Union City Juvenile Immigration Lawyer

A juvenile immigration petition can provide a path for a non-U.S. citizen to gain permanent residency. The petition process involves coordinating the efforts of a state juvenile court and the U.S. Customs and Immigration Services (USCIS). Minor errors and missed deadlines can quickly derail the process.

To avoid mistakes, you should retain the services of a Union City juvenile immigration lawyer from The Law Office of Lloyd E. Bennett, Esq. P.C. Our family immigration lawyer has decades of experience in guiding minors who are seeking residency in the United States through every step of the petition process.

The First Step: Procuring a Predicate Order from a State Court

Applicants for juvenile immigration petitions might understand that they will need to file a Form I-360 with the USCIS to procure a status of “Special Immigrant Juvenile” (SIJ) for U.S. residency purposes. Before you file that form, however, special immigrant juveniles will need a predicate order from a N.J. Superior Court Judge near Union City to verify their eligibility to submit an SIJ immigration petition. You will need representation from an attorney to get that predicate order, which will confirm that:

• You are a dependent or are in the care and custody of the State in that you are unable to provide for your own well-being apart from State assistance or the assistance of an individual appointed by the State, such as a guardian with whom you reside.
• There is no opportunity for you to reunite with at least one parent due to their neglect, abuse, or inability to care for your health and safety.
• Returning you to your country of origin or the most recent country in which you lived would not be in your best interests.

In the current era of heightened immigration scrutiny, it is essential for you to have representation from an experienced attorney to convince a State court to issue the necessary predicate order.

The Next Step: Submitting an Accurate and Complete Form I-360

Individuals who are petitioning for SIJ status are only one of several groups of applicants that must file a Form I-360 to petition for U.S. residency. Because that form is used by many different applicants, the Form I-360 instructions can be confusing, and Union City petitioners who are not represented by a juvenile immigration attorney can easily miss requirements for an accurate and thorough application.

As a preliminary matter, only juveniles with a predicate State court order and who are already in the United States, are under the age of 21, and are not married may use Form I-360 to petition for SIJ status. The petition must include a copy of a birth certificate or other official proof of your age, a copy of the State court’s predicate order, an explanation of facts and evidence supporting that order, and (if applicable) consent to submit the application from the federal or other agency that has custody over you.

Keep in mind that New Jersey state courts and USCIS offices have tremendous backlogs of petitions and applications, and your petition can linger or get lost if it is not shepherded through the system by a conscientious immigration lawyer. Retaining the most qualified lawyer is particularly important if you are approaching your 21st birthday. If you turn 21 before your petition is filed with USCIS , you will lose all eligibility for SIJ status.

Contact The Law Offices of Lloyd E. Bennett, Esq. P.C. for Help From a Juvenile Immigration Attorney

Retaining the services of a Union City juvenile immigration lawyer from The Law Offices of Lloyd E. Bennett, Esq. P.C. will give you the best chances of approval of your special immigrant juvenile petition. Call us today to schedule an appointment with one of our knowledgeable attorneys.