Special Immigrant Juvenile Status and Other Immigration Options for Children and Youth

This guide is ideal for those representing unaccompanied minors who have migrated to the United States in recent years, as well as those representing immigrant youth who were brought to the U.S. at a young age and know no other home.

Highlights

It includes an in-depth discussion of the legal requirements for SIJS eligibility and step-by-step guidance for representing SIJS-eligible young people in both affirmative and defensive applications. The manual also provides information on other immigration options for children and youth, including U Nonimmigrant Status, T Nonimmigrant Status, Violence Against Women Act protection, asylum, family-based immigration options, acquisition and derivation of citizenship, and others.

New in this Edition

This completely updated edition includes:

•    Detailed discussion of the eligibility requirements for SIJS, including information about the different types of juvenile court proceedings that may be implicated in the SIJS process;
•    Discussion of risks and benefits of filing for SIJS, including the 2025 NTA memo and changes in immigration enforcement practices;
•    Updated discussion of eligibility for SIJS-based adjustment of status, including inadmissibility and the visa backlog;
•    Updated information on pursuing SIJS for clients in removal proceedings, including changes in EOIR policy and practice and the recent elimination of the SIJS Deferred Action Policy;
•    Fully updated chapters on other forms of immigration relief for children, including U & T visas, VAWA, asylum, family-based immigration, and citizenship;
•    Dedicated chapters addressing special issues for young people who have had contact with juvenile or criminal legal systems, as well as special issues for children detained in immigration custody; and
•    New examples, sample forms, and resources throughout.