Grant of Permanent Residence- Special Immigrant Juvenile Status
Grant of Permanent Residence- Special Immigrant Juvenile Status
Congratulations to our 18-year-old client whose green card application was approved today by the Immigration Judge! To qualify for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status ("SIJS"), the child must be under 21 years of age, unmarried, and be declared a dependent of a juvenile court in the United States, due to abuse, neglect, or abandonment by one or both parents.
The juvenile court must also determine that the child cannot be reunified with one or both parents and that it is not in the child's best interest to be returned to their home country. The order of the juvenile court does not confer an immigration benefit. It is a prerequisite to apply with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services ("USCIS") for designation as a special immigrant juvenile.
Once USCIS approves the child's application for SIJ classification, they can submit a separate application to obtain their lawful permanent residency or green card. The process for obtaining a green card can vary depending on individual circumstances, but generally involves submitting an application, attending an interview (if they are not before an immigration court), or as in our client's case, approval by the immigration judge while in removal proceedings.
Best wishes to our young client who now plans to enlist in the U.S. Armed forces after graduation!
Written by: Attorney Edwin Colon
Juris Doctor, University of Connecticut. Admitted to the bars of Connecticut and New York, and the U.S. District Court of Connecticut.