Save Your Child's Future – An Essential Guide to Exploring Special Immigration Juvenile Status
As a parent, the future of your child is almost always on your mind. If you’re an immigrant, protecting the current and future well-being of your child may include exploring special immigration juvenile status. Special immigrant juvenile status, also known as SIJ status, is an immigration classification that can provide children with immediate access to lawful, permanent resident status, or “green card.” With careful planning and expert guidance, SIJ status could be the key that unlocks a brighter future for your family.
What is Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) status?
SIJ status is a form of immigration relief that is available to children who have been abused, neglected, or abandoned by one or both of their parents and who cannot be reunited with either parent. If a child meets these criteria, they can apply for SIJS which would then allow them to apply for lawful permanent residency in the US.
Who is eligible for SIJ status?
To be eligible for SIJ status, the child must have a valid state court order that finds that the child has been abused, neglected, or abandoned by at least one parent. They must also be under 21 years old, non-delinquent, and unmarried. The court order must also find that it is not in the child’s best interest to be returned to their home country or country of last habitual residence.
How to apply for SIJ status?
To apply for SIJ status, the first step is to obtain a state court order. This typically involves working with an attorney who specializes in family law and immigration law, such as those at Gonzalez Torres Law. This order should show that your child cannot reunify with one or both parents due to abandonment, abuse, or neglect.
Once you have obtained the court order, the next step is to apply for SIJ status with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The application should have all relevant documents, including birth certificates, court orders, and other supporting documents to show the eligibility of the child for SIJ status.
