# Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS)

Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) defined at section 1101(a)(27)(J) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).

Administrative closure for approved I-360 petition pursuant to IJ's Docket Management Authority 8 CFR § 1003.18(c)(1).

# SIJS Adjustment of Status

Adjustment of status based on an approved I-360 and categorization as a special immigrant juvenile under section 1101(a)(27)(J) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

# I-360 Approval is a Parole Under INA §245(h)

<p class="callout danger"><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Adjustment of status, the process of becoming a lawful permanent resident without leaving the United States to consular process, is governed by INA § 245. Subsection 245(h) outlines the special provisions that govern SIJS-based adjustment. Adjustment of status generally requires that a person have been inspected and admitted or paroled into the United States</span></p>

## PAROLE

<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Special Immigrant Juveniles are deemed to have been paroled for purposes of adjustment of status. </span>**See** INA § 245(h)(1); 8 C.F.R. § 245.1(e)(3)(i).

#### (h) Application with respect to special immigrants

<span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">In applying this section to a special immigrant described in section 1101(a)(27)(J) of this title-</span>

<span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">(1) such an immigrant shall be deemed, for purposes of subsection (a), to have been paroled into the United States; and</span>

<span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">(2) in determining the alien's admissibility as an immigrant-</span>

<span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">(A) paragraphs (4), (5)(A), (6)(A), (6)(C), (6)(D), (7)(A), and (9)(B) of section 1182(a) of this title shall not apply; and</span>

<span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">(B) the Attorney General may waive other paragraphs of section 1182(a) of this title (other than paragraphs (2)(A), (2)(B), (2)(C) (except for so much of such paragraph as related to a single offense of simple possession of 30 grams or less of marijuana), (3)(A), (3)(B), (3)(C), and (3)(E)) in the case of individual aliens for humanitarian purposes, family unity, or when it is otherwise in the public interest.</span>

# Grounds of Inadmissibility for Special Immigrant Juveniles

### SIJS Applicants Are Exempt From Certain Grounds of Inadmissibility

<p class="callout info">****Info CALLOUT****</p>

<p class="callout success">****Other Callout****</p>

<p class="callout danger">****Danger callout****</p>

<p class="callout warning"> ****INA 212(a)(4)****<span style="color:rgb(255,255,255);white-space:pre-wrap;"> Public charge </span>  
****INA 212(a)(5)(A)**** <span style="color:rgb(255,255,255);white-space:pre-wrap;">Labor certification </span>  
****INA 212(a)(6)(A)****<span style="color:rgb(255,255,255);white-space:pre-wrap;"> Aliens present without admission or parole </span>  
****INA 212(a)(6)(C)**** <span style="color:rgb(255,255,255);white-space:pre-wrap;">Misrepresentation, including false claim to U.S. citizenship </span>  
****INA 212(a)(6)(D)**** <span style="color:rgb(255,255,255);white-space:pre-wrap;">Stowaways </span>  
****INA 212(a)(7)(A)****<span style="color:rgb(255,255,255);white-space:pre-wrap;"> Immigrant not in possession of a valid unexpired immigrant visa, reentry permit, border crossing identification card, or other valid entry document </span>  
****INA 212(a)(9)(B)****<span style="color:rgb(255,255,255);white-space:pre-wrap;"> Aliens unlawfully present</span></p>

##### <span style="white-space:pre-wrap;">SIJS waiver provision: </span>

(h) In applying this section to a special immigrant described in section 101(a)(27)(J) \[ 8 USC § 1101(a)(27)(J)\] . . . (2) in determining the alien's admissibility as an immigrant -- (A) paragraphs (4), (5)(A), (6)(A), (6)(C), (6)(D), (7)(A) and (9)(B)of section 212(a) shall not apply, and (B) the Attorney General may waive other paragraphs of section 212(a) (other than paragraphs (2)(A), (2)(B), (2)(C) (except for so much of such paragraph as related to a single offense of simple possession of 30 grams or less of marijuana), (3)(A), (3)(B), (3)(C), and (3)(E)) in the case of individual aliens for humanitarian purposes, family unity, or when it is otherwise in the public interest. The relationship between an alien and the alien’s natural parents or prior adoptive parents shall not be considered a factor in making a waiver under paragraph (2)(B). . . . INA 245(h)(2)(A)-(B) (2009) (emphasis added).

