected: the Form I-821D instructions (edition 01/20/25) warn that if you file more than 150 days prior to the expiration of your current period of deferred action, “USCIS may reject your submission and return it to you with instructions to resubmit your request closer to the expiration date.” USCIS’s DACA page adds that filing earlier than 150 days “will not result in a faster decision”; filing too late risks a gap in work authorization.
The calculator above takes your expiration date and shows the window — and flags if you’re early, on time, or late.
General procedural information for educational purposes. Not legal advice. USCIS fees and rules change — verify on USCIS.gov and consult a licensed immigration attorney for your case.
Frequently asked questions
When should I file my DACA renewal?+
USCIS recommends filing 120 to 150 days (about 4–5 months) before your current DACA/EAD expires. DACA EADs (category C-33) have never had an automatic extension while a renewal is pending — the renewal must be approved before your card expires or you lose work authorization — so many advocates suggest filing at the early edge of the window. Use the calculator above with your EAD expiration date.
How much does DACA renewal cost?+
The total USCIS fee is $605 by mail or $555 online — that’s Form I-821D ($85) plus Form I-765 for the work permit ($520 by mail / $470 online). Biometrics are included. Fee-waiver options are very limited for DACA; some legal-aid organizations help with the cost.
What happens if my EAD expires before USCIS approves my renewal?+
You must stop working until you receive the new card — and an employer can let you go. A timely-filed DACA renewal does NOT automatically extend your EAD: DACA (C-33) was never among the categories that qualified for the automatic extension, and the October 30, 2025 rule removed that extension even for the categories that had it (TPS, asylum applicants, and others). That’s why filing early matters.
Can I still renew if my DACA already expired?+
Per the Form I-821D instructions, if you are filing within one year after your last period of deferred action expired, and it was not terminated by USCIS, you follow the instructions for Renewal requestors. If it has been expired for more than a year (or was terminated), the filing would be an INITIAL DACA request — and USCIS is currently accepting but NOT processing initial requests, because a July 16, 2021 injunction affirmed by the Fifth Circuit prohibits DHS from granting initial DACA and the related work permit. So there is no path to a grant right now, even though the fees would still be charged. Talk to an immigration attorney before filing anything.
Does having DACA let me travel outside the US?+
No. DACA and the EAD do not authorize international travel. To travel and re-enter, you would need separate advance parole (Form I-131), which is granted only for specific reasons and carries risk — consult an attorney before making any travel plans.