SIJ Petition Process

This page gives you information on:

• SIJ Forms
• Fees related to those forms 
• Fee Waivers

Forms

You must file at least two USCIS forms in order to get an SIJ-based green card:

• Form I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant. 
• Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status.

You can file both forms together, or you can file the Form I-360 and wait for a decision until you file the Form I-485.  Filing both forms at the same time is usually far quicker than waiting to file the second form.

Exception: If you are in immigration proceedings (if you are scheduled for immigration court), file only the Form I-360. 

There are additional forms you may need to file depening on your circumstance. Please see our SIJ: Forms You May Need to File page.

If you want permission to work

File Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization

• with your Form I-485, or
• after you get the Form I-797C (which shows that your Form I-485 was accepted). 

If you want USCIS to waive a ground of ineligibility for a green card 

File a Form I-601, Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility,

• If you need a waiver, you should include this form with the Form I-485
• You can wait to file until after USCIS tells you that you need to file a Form I-601, but that will delay your green card.

How to Check if You Have Latest Version of the Form

• Look at the date in the lower right-hand corner of the form.
  • The version date will be in parentheses like this:  (Rev. 00/00/2000)N
  • Check our website at www.uscis.gov to make sure you have the latest version of the form
  • Under “Edition Date” on the webpage, you will see the acceptable forms.

Or

• Telephone our National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283, and ask for the correct fee, filing location, and form edition date.
• You can order the latest forms for free by phone at 1-800-870-3676.

Fees

Fees, filing locations, and the forms can change from time to time. You can make sure you have the right fee, filing location, and form by:

• Visiting our Check Filing Fees page
• Telephoning the USCIS National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283, and asking for the correct fee, filing location, and form edition date.

Paying the Fee

You must:

• Pay with a check or money order from a United States bank or company.
• Pay the exact amount of the total of the fees for all the forms you file in the same envelope.
• Make the check or money order payable to the “Department of Homeland Security”.

Do NOT send a check or money order if you are asking for a fee waiver.

Fee Waivers

There is no filing fee for the Form I-360.  But if you cannot afford to pay the filing fees for the other forms:

• File a Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver
  • List ALL the forms that you are filing that you cannot afford to pay, and
  • That are included in the same envelope.