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USCIS issues policy guidance on Special Immigrant Juvenile classification

  1. Original Date Announced

    November 19, 2019

    USCIS issues policy guidance for Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) classification based on newly adopted AAO decisions. Among other changes, the updated policy states that:1) the petitioner must have been a juvenile under state law when the juvenile court order was issued; 2) USCIS requires evidence of a court’s intervention to provide relief from abuse, neglect, or abandonment beyond a statement that the juvenile is dependent on the court; and 3) USCIS will no longer require evidence that a state court had authority to place a petitioner in the custody of an unfit parent in order to make a determination regarding parental reunification. [ID #656]

    USCIS Special Immigrant Juvenile Classification
  2. Effective Date

    November 19, 2019
  3.  
  4. Biden Administration Action: Modified

    March 18, 2021

    Special Immigrant Juvenile Classification and Saravia v. Barr Settlement

    This Biden administration policy modifies the Trump-era policy identified in this entry.

    On March 18, 2021, USCIS issued a policy alert (PA-2021-03) updating policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual regarding the Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) classification to incorporate changes agreed to in the settlement agreement resulting from Saravia v. Barr class action lawsuit.

    View Document

Current Status

Fully in Effect

Most Recent Action

March 18, 2021 Action: Modified Special Immigrant Juvenile Classification and Saravia v. Barr Settlement
March 18, 2021
Acted on by Biden Administration

Original Trump Policy Status

Status: Final/Actual
Trump Administration Action: Agency Directive
Agencies Affected: USCIS

Associated or Derivative Policies

Pre Trump-Era Policies

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