1 Research Ct., Ste 450, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
Protection and a Path to Permanent Residency
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS)
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) provides protection & a pathway to lawful permanent residence for immigrant youth who suffered abuse, abandonment, or neglect. Kennedy Law handles the full SIJS process—from custody & best-interest findings to I-360 petitions & adjustment of status.
SIJS - ESTATUS DE INMIGRANTE JUVENIL ESPECIAL
Proceso de SIJS Paso a Paso
- Juvenile Court Orders
A state court order confirms abuse, abandonment, or neglect and establishes that reunification with parents is not possible. - I-360 Petition
File the Special Immigrant Juvenile (Form I-360) petition with USCIS. - Visa Availability (EB-4)
SIJS falls under the EB-4 visa category. When a visa is available, the child can take the next step. - Adjustment of Status (I-485)
If the youth is in the U.S. and a visa is available, they can apply to adjust status to lawful permanent resident. - Employment Authorization Document (EAD)
With a pending adjustment application, the child can obtain work authorization (EAD)..
SIJS Benefits
- Ability to apply for lawful permanent residence (a green card).
- Entry without inspection (EWI) does not block eligibility. Unlike many other immigration processes, youth can move forward even if they entered the U.S. without a visa.
- Protection from deportation while the case is pending.
- Eligibility for a work permit (EAD) once a visa becomes available in the EB-4 category.
⚠️Limitations of SIJS
- SIJS recipients cannot petition for their parents.
- Visa availability under the EB-4 category can cause delays.
- USCIS carefully reviews custody orders to confirm they meet eligibility standards.
Age Limit in Maryland and D.C.
In Maryland and Washington, D.C., juvenile courts can issue SIJS orders until age 21, unlike many states where eligibility ends at 18. Acting quickly is essential to avoid missing this protection.
Current SIJS Policy (2025)
- On June 6, 2025, USCIS ended the practice of automatically granting deferred action to youth with approved SIJS cases.
- Deferred action is now discretionary and decided case by case.
- Employment authorization (EAD) depends on visa availability in the EB-4 category.
- In October 2025, EB-4 reopened with a Final Action Date of July 1, 2020. Youth with approved petitions and priority dates on or before that cutoff may now move forward toward permanent residency.
⚠️ Visa Bulletin cutoff dates can move forward or backward without notice. Filing an adjustment application while EB-4 is current allows the case to remain pending and may provide access to interim benefits like work authorization, but final approval cannot occur unless a visa is available at the time of adjudication.
How Kennedy Law Helps with SIJS
At Kennedy Law, we guide families through every step of the SIJS process. Our support includes:
- Obtaining custody and best-interest orders in Maryland or D.C. courts.
- Preparing and filing well-documented I-360 petitions.
- Monitoring the Visa Bulletin to determine when adjustment of status can move forward.
- Filing adjustment of status (Form I-485) and work authorization applications (EAD) when EB-4 visas are available.
- Anticipating obstacles and preparing responses to reduce the risk of delays or denials.
- Providing strategic and trauma-informed representation, helping youth share their stories with clarity and dignity.
Our mission is to protect young immigrants, secure their stability today, and create opportunities for their future in the United States.