USCIS-Adoptions-Judicial-Training [pdf]

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) presented on both Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) classification and adoption of foreign-born children. In this two-part series, USCIS presented on SIJ classification, with a focus on the federal statutory requirements, USCIS’ role in reviewing petitions, and the role of state courts in this process. USCIS also discussed recent policy updates and provide tips and tools for State court judges encountering these cases. In the second part, USCIS provided an overview of adoption-based immigration, discuss other paths to lawful immigration status open to foreign-born children, and offer tips and tools for state court judges working with immigrant children for whom adoption is an option.