USCIS Policy Alert on Special Immigrant Juvenile Classification and Deferred Action

USCIS issued policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to eliminate automatic consideration of deferred action (and related employment authorization) for Special Immigrant Juveniles (SIJs) who are ineligible to apply for adjustment of status to lawful permanent resident status due to visa unavailability. Feedback is due 7/7/25.

This guidance confirms that USCIS will no longer consider granting deferred action on a case-by-case basis to SIJs who are ineligible to apply for adjustment of status solely due to unavailable immigrant visas. This update, contained in Volume 6, Part J, Chapter 4: Adjudication, is effective immediately and applies to individuals classified as SIJs before, on, or after that date based on an approved Form I-360. The guidance contained in the Policy Manual is controlling and supersedes any related prior guidance.