Special Immigrant Juvenile Status Facts

The SIJS visa grants children under the age of 21 the opportunity to stay in the U.S. legally without the fear of deportation.
Once the SIJS application is approved, applicants are eligible to receive a U.S. work permit while they wait to adjust their status to permanent resident.
For those who are eligible, the SIJS visa is a clear path to receiving a green card.

Eligibility Checklist

You must be under the age of 18 or 21, depending on the state where you live.
You must have experienced some type of abuse, abandonment, or neglect from one or both of your parents.
You must be single and unmarried.
You must live inside the U.S. at the time the application is filed.

Frequently Asked Question on Special Immigrant Juvenile Status.

How can I prove abandonment?

Most of our SIJS cases are based on abandonment. When a parent sends a child to the United States with no plans to reunify with them in the future, we can make an argument for legal abandonment. The family law regarding abuse, abandonment, neglect is state-specific, so it is important to consult with a lawyer in your state who is familiar with both family law and immigration law.

Can I benefit of this program if I entered the U.S. illegally?

Yes, you can apply for a work permit and a green card through SIJS even if you entered “without inspection” by crossing the border without a visa.

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Special Immigrant Juvenile Visa

For immigrants under 21 years old in the U.S. who have been separated from, abandoned by, or neglected or abused by one or both parents.