Provides the information necessary to apply for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS). SIJS is available to immigrant children who are in custody of state agencies or under the jurisdiction of juvenile courts. Filing for SIJS protects the child from deportation and makes the child eligible to receive a work authorization. Two applications must be filed: Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (Form I-360) and Legal Permanent Residency (Form I-485). In addition, a legal guardianship may be required. Legal guardianship is a court proceeding in which an individual, not the child’s parents, is made legally responsible for the care and custody of the child. The SIJS applications are processed by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (CIS). After the application is filed, the child should: (1) receive a work authorization within three months; (2) be fingerprinted, if 14 years or older; and (3) participate in an interview within three months to one year from application. If the application is approved, the child will receive a permanent resident card (Green Card) within three months. Lawful residents may live and work in the United States, travel abroad, attend state universities with in-state tuition, and eventually be eligible for citizenship. If the child receives a denial, the child may appeal the decision. As immigration is a complicated and changing area of law, review of the SIJS requirements and consultation with an expert in this area should be done prior to filing. (IP)
