Special Immigrant Juvenile Status Attorney in San Antonio, Texas

How Special Immigrant Juvenile Status Works

SIJS combines family or juvenile court with immigration law, and both halves have to fit together. We manage the whole picture.

Who Qualifies

SIJS is for young people who are unmarried, under the relevant age limit, and who a state court finds have been abused, abandoned, or neglected by one or both parents, and for whom returning to their home country is not in their best interest. Both the age and the marital status matter, so timing is essential.

The State Court Order Comes First

Before the immigration petition can be filed, a Texas juvenile, family, or probate court must make specific findings about the child's situation. Getting the right findings, in the right order, is the part that most often goes wrong without experienced help, and it is where we focus.

The Immigration Petition

With the court order in hand, we file the SIJS petition on Form I-360 with USCIS. When approved, it opens the door to lawful permanent residence for the child, though visa availability can affect the timing depending on the child's country.

Why Timing Is Everything

Because eligibility depends on age and on obtaining the court order before certain birthdays, delay can cost a child the opportunity entirely. We move quickly and coordinate the court and immigration steps so nothing is lost to the calendar.

Protecting Young People in Texas

These cases involve some of the most vulnerable clients we serve, and they call for patience and care. We work alongside family members, guardians, and sometimes child welfare professionals to move a case through state court and then through immigration, keeping the young person's stability at the center. Timing matters, because state court authority and the federal process both depend on age, so we act quickly once a child is identified as potentially eligible. For families across San Antonio and the border region, we handle the coordination in both languages so a frightening situation becomes a path to lasting safety.

Our Process

What to Expect

What to Expect With an SIJS Case

We start by understanding the child's situation and confirming that SIJS is the right protection, sometimes alongside other options. We then pursue the necessary findings in the appropriate Texas court, coordinating with anyone caring for the child.

Once the court makes its findings, we file the SIJS petition and, when the path is open, the green card application. Throughout, we handle these cases with the sensitivity they require, because behind every SIJS petition is a child who has already been through too much. Timelines depend on the courts, USCIS, and visa availability, and we keep every deadline in view so the child's eligibility is protected.

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Lozano Law Firm in the News

Lozano Law Firm

Hire a Board-Certified Immigration Attorney

Fewer than five percent of Texas immigration attorneys are Board-Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Attorney Alfredo Lozano holds that distinction, and since founding the firm in 2006 he has brought a Marine Corps veteran's discipline, more than 20 years of immigration experience, and a fully bilingual team to every case the firm handles.

Our approach combines personalized counsel with the documentation rigor these cases demand, so your petition is prepared correctly the first time. Board Certification means the state has independently verified his experience, tested his knowledge, and confirmed his standing among peers, which is the kind of assurance that matters when your family's future is on the line.

Learn About Our Firm

Meet

Our Team

Our team includes experienced attorneys, legal professionals, and client-care specialists who share a common commitment: making the immigration process as clear and manageable as possible for every family we serve.

Alfredo Lozano

Managing Attorney

Board-Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law and a Marine Corps veteran who leads every case strategy.

Linda Hamilton

Attorney

Guides families and employers through petitions, waivers, and interviews with steady, detailed advocacy.

Minerva Gonzalez

Legal Assistant

Prepares documentation and keeps every case organized, accurate, and moving forward.

Mayra Juarez

Legal Administrator

Coordinates case management and client communication across our three Texas offices.

Meet Our Full Team

SIJS Help for Children and Families Across Texas

We help vulnerable young people throughout South and West Texas, in English and Spanish, coordinating with Texas family and juvenile courts and with USCIS. Whether you are a parent, a relative, or a guardian seeking to protect a child, we guide you through both halves of the process. Every consultation is free and confidential.

Request Your Free Consultation

Tell us about your family's situation and our bilingual team will reach out to schedule your free case evaluation.

Special Immigrant Juvenile Status FAQs

Lozano Law Firm focuses exclusively on the practice areas listed above. We do not handle asylum or criminal immigration cases. When clients come to us with needs outside our scope, we refer them to trusted colleagues who specialize in those areas. Our referral network includes attorneys who handle asylum claims and criminal immigration consequences, so every person who contacts us receives direction toward the right help.

Contact Our Immigration Lawyer

For A Free Case Evaluation