SIJS
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status Lawyer in the Bay Area
Understanding SIJS Eligibility
According to Section 101 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, receiving special immigrant juvenile status (SIJS) refers to an immigrant in the United States who is: (i) a juvenile under the custody or agency of a department of the United States; (ii) the courts have decided it would not be in the juvenile’s best interest to return them to their previous country of residence; and (iii) no juvenile court has the authority to determine custody or placement states for the juvenile. In effect, the SIJS process provides alien children without a parental guardian a pathway to securing a green card.
Addressing Abuse, Neglect, or Abandonment
An unfortunate reality in many SIJS proceedings is that eligible undocumented juveniles have been victimized and suffered significant mental and/or physical abuse, neglect, or even abandonment by their parent, or parents. This is why effectively representing undocumented juveniles in SIJS proceedings necessitates compassion and support.
Best Interest Determinations
When a juvenile court is conducting an assessment of the best interests of an undocumented juvenile during the SIJS process, the judge assigned to the case will usually rely on two guiding principles to make this determination: (i) the safety, health, and welfare of the undocumented juvenile and (ii) whether there is a cognizable benefit to the undocumented minor in being reunified with their parent, or parents.
Guardianship and Custody Proceedings
During SIJS proceedings, issues related to guardianship and custody will need to be considered. On the issue of guardianship, when an undocumented juvenile already has an available caretaker, then that caretaker may have a basis for being formally appointed guardian, or custodian of the juvenile. This may also be a viable option for undocumented minors who are released to the care of a sponsor from the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), which is a component of the U.S. Department Of Health And Human Services.
Juvenile Visa Law Group
Experienced SIJS Attorneys
To secure special immigration juvenile status (also referred to as “SIJS”), you need to be prepared for a potentially lengthy and complex process. The SIJS process typically entails producing extensive documentation and following specific steps to petition your case to both a juvenile court and immigration court. If you have questions or concerns about the SIJS process, then contact the Juvenile Visa Law Group. An SIJS attorney from our firm stands ready to help. We are fluent in Spanish and Portuguese and possess an in-depth knowledge of the special immigrant juvenile status green card process.
An experienced SIJS attorney can help in the following ways:
1. Compile and review relevant documentation.
2. Verify information on the collected documents and materials.
3. Represent your case in both juvenile court and immigration court.
4. Assist you and your family throughout the green card application process.
5. Pursue pathways to naturalization
"Jeremy was incredible to work with. His professionalism, responsiveness, and dedication made a challenging situation much more manageable. Grateful for his support and legal expertise. Definitely a five-star service!"
—Valentina L.
"I highly recommend Jeremy Castro because he is an excellent attorney who provided me with exceptional legal support. His experience, dedication and strategic approach were invaluable in handling my case."
—Jose S.C
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Immigration procedures can be complex, intimidating, and even downright overwhelming. Immigration court generally requires you to be prepared with specific documentation, paperwork, and court appearances. That is why it makes sense to retain the services of an experienced SIJS attorney from Juvenile Visa Law Group. We understand the green card process with special immigrant juvenile status and have helped numerous immigrant families present their case in court. For more information, contact us today to schedule an in-depth case evaluation.