What is Special Immigrant Juvenile Status?
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) is a legal status that provides a pathway to permanent residence for children. It may be available to non-citizen children in the United States who have been abused, abandoned, or neglected by one or both parents. The legal definition of “abandoned, abused, or neglected” may be different in different states. Some people with SIJS who are unable to be reunited with a parent may eventually be able to get a green card.
Non-U.S. citizen child abandoned, abused or neglected by your parents?
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If you are a non-citizen child in the United States who has been abused, abandoned, or neglected by one or both parents, you may be eligible for SIJS. This status may allow certain children unable to be reunited with a parent to eventually get a green card.
Who qualifies for SIJS?
To be eligible for SIJS, applicants must be:
- Under the age of 21;
- Not married;
- Have a case or be able to open a case in a state juvenile court (family court custody proceedings, probate guardianship proceedings, juvenile justice (delinquency) proceedings, or juvenile dependency (child welfare) proceedings);
- The juvenile court must determine that you are not able to live with one or both of your parents because they abandoned, abused, or neglected you;
- The juvenile court must determine that it would not be in your best interest to be returned to your country of origin.