Special Immigrant Juveniles (SIJS)
For children who cannot reunify with parents due to abuse, abandonment, or neglect, we help you obtain SIJS and a green card.
YOUR Path to Safety and Legal Protection Through SIJS
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status protects children who cannot reunify with one or both parents due to abuse, abandonment, or neglect. It provides a path to lawful permanent residence for children under state court custody or deemed dependent on the court. SIJS cases involve both family court proceedings and immigration applications. You must first obtain findings from a state family court that reunification is not viable due to:
If that’s the case, then you file immigration applications with USCIS seeking SIJS classification and adjustment of status.
Ability to Work While Your Case Is Pending
We handle the immigration aspects of SIJS cases, working closely with family court attorneys to ensure the state court orders include the specific findings USCIS requires. We file the I-360 petition for Special Immigrant Juvenile classification and, once approved, the I-485 adjustment of status application that leads to your green card.
Many SIJS cases involve difficult family situations and vulnerable young people who have experienced trauma. We approach these cases with the sensitivity they require while maintaining the legal precision necessary for approval.
Age is a critical factor. You must file the I-360 petition before turning 21, and family court proceedings must be completed while you’re still a minor (under 18 in most states). We work efficiently to move your case forward within these timeframes.
SIJS offers young people who have faced abuse, abandonment, or neglect the opportunity to build a stable future in the United States.
Confidential. Multilingual available. No fee unless we win your case.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an SIJS case?
An SIJS case refers to a legal matter involving Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, a humanitarian classification under U.S. immigration law. It allows vulnerable foreign-born children in the United States who have suffered parental abuse, abandonment, or neglect to seek a pathway to legal permanent residency (a green card).
How do I obtain SIJS?
To apply for SIJS, you must submit Form I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant, to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Because the process requires specific state juvenile court orders before filing with federal immigration authorities, having an immigration attorney at Stillman Legal handle your case is highly recommended to ensure all legal requirements are met.
What happens after my SIJS petition is approved?
Once a USCIS officer reviews and approves your I-360 petition, you will be assigned a priority date. This priority date is crucial, as it determines when you are legally eligible to file your application for Legal Permanent Residency (a green card).
Am I protected from deportation if my SIJS petition is approved?
Approval of an SIJS petition alone does not automatically protect you from deportation. You are only protected from removal if USCIS also explicitly grants you Deferred Action at the time your SIJS petition is approved.
Can I travel outside the United States with SIJS status?
No. SIJS is a legal classification that path-clears a green card application, but it is not an independent travel-authorized immigration status. You are not permitted to travel internationally and re-enter the United States until your permanent residency (green card) application is officially approved.
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