Special Immigrant Juvenile Attorneys

Learn About Special Immigration Juvenile Status

Helping Minor Children Access Green Cards in and around Washington, D.C.

When an undocumented minor is abused, abandoned, or neglected by their parent or parents, they may be able to obtain a green card and remain in the United States as lawful permanent resident. Applicants must request “Special Immigrant Juvenile Status” before they grow too old.

Our Annandale Special Immigrant Juvenile lawyers can efficiently assist undocumented minors in these challenging and delicate situations. Our team at Johnson & Masumi has decades of the collective experience and knows how to approach these often-complex cases. We will work closely with all applicable parties to prepare all necessary paperwork and manage communications with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

immigration Services

ASYLUM

TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS

REMOVAL AND DEPORTATION DEFENSE

SPECIAL IMMIGRANT JUVENILE STATUS

QUALIFYING FOR SPECIAL IMMIGRANT JUVENILE STATUS

For a minor to be considered eligible for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, a juvenile court or family court must formally determine that the minor was abandoned, abused, or neglected by at least one of their parents. The court must also decide that the minor should not be reunited with their parents and, therefore, it is not in the minor's best interest to return to their home country.

As a result of these determinations, the court must then make the minor a court dependent or place them in the custody of a non-parental party. Non-parental parties include state agencies, court-approved guardians, and other family members.

If you believe you meet these qualifications, you must seek Special Immigrant Juvenile Status before you are no longer considered minor. USCIS sets the maximum age at 21; some states only grant the needed orders when a minor is under 18. You must also be unmarried and currently reside in the United States.

Our Annandale Special Immigrant Juvenile attorney can carefully assess your circumstances and advise whether you will likely qualify for this status. We can also represent you in the family or juvenile court and seek the appropriate orders that will work to protect your future in the United States.

Benefits of Special Immigrant Juvenile Status

It is often easier to obtain a green card through Special Immigrant Juvenile Status than other means. As a Special Immigrant Juvenile, you will not have to establish that you have sufficient financial support in the United States, and you may be able to have your application fees waived. Some immigrants are ruled inadmissible to the U.S. because they enter without valid status. Still, your undocumented status is overlooked when you are classified as a Special Immigrant Juvenile.

A green card confers lawful permanent residency, which means you can live and work practically anywhere in the United States. Your visa will be valid for ten years and can, in most situations, be efficiently renewed. After maintaining several years of continuous and physical presence, as well as several other requirements, you may also be eligible to initiate the naturalization process and become a U.S. citizen.

There is one important caveat to consider when deciding whether to request Special Immigrant Juvenile Status. Special Immigrant Juveniles can never seek immigration benefits for their parents, no matter the circumstances. For example, if you are abandoned by your parents in the United States but later reconnect years later, you will not be able to sponsor them for green cards through family immigration.

Our team at Johnson & Masumi is compassionate to the difficulties young victims of neglect, abuse, and abandonment routinely face. Our Annandale Special Immigrant Juvenile lawyers are committed to helping minors secure their futures and access the benefits they need to continue building their lives in this country. We sincerely care about your case and will do everything we can to deliver the favorable outcome you deserve.