Path2Papers 2024 End-of-Year Report

December 4, 2024

Path2Papers (P2P) is a project that helps DACA recipients and their employers pursue work visas and other pathways to legal permanent residency. Housed at Cornell Law School, P2P is one of the only programs in the country that combines experience in employer representation with expertise in evaluating immigration options for DACA recipients.

This report analyzes over 500 consultations P2P conducted with DACA recipients and other vulnerable groups in 2024. It highlights key insights about this population, including potential pathways to more stable statuses.

Data Summary

Consultations

Consults completed: 512

• 82% have legal remedies identified by our consults including employment-based visas, family, or humanitarian options
  Total = 421
• 84% of consults have been with DACA recipients
  Total = 430
• 12% of consults have been with undocumented or other vulnerable groups
  Total = 61

Employment-Based Options

• 71% are eligible for employment-based work visas including H-1B,  O-1, L-1, and lawful permanent residence
  Total Eligible = 365
• 38% are eligible for employment-based lawful permanent residence
  Total Eligible = 193
• 50% are eligible for H-1B nonimmigrant work visas
  Total Eligible = 255

D3 Waiver Eligibility

• 60% of persons eligible for H-1B need a D3 waiver
  Total = 152
  A D3 waiver helps H-1B applicants with certain immigration violations
• 33% of persons eligible for H-1B do not need a D3 waiver
  Total = 85
  Certain H-1B applicants can proceed without needing a D3 waiver

Family-Based and Humanitarian Eligibility

• 20% are eligible for family-based lawful permanent residence
  Total Eligible = 104
• 13% are eligible for a humanitarian visa including U visas, SIJS, asylum, VAWA, TPS, and T visas.
  Total Eligible = 69

Advance Parole Insights

• 22% of DACA recipients entered without inspection and have not traveled on advance parole
  Total = 94
• 56% of DACA recipients entered without inspection and have traveled on advance parole
  Total = 129

Occupation Field Breakdown

STEM Fields

• Architecture or engineering: 21
• Computers or math: 33
• Life, physical, or social sciences: 10

Creative Industries

• Arts and design: 2
• Entertainment: 2
• Media: 2

Community and Education

• Community and social service: 77
• Educational, instruction, library: 61

Healthcare

• Health practitioners and technicians: 34
• Healthcare support work: 8

Skilled Trades

• Construction/extraction: 5
• Installation, maintenance, repairs: 3
• Protective service: 2

Other Professional Fields

• Business/finance operations: 53
• Legal: 43
• Management: 20

Service and Administrative Work

• Food preparation and service: 2
• Personal care and service: 1
• Office and administrative support: 15

Manufacturing and Production

• Production (assembly, food processing, metal work, machining, woodworking, textiles, etc.): 2
• Farming, fishing, and forestry: 1
• Transportation and material moving: 2

Sales and Miscellaneous

• Sales: 6
• Building and grounds cleaning/maintenance: 1

Special Categories

• Student: 3
• Unemployed: 4
• N/A

View and download a PDF of this information.