CVLS Seminar: SIJS TRAINING – PREDICATE ORDERS & APPLICATION

Join CVLS Staff Members Rebekah Rashidfarokhi and Massiel Tarango to learn about how to help undocumented children and young adults obtain a path to citizenship in the United States.

Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) cases involve two steps:

1.      CVLS represents a Petitioner (usually a parent or family member) in an uncontested, state court guardianship or custody proceeding to obtain a “predicate order.” The state court enters guardianship or custody, finds the child was abused, neglected, and/or abandoned, and finds that it is not in his or her best interest to return to home country. This process involves document preparation, communication with the client, and 1-2 uncontested court appearances.

2.      CVLS files a Petition for SIJS status with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). This step involves document preparation, communication with the client, and timely mailing of an application. No court appearance is involved.

SIJS predicate order cases may be completed in as little as three to six months. This process must be complete before the child ages out of the juvenile court jurisdiction, either at age 18 or 21. CVLS provides support and supervision at all stages of the case.

This seminar will be held remotely via Zoom. Attendees will receive login instructions upon registration.