Special Immigrant Juvenile Status in Charleston, SC

Charleston Immigration Attorney Explains the Special Immigrant Juvenile Status

If a foreign-born child is in the U.S. illegally and is under the age of 21 and unable to reunite with its parents, the child can consider a special immigrant juvenile status. This course of action involves self-petitioning to the USCIS for adjustment of status to permanent residency (green card) without having to first leave the U.S. Generally, this status is for unmarried children who have been:

• Abused
• Abandoned, or
• Neglected

By getting this green card, the child is barred from ever petitioning for his or her parents to get a green card or for his or her siblings until he or she becomes a U.S. citizen.

More About Special Immigrant Juvenile Status Eligibility

As a prerequisite, the child must have a state court order declaring the child a dependent of the court and must be legally placed in a state agency, orphanage, or in the legal custody of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Furthermore, the child cannot be inadmissible to the U.S. on the grounds of being or having been a prostitute or pimp, drug addict or abuser, alien smuggler, or a risk to people or property because of a mental or physical disorder. However, there are exceptions.