<h1> <div id=”ct-title”> USCIS Issues Further Guidance on Special Immigrant Juvenile Classification </div> </h1> <div id=”main-body”> <div> <div> <div> <p> On Oct. 11, USCIS issued <a href=”https://www.uscis.gov/news/uscis-clarifies-special-immigrant-juvenile-classification-better-ensure-victims-abuse-neglect-and-abandonment-receive-protection” > three adopted Administrative Appeals Office decisions </a> to clarify requirements for Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) classification. USCIS is now updating the <a href=”https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/policymanual/updates/20191119-SIJ.pdf” type=”application/pdf;length=384263″ > USCIS Policy Manual (PDF, 375 KB) </a> to reflect those clarifications. </p> <p> This update reaffirms and clarifies that: </p> <ul> <li> The petitioner must have been a juvenile under relevant state law when the juvenile court order was issued; </li> <li> 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 </li> <li> USCIS will no longer require evidence that a state court had the authority to place a petitioner in the custody of an unfit parent in order to make a qualifying determination regarding parental reunification for purposes of SIJ classification. </li> </ul> <p> Visit the <a href=”https://www.uscis.gov/outreach/feedback-opportunities/policy-manual-comment” > Policy Manual for Comment </a> page to comment on this update. </p> </div> </div> </div> </div>
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