USCIS Issues Guidance on In-Person Filing for Certain SIJ Petitioners

We are updating the USCIS Policy Manual to clarify how certain petitioners for special immigrant juvenile (SIJ) classification (or their representatives) may file Form I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widower, or Special Immigrant. If you are an SIJ petitioner with less than two weeks before your 21st birthday, you may file Form I-360 in person at a USCIS field office, instead of filing by mail. Contact the USCIS Contact Center to request an expedited appointment. If you are not within two weeks of your 21st birthday, you must file Form I-360 by mail, according to the current filing instructions. Children eligible for SIJ classification must file their petition by their 21st birthday. However, many face challenges filing on time because of juvenile court delays issuing the required judicial determinations or other circumstances. Allowing SIJ petitioners to file in person gives them another way to ensure we receive their petition on time. We began this policy on March 30, 2023, and we are now updating the policy manual for transparency and consistency.