Immigration Legal Services
What are immigration legal services?
Our legal services program offers in-depth immigration consultation, legal advice, and representation for UC San Diego undergraduate, graduate, and Extension students and their immediate family (exclusions apply). Our immigration attorney and paralegal are available for one-on-one consultations with students either in person or through Zoom. Appointments are required, book your appointment HERE.
Legal services include but are not limited to:
- Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
- It is important that you renew your DACA every two years as USCIS no longer notifies you when you need to renew. Although USCIS is not currently adjudicating initial DACA requests, DACA renewals will continue to be processed based on the existing policy. DACA Renewals can even be filed online through the USCIS website.
- Students with DACA are highly encouraged by our immigration attorney to meet with him six months prior to expiration.
- Advance Parole
- Advance Parole is available to DACA recipients. Advance Parole (AP) is permission granted by the Department of Homeland Security allowing certain noncitizens to temporarily travel outside of the U.S. and return lawfully. Qualifying reasons for traveling abroad with AP include educational, humanitarian, and employment.
- Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS)
- If you are in the United States, are under 21 years of age, and have been abused, abandoned or neglected by a parent, you may be eligible for Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) classification. If SIJ classification is granted, you may qualify for lawful permanent residency.
- Adjustment of Status
- Adjustment of status is the process that you can use to apply for lawful permanent resident status (also known as applying for a Green Card) when you are present in the United States. This means that you may get a Green Card without having to return to your home country to complete visa processing.
Undocumented students interested in doing any traveling in the state should make an appointment with our attorney to assess their travel plans.
UC San Diego students who are Lawful Permanent Residents or U.S. citizens are eligible to receive these services for themselves or an immediate family member.
Once per quarter we hold presentations that cover immigration topics of relevance to students, such as updates on legislation changes.
Learn more about Advance Parole
Resources:
Advance Parole brochure
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) brochure
Frequently Asked Questions
The immigration consultations are free of cost for UC San Diego students currently enrolled at the university. Support is also available to immediate family members of UC San Diego students; however, the student must schedule the initial appointment for their family to receive services. If you have any questions, please email immiservices@uscd.edu
Immediate family members are considered biological parents, siblings, and legal spouses. If you have any questions, please email immiservices@uscd.ed
No, unfortunately, we do not provide our services to those who are not UC San Diego students. However, we have created a helpful guide to support members of our community in finding legal resources.