Under President Obama’s new deferred deportation program, immigrants can request and receive three years of immunity from deportation for at least three years and possibly longer. They must show proof they have lived in the U.S. since January 1, 2010 and have a fairly clean record with the law. They also must pay a fee of approximately $465. The Mexican Consulate in Sacramento wants all California immigrants to know that it is too early to pay the fee to USCIS. It is advisable to work with an immigration attorney during the application process, but if you have an attorney who is asking for the USCIS fee already, it may be a scam. Check Avvo.com to make sure your attorney is actually an attorney and qualified to do immigration work. The process of receiving immunity for deportation will be implemented gradually and it doesn’t start till next year.

According to a news report in The Sacramento Bee, Consul General Carlos González Gutiérrez is concerned that some immigrants will become victims of fraud and abuse. He even asks immigrants to call the Mexican Consulate if they are concerned about the process or if they have doubts about the way their case is being handled.

Under the two new programs, over 1 million individuals in California could qualify for temporary residency. It is not a permanent solution, but they will be allowed to temporarily live and work without fear of deportation. If you are interested in being part of Deferred Action for Parental Accountability (DAPA) or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), you will need to provide proof that you have lived here for five continuous years.

You can do this in part with medical records, birth certificates for your U.S. born children, pay stubs, rental documents and tax records. If you live in a rural community and have been paying rent in cash, you may have to provide school and church records, proof of training programs or class records to prove you’ve been here. Those applying for DACA will have to wait until Feb. 18 and those seeking deportation-relief through DAPA must wait until May 20. In either case, you can begin preparing your application with legal guidance today. Please contact experienced Los Angeles immigration attorney Scott McVarish for more information by calling (213) 375-4084.