Is a child eligible for the special immigrant juvenile status if they have been abused, neglected or abandoned?
Yes, a child in Massachusetts may be eligible for special immigrant juvenile status (SIJ) if they have been abused, neglected, or abandoned (A/N/A). SIJ is reserved for children who have been found by a court in the United States to be unable to return to their country of origin. SIJ status is generally available to children in Massachusetts who have been declared dependent on a state court due to A/N/A or similar factors that prevent the child from being reunified with their family. To qualify for SIJ status, the applicant must first petition a state court for a finding of dependency and then be approved by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). When the state court makes a finding of dependency based on A/N/A, the court has the authority to make orders granting custody of the child, and the child may then be considered for SIJ status. Once USCIS approves the SIJ application, the child is granted a green card and can eventually become a U.S. citizen. In addition to the A/N/A finding, the child must also meet a few other requirements to be eligible for SIJ status. These include being unmarried, under 21 years of age, and having no lawful immigration status. If the child meets all of these criteria, they may be eligible for special immigrant juvenile status in Massachusetts. Special immigrant juvenile status is an important benefit for children in the U.S. who have been victims of abuse, neglect, or abandonment.
THELAW.TV ofrece respuestas en español a todas las preguntas sobre la ley de inmigración.Sí, un niño es elegible para el estátus especial de inmigrante juvenil si ha sido abusado, abandonado o descuidado. El Estado de Massachusetts se ha comprometido a proporcionarle a los niños esta protección adicional para ayudarlos a obtener un estatus legal. Para ser elegible para el estatus de inmigrante juvenil especial, los niños deben tener menos de 21 años y la corte del estado debe haber determinado que esta es la mejor opción para el niño. Los niños deben estar bajo tutela y pueden iniciar un proceso de tutela con la ayuda de un abogado con licencia o un abogado asociado con el Departamento de Servicios de la Mujer y la Niñez de Massachusetts. Además, la legislación de Massachusetts exige que el tribunal examine el caso de cada niño. Para que el niño reciba el estatus de inmigrante juvenil especial, deben verificarse varios factores. Primero, el tribunal debe determinar si la custodia parental, el cuidado o el control del padre biológico es adecuado para el niño. En segundo lugar, el tribunal debe determinar si el sistema de atención de los padres no es una opción viable para el niño. Por último, el tribunal debe determinar que el estatus de inmigrante juvenil especial es la mejor solución para el futuro del niño. Si los tres puntos son aprobados, el niño tendrá acceso al estatus de inmigrante juvenil especial.
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