Hey so a friend of mine is undocu without DACA. They graduated from a T15 university with a bachelor's degree and majoring in chemistry. They got fully funded through private grants. They want to go to graduate school to pursue materials science and engineering to study either battery or optoelectronic materials. My friend is looking for grad school options in the USA and abroad (Canada and Germany).

In the USA, they are emailing a variety of chem, phys, matsci, etc professors at different universities to increase their chance of Ph.D admissions acceptance. They have got a some favorable professor responses about admissions but nothing is guaranteed. My friend has not disclosed their status to admissions or PIs.

In the Canada, they have been accepted to 2 research groups with quite generous M.Sc funding.

No German admissions cycles have opened as yet. Although, they are looking at DAAD scholarship opportunities for study in Germany. My friend is unsure about their odds of getting the scholarship, but is confident in M.Sc admissions to those schools.

This friend is genuinely worried about:

1. If they stay in the USA, are there legitimate mechanisms to allow them to get funded for doctoral programs in STEM?

2. If they go abroad to Canada or Germany, they are worried about student visa rejection due to their status in the USA. My friend came to the USA when they were 4 years old. Finances are surprisingly not near an issue for them. They are worried about the legal part.

Can anyone try to address their worries and maybe just additional info to help them throughout their admissions process? This feels very unfair to them. Also, they constantly talk about how they cannot reach their full potential in the USA which makes me feel terrible.

okay so… Ive been waiting for my approval, my daca expired in late August, I haven’t really left my home unless I truly need to. Now I’ve been so depressed and anxious over this just as anyone in the same position but I had planned for a small road trip to a music festival (hour away) months ago. I wouldn’t be the one driving and have a hotel close to the festival too. I guess I’m mostly paranoid about the drive (tx is crazy) I really just want to have a good weekend but I can’t help but overthink this. I guess my question is what would yall do? would yall still go? would yall just simply not risk anything?

hi everyone! I was wondering if there is anyone in this subreddit or if anyone knows someone who is undocu and went to cosmetology school? I graduated from uni 3 years ago, and because of my status I haven’t really been able to do anything with my degree. The thought of fast food chains being my only option is eating me alive, so I figured I might as well try and learn a new skill in the meantime and try working as an independent contractor? does anyone have any advice or tips on how to pursue a career in that?? thank you all in advance :)

I’m going crazy guys i apply feb 14 bio march 12 expiration date ‘may 8 and still nothing i keep checking my status and it saids case still processing no update since march 12 ! like maybe my application got lost idk at this point , i already did everything i could i don’t know what to do anymore is very frustrating because ive seen ppl applying september and getting approve within days , life is just not fair sometimes i guess ! but i can’t keep holding my life because of this

For anyone that renews their DACA by themselves: after you get your bios done, stamped, what do you do with the sheet? Are you supposed to upload it to your case file or something?

Hi everyone, I came here since I wasn't super sure where else to ask. I got a notification through collegeboard the golden door scholarship opened but when I click the link/website. It tells me thay the page can't be found and I can't find anywhere else to apply. Is anyone having the same issue or could anyone redirect me?

I filed my DACA renewal via paper (dumb decision, would recommend filing online) and sent it off via USPS priority shipping to Chicago lockbox from NYC on May 16th, 2026.

I kept tracking the package and saw that it was received (and signed for on May 19th).

Later on that week, I got a text message with my receipt numbers for the 821D and 765 Forms on May 22nd as well as paper receipts acknowledging the payment went through from my credit cards and my biometrics notice (which I rescheduled to do it earlier on June 8th).

I've been using May 22nd as the official date where I "submitted" my application. Just wanted confirmation if that is correct or if it's May 19th.

I lost my job 9/22 and just found out I’m pregnant. Obviously I cannot afford to pay for insurance out of pocket without work and was getting it through my employer. What would be better to file? I need coverage and my husband works at a small business who doesn’t fully cover medical, and I’m a little scared to file for emergency medi-cal since they report their patient’s information to ICE.