USCIS approved more than 53,000 deferred action cases

More than 300,000 requests for deferred action have been submitted since USCIS opened the deadline to initiate the process.

According to figures provided Friday by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), this government agency has received a total of 308,935 applications between August 15 and November 15, 2012. Of that number, USCIS has accepted 298,834 applications for processing, rejected 10,101 and approved 53,273.

To date, appointments for biometric services have been scheduled for 273,203 of the cases.

This graph shows the number of cases the USCIS is processing:

Most of the applicants are of Mexican origin and live in California.

The following chart shows the country of origin, where people who have requested deferred action live within the U.S. and the number of requests received so far:

It is important that every person who is eligible for the Deferred Action for Undocumented Youth program apply for the benefit. It is better to have temporary protection from deportation than none at all. In addition, people who are granted deferred action will be able to have a work permit if they demonstrate that they have an economic need. By having a work permit, they will be able to apply for social security and a driver's license.

Do not be afraid to take calculated risks. Be sure to consult with an immigration attorney before you begin the process.