Your Green Card May Still Be Within Reach
Yes, some DACA recipients can get a green card, but it depends on your specific situation. The most common path is through marriage to a U.S. citizen or another qualifying family relationship, combined with travel on advance parole. This page walks through how that works and the risks involved.
What Is DACA’s Current Status in 2026?
DACA remains under active litigation in the case Texas v. United States, which has moved through the federal courts since 2018. As of 2026, USCIS is renewing DACA for existing recipients, but the program remains closed to first-time applicants. If you already have DACA, you should file your renewal 120 to 150 days before your current status expires.
You can check your renewal eligibility and file Form I-821D following USCIS’s filing instructions for DACA.
Can DACA Recipients Get a Green Card?
This answer depends heavily on your individual circumstances and requires the advice of an experienced immigration lawyer in Austin. In the past, DACA recipients were able to get a green card through adjustment of status after traveling abroad on advance parole. The stamped entry upon return served as an admission or parole for purposes of adjustment of status. The Law Office of Michael G. Murray, P.A., has filed numerous successful green card applications built on this strategy.
However, this path carries some uncertainty today, and travel outside the U.S. on advance parole is riskier in the current enforcement environment than it once was. A Customs and Border Protection officer has final say over whether you are paroled into the United States at the port of entry, even if you already have an approved advance parole document.
Who Qualifies For This Path?
A DACA recipient generally needs an underlying path to a green card, such as being the immediate relative or spouse of a U.S. citizen. If this applies to you through family immigration, you can learn more about adjustment of status through marriage and what that process involves.
Should I Travel On DACA To Apply For A Green Card?
This is a case-by-case decision that should not be made without individualized legal advice. Advance parole travel does not automatically trigger the unlawful presence bars under INA 212(a)(9)(B), but it does not guarantee re-entry, and any past contact with law enforcement can create additional risk at the port of entry.
How Do I Apply For Travel on DACA?
Simply wanting to visit family or travel as a tourist is not enough to qualify for an Advance Parole travel document. You need to show an approved DACA and a qualifying reason to travel, such as:
- Urgent humanitarian purposes, including medical care, attending a family member’s funeral, or visiting a sick relative
- Educational purposes, including study abroad programs or academic research
- Employment purposes, including overseas assignments, interviews, conferences, or training
You can review the official requirements and file Form I-131 through USCIS’s guidance on Advance Parole.
Work With an Experienced DACA Immigration Lawyer In Austin, Texas
Green card eligibility through DACA and advance parole depends on your specific immigration history and travel risk factors. Attorney Michael G. Murray can walk you through whether this path makes sense for your case and what the current legal risks are.
Based in Austin, Texas, our firm represents DACA recipients across Austin, central Texas, and clients nationwide. Consider talking through your options before making any travel decisions.