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Original Date Announced
November 19, 2019USCIS 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 ClassificationEffective Date
November 19, 2019Subsequent Trump-Era and Court Action(s)
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December 10, 2019
USCIS Question & Answer Session: Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) Policy Clarifications Engagement
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Biden Administration Action: Modified
March 18, 2021Special Immigrant Juvenile Classification and Saravia v. Barr Settlement
This Biden administration policy modifies the Trump-era policy identified in this entry.
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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.Current Status
Fully in EffectMost Recent Action
March 18, 2021 Action: Modified Special Immigrant Juvenile Classification and Saravia v. Barr SettlementMarch 18, 2021Acted on by Biden Administration
Original Trump Policy Status
Status: Final/ActualTrump Administration Action: Agency DirectiveSubject Matter: Immigrant Visas: Special Immigrant Minors HumanitarianAgencies Affected: USCISAssociated or Derivative Policies
Pre Trump-Era Policies
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December 13, 2019
The changes to the USCIS manual, containing the prior policies, are found in the Comparison Chart develiped by CLINIC.
Comparison Chart – November 2019 USCIS Policy Manual Changes to Volume 6, Part J (Special Immigrant Juvenile Status