Juveniles who are the victims of abuse or abandonment have the opportunity to obtain a Green Card under the Special Immigrant Juvenile Status. Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) is intended for children who suffered abuse, abandonment or neglect at the hands of a family member as a juvenile. These SIJS applicants must have been a non-citizen minor living in the United States when the abuse occurred, although they are not required to be a minor to apply for SIJ status.
Not all juvenile immigrants pursuing lawful permanent residence will qualify for SIJS. It is important to work with an experienced local immigration attorney who can guide you through the application process and make sure the necessary paperwork, including a qualifying juvenile court order, is in place and review an individual’s qualifications for SIJS.
A large number of SIJS applications are ultimately denied. An experienced juvenile immigration lawyer can advise whether you meet the qualifications for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status and if you have alternatives to qualify for Green Card status.
If a juvenile is granted SIJS, they have the right to seek permanent residency. This involves an adjustment of status, which occurs when an immigrant already in the United States wants to change from one legal status to another.
Do you have questions about a Special Immigrant Juvenile Status application or do you need to talk to a juvenile immigration lawyer? Contact the experienced immigration lawyers at Godoy Law Office at 630-912-0322.