#### What this means:

A. Grounds of Inadmissibility Inapplicable to Special Immigrant Juveniles

 ****INA 212(a)(4)****<span style="white-space:pre-wrap;"> Public charge </span>  
****INA 212(a)(5)(A****<span style="white-space:pre-wrap;">) Labor certification </span>  
****INA 212(a)(6)(A****<span style="white-space:pre-wrap;">) Aliens present without admission or parole </span>  
****INA 212(a)(6)(C)****<span style="white-space:pre-wrap;"> Misrepresentation, including false claim to U.S. citizenship </span>  
****INA 212(a)(6)(D)****<span style="white-space:pre-wrap;"> Stowaways </span>  
****INA 212(a)(7)(A)****<span style="white-space:pre-wrap;"> Immigrant not in possession of a valid unexpired immigrant visa, reentry permit, border crossing identification card, or other valid entry document </span>  
****INA 212(a)(9)(B)**** Aliens unlawfully present

### Grounds of Inadmissibility Applicable to Special Immigrant Juveniles but Waivable

INA 212(a)(1) Health-related grounds  
INA 212(a)(2)(D) Prostitution and commercialized vice  
INA 212(a)(2)(E) Certain aliens involved in serious criminal activity who have asserted immunity from prosecution  
INA 212(a)(2)(G) Foreign government officials who have committed particularly severe violations of religious freedom  
<span style="white-space:pre-wrap;">INA 212(a)(2)(H) Significant traffickers in persons </span>  
<span style="white-space:pre-wrap;">INA 212(a)(2)(I) Money laundering </span>  
<span style="white-space:pre-wrap;">INA 212(a)(3)(D) Immigrant membership in a totalitarian party </span>  
<span style="white-space:pre-wrap;">INA 212(a)(3)(F) Association with terrorist organization </span>  
INA 212(a)(5)(B) Unqualified physicians  
<span style="white-space:pre-wrap;"> INA 212(a)(5)(C) Uncertified foreign health care workers</span>  
<span style="white-space:pre-wrap;"> INA 212(a)(6)(B) Failure to attend removal proceedings </span>  
INA 212(a)(6)(E) Smugglers  
<span style="white-space:pre-wrap;"> INA 212(a)(6)(F) Subject of civil penalty</span>  
<span style="white-space:pre-wrap;"> INA 212(a)(6)(G) Student visa abusers</span>  
<span style="white-space:pre-wrap;"> INA 212(a)(7)(B) Nonimmigrants</span>  
<span style="white-space:pre-wrap;"> INA 212(a)(8) Ineligible for citizenship</span>  
<span style="white-space:pre-wrap;"> INA 212(a)(9)(A) Certain aliens previously removed </span>  
INA 212(a)(9)(C) Aliens unlawfully present after previous immigration violations  
<span style="white-space:pre-wrap;"> INA 212(a)(10) Miscellaneous grounds (polygamists, unlawful voters etc.)</span>

#### <span style="white-space:pre-wrap;">Grounds of Inadmissibility Applicable to Special Immigrant Juveniles and Not Waivable </span>

INA 212(a)(2)(A) Conviction of certain crimes  
<span style="white-space:pre-wrap;">INA 212(a)(2)(B) Multiple criminal convictions </span>  
<span style="white-space:pre-wrap;">INA 212(a)(2)(C) Controlled substance traffickers (anyone who the Attorney General has “reason to believe” is a trafficker (i.e., does not require a “conviction” in adult court or a juvenile delinquency disposition)) </span>  
<span style="white-space:pre-wrap;">INA 212(a)(3)(A) Entrance to engage solely, principally, or incidentally in unlawful activity, particularly espionage. </span>  
<span style="white-space:pre-wrap;">INA 212(a)(3)(B) Terrorist activities </span>  
<span style="white-space:pre-wrap;">INA 212(a)(3)(C) Serious adverse foreign policy consequences </span>  
INA 212(a)(3)(E) Participants in Nazi persecutions, genocide or the commission of any act of torture or extrajudicial killing