Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS)
Every year the United States Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) grants a number of immigrant visas to children and youth who qualify for Special Immigrant Juveniles Status (SIJS). SIJ status is granted to children who would be at risk of abuse, abandonment, or neglect if they were to return to their home country. A SIJS Order from the Family Court can be the basis of an immigration petition seeking permanent legal residence status. There are three basic steps:
1) Obtain a Family Court order finding that the child meets the SIJS criteria.
2) Petition USCIS for SIJ status using the Family Court order as supporting documentation.
3) Petition USCIS for permanent legal residence status.
We have been successful in obtaining SIJS orders from the Family Court. We can help you determine if a child in your care meets the SIJS criteria and petition the Family Court on the child's behalf. Once the court order is in hand, we will refer you to an immigration attorney who can take you through the rest of the process with USCIS.