United States · Immigration54
Special Immigrant Juvenile Classification (SIJ)
Children in the U.S. who have been abused, abandoned or neglected — and for whom a state juvenile court has made specific findings — can petition for a Green Card. A state court order is required before the federal petition.
Currently available · Editorial record dated 10/20/2026 · Not lawyer review or an eligibility decision. Check current official instructions.
Who this is for
People under 21 (or younger under some state laws), unmarried, in the U.S., with a qualifying state juvenile court order.
Common problems
Aging out
If the state court order or the federal petition comes too late, eligibility is lost entirely.
No parental petitions
An SIJ Green Card holder can never petition for either parent — a permanent consequence to weigh.