The Biden administration’s efforts to ease Dreamers’ ability to obtain work visas is paying off, according to the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA).

Key Points:

• In June, the Biden administration clarified guidance regarding certain waivers for Dreamers — beneficiaries of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) — to obtain work visas. This action was followed by the State Department updating its Foreign Affairs Manual to allow certain U.S. higher education graduates to qualify for expedited D3 waiver processing.
• The expedited D3 waiver option offers certain Dreamers and other undocumented individuals a clearer path to obtaining a temporary work visa.
• AILA described several successful recent D3 waiver approvals, noting “the real-life impact of the new D3 guidance. It’s not just about policy changes on paper — it’s about creating opportunities for Dreamers who are now contributing their skills and expertise to the U.S. workforce.”

Additional Information: Given the time required to prepare many temporary work visa petitions, AILA does not expect to see wider use of the D3 pathway until next year.