சிறப்பு குடியேற்ற சிறார்
துஷ்பிரயோகம், புறக்கணிப்பு அல்லது கைவிடப்பட்ட இளம் நபர் நீங்கள். சிறப்பு குடியேற்ற சிறார் (SIJ) அந்தஸ்து கிரீன் கார்டுக்கான வழியை வழங்கக்கூடும். இத்தகைய வழக்குகளில் குடும்ப நீதிமன்றங்கள் மற்றும் USCIS-உடன் பணியாற்றுகிறோம்.
Critical Information
Age Deadline: Under 21
You must be under 21 and unmarried when you file the I-360 petition. Once you turn 21, eligibility is lost permanently. The deadline is strict. Start now.
Two-Step Process
SIJ requires both a state court order (special findings) and a federal immigration petition (I-360). You need an attorney who handles both.
We Speak 8 Languages
English, Spanish, French, Haitian Creole, Chinese, Russian, Sinhala, and Tamil. You can talk to us in the language you are most comfortable with.
You Came Here as a Child. You Deserved Better.
You came to the United States as a child. The people who were supposed to protect you failed you. Maybe a parent hurt you. Maybe they left you. Maybe they were never there at all. Whatever happened, it was not your fault, and it does not have to define your future.
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status exists specifically for young people in your situation. Congress created this protection because children who have been abused, neglected, or abandoned by their parents deserve a chance to build a safe life in the United States. It provides a path to a green card without requiring you to prove persecution based on a protected ground, without a one-year filing deadline, and without depending on the parent who hurt you.
But there is a deadline that matters more than any other: your age. You must file before you turn 21. Every month you wait is a month closer to losing this protection forever. If someone told you about SIJ, or if you are reading this and wondering whether it applies to you, the time to act is now.
A Two-Step Process: State Court, Then USCIS
SIJ is not a single application. It requires coordination between the state court system and federal immigration authorities. You need an attorney who understands both.
State Court Special Findings Order
This is where it starts. A New York Family Court or Surrogate's Court judge must issue a special findings order stating that you are dependent on the court or in the custody of an individual or state agency, that reunification with one or both parents is not viable because of abuse, neglect, or abandonment, and that it is not in your best interest to return to your home country. Without this order, there is no SIJ case. We prepare the petition, the evidence, and the arguments so the judge sees exactly what happened to you.
Step OneUSCIS I-360 Petition
Once the state court issues the special findings order, we file Form I-360 with USCIS. This is the federal immigration petition that classifies you as a Special Immigrant Juvenile. USCIS reviews the state court order, confirms you meet the requirements, and grants consent. We prepare a thorough petition package to reduce the risk of delays and Requests for Evidence.
Adjustment of Status to Green Card
After the I-360 is approved, you apply for adjustment of status to become a lawful permanent resident. For nationals of some countries, a visa is immediately available and the green card process moves forward without delay. For others, there may be a backlog. We handle the entire adjustment process from filing through your interview.
What the Court Must Find
The state court special findings order is the foundation of every SIJ case. Without it, USCIS will not consider your petition. The judge must make three specific findings under federal and state law. These are not optional. Every single one must be established by the evidence we present.
In New York, these findings can be made in Family Court through a guardianship proceeding or in Surrogate's Court. The process varies depending on whether you have a guardian, whether you are in foster care, and what your current living situation looks like. We evaluate your circumstances and file in the court that gives you the strongest path to the order you need.
Court Dependency or Custody
The child must be declared dependent on the court, or placed in the custody of a state agency or an individual appointed by the court. In New York, this is typically established through a guardianship order in Family Court or Surrogate's Court.
Reunification Not Viable
Reunification with one or both parents must not be viable due to abuse, neglect, or abandonment. The court examines the parent's conduct and determines that returning the child to that parent's care would not be safe or appropriate.
Best Interest Not to Return
It must not be in the child's best interest to be returned to their home country or country of last habitual residence. The court considers the child's safety, stability, access to education and healthcare, and overall welfare.
SIJ vs. Asylum: Two Different Paths
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status
Based on abuse, neglect, or abandonment by a parent. Requires a state court order plus a USCIS petition. No requirement to prove persecution on a protected ground. No one-year filing deadline. Must be under 21 and unmarried at filing. Leads to a green card.
Asylum
Based on persecution or fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. Must generally file within one year of arrival. No age restriction. Leads to lawful status, work authorization, and eventually a green card.
For some young people, both SIJ and asylum may be available. We evaluate every possible form of relief and pursue the strongest path forward. In some cases, we file both simultaneously.
What Happens After You Hire Us
No more wondering what to do next. No more worrying about whether you will miss the deadline. Here is exactly how this works.
We Evaluate Your Case
You tell us what happened. We listen carefully and ask the questions that matter. We confirm your age, your circumstances, and whether SIJ is the right path for you. If it is, we explain exactly what comes next. If another form of relief is stronger, we tell you that too. No guessing. Real answers from the first conversation.
We Prepare the State Court Case
We gather declarations, records, and evidence documenting what happened to you. We prepare the guardianship or custody petition for New York Family Court or Surrogate's Court. We draft the motion for special findings and address every legal requirement before we walk into that courtroom.
We Get the Court Order
We appear in court with you and present your case to the judge. The judge must find that reunification with one or both parents is not viable due to abuse, neglect, or abandonment, and that returning to your home country is not in your best interest. We know what these judges need to see and hear. We have done this before.
We File the I-360 with USCIS
With the special findings order in hand, we file Form I-360 with USCIS along with all supporting documentation. We prepare a complete package that leaves nothing to chance. USCIS reviews the petition and, if approved, grants SIJ classification.
Applying for Your Green Card
After the I-360 is approved, we file your adjustment of status application. We handle the biometrics appointment, the interview preparation, and everything in between. If there is a visa backlog for your country, we monitor it and file the moment a visa becomes available. We keep you informed at each step of the application.
Additional Protections for Young People
The Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) provides important safeguards for unaccompanied children in the immigration system. Under the TVPRA, unaccompanied minors must be placed in the least restrictive setting possible, have access to legal counsel, and receive initial asylum screenings from USCIS asylum officers rather than immigration judges.
For SIJ applicants specifically, the TVPRA ensures that USCIS has sole jurisdiction over the I-360 petition. This means the petition is decided by USCIS, not by an immigration judge, which provides a more controlled and predictable process.
If you are in removal proceedings, SIJ is still available to you. Many young people learn about SIJ only after they are placed in proceedings. The immigration judge can grant continuances to allow time for the state court process. An experienced attorney coordinates both cases simultaneously so the two proceedings stay aligned.
There Is a Path Forward. But It Has a Deadline.
You have been carrying this alone long enough. The protection exists. The law is on your side. But you must act before you turn 21. Every month counts. Call us today and we will tell you exactly where you stand and what it takes to secure your future.