Chicago Special Immigrant Juvenile Visa Lawyers

Sadly, there are many cases in which undocumented foreign children are brought into the United States by their parents, only to be abused, neglected or abandoned. Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) is an American immigration program that gives affected children the ability to obtain permanent legal status within the United States, independent of their abusive or negligent parent(s).

At Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC, our compassionate Illinois immigration lawyers have a full understanding of the SIJS application process. If you or a loved one is seeking immigration relief through obtaining SIJ status, please contact our Chicago special immigrant juvenile visa attorneys for immediate assistance with your claim.

Special Immigrant Juvenile Status: Eligibility Requirements

Under current U.S. immigration law, the SIJS program has very strict eligibility requirements. To be able to obtain permanent legal status through this program, an immigrant who was brought to the United States as a minor must be able to meet the following five criteria:

• They must be under the age of 21;
• They must currently be unmarried;
• They  must be under the legal jurisdiction of a juvenile court at the time that the application is being submitted;
• The court must determine that reunification with the child’s parents is an unviable option because of the history of abuse, neglect, abandonment or mistreatment; and
• It must be determined that it is not in the best interests of the applicant to be returned to another country, either their birth country or a third country where the applicant previously lived.

Obtaining a Green Card Through Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS)

Special Immigrant Juvenile Status is not the same thing as obtaining a green card. In fact, being able to obtain SIJ status does not necessarily mean that you are guaranteed to get a green card at any point in the future. However, obtaining a green card is a possibility. There is a path from the SIJ program to lawful permanent residence within the United States. If you currently have SIJ status and you are seeking to obtain a green card, you should contact a qualified immigration lawyer as soon as possible. This is a time-sensitive matter. Your lawyer will be able to review your case and determine what needs to be done to help you move forward with your application.

Speak to a Chicago Immigration Lawyer Today

At Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC, our top-rated immigration lawyers offer a full array of immigration law services, including special immigrant juvenile visas. To request your fully confidential immigration consultation, please call us today at (312) 332-2550. From our offices in Chicago and Lake Shore, we represent immigration clients throughout Northern Illinois.