green cards THROUGH GUARDIANSHIP

• The applicant must be under 21 years old;
• He/she must be unmarried;
• He/she must be declared dependent upon a juvenile court. This means that the Family Court must take jurisdiction over a petition addressing the needs of the minor and a guardian over the age of 21 to be awarded guardianship of the minor.
• Reunification with one or both of the child’s parents must no longer be a viable option due to abuse, neglect, abandonment or a similar basis under state law; AND
• It is not in the best interests of the minor to return to his/her country of nationality or last habitual residence.

There are many benefits to obtaining Special Immigrant Juvenile Status. SIJS waives several types of inadmissibility that would otherwise prevent an immigrant from becoming a lawful permanent resident (getting a green card). For example, SIJS waives unlawful entry, working without authorization, status as a public charge, and certain immigration violations. Once a minor receives SIJS, he/she will be able to adjust his/her status to that of a lawful permanent resident, obtain work authorization, and eventually apply for U.S. citizenship.

There are two main steps in obtaining Special Immigrant Juvenile Status. 

First, a prospective guardian must file a petition for guardianship in the state's Family or Surrogate’s Court in the county where the guardian resides. As part of this proceeding, the minor also must obtain a “special findings order” that declares the minor’s eligibility for SIJS. Guardianship is the most common way for the Family Court to obtain jurisdiction over a minor.

Second, after receiving this order from the Family or Surrogate’s Court, the minor may then petitition to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) for a green card.