(UNITED STATES) – USCIS processing estimates for Special Immigrant Juvenile related filings remain lengthy as of June 2026, and the agency’s latest policy shift points to slower, more heavily reviewed cases rather than faster decisions.

That shift arrived with a June 3, 2026 DHS and USCIS announcement describing fraud and integrity concerns in the Special Immigrant Juvenile program, often called SIJ. The agencies tied the report to national security, public safety, and benefit integrity concerns. Applicants in the SIJ backlog already face separate waits for visa availability. The new scrutiny adds another layer to cases that were already document-heavy.

USCIS uses Form I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant for SIJ classification. An approved SIJ petition does not by itself grant permanent residence. Applicants must usually wait for a visa number and then file Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. Case timing depends on the form, the office handling it, visa bulletin movement, and any request for evidence.

James Percival, DHS General Counsel, said the SIJ process faces serious vulnerabilities because state court predicate orders are sometimes issued without meaningful vetting. In the June 3 statement, Percival said inadequate review allows people who do not meet the law’s requirements to obtain immigration benefits. He also said weak screening can admit criminals, gang members, and suspected terrorists into a process created for abused, neglected, or abandoned children.

The figures cited by USCIS came from its Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate, which reviewed SIJ data from fiscal years 2013 through 2025. The report said nearly 19,000 SIJ petitioners had criminal arrest records. It identified 120 people arrested for murder, at least 200 approved petitioners convicted of sex offenses, more than 500 known or suspected MS-13 members, and more than 100 members of the 18th Street gang.

USCIS also highlighted age and identity concerns. In fiscal year 2024, the report said 52% of SIJ petitioners were over age 18. The agency said some applicants used false names, dates of birth, or countries of citizenship. One example in the report involved a New York MS-13 leader who later pleaded guilty to racketeering tied to eight murders after receiving SIJ petition approval.

The latest enforcement changes matter directly to pending cases. USCIS rescinded, effective May 10, 2026, a 2022 policy that had provided automatic deferred action for SIJ petitioners waiting for a visa. A June 2, 2026 Board of Immigration Appeals decision, Matter of N-A-G-C-, also said some adults with approved SIJ petitions who have not adjusted status can be subject to mandatory detention.

⚠️ Common Mistake: An approved SIJ petition is not a green card. Permanent residence usually requires visa availability and a separate Form I-485 filing.

Applicants should expect closer review of state juvenile court orders, identity records, and criminal history. USCIS decisions can take longer when the agency issues a request for evidence, schedules an interview, or conducts additional security checks. Processing times are estimates, not guarantees. They vary by service center, local field office, and the facts in the file.

The practical effect of the deferred action rescission is immediate. New SIJ petitioners no longer receive automatic protection from removal while waiting in the visa backlog. Automatic employment authorization tied to that deferred action also falls away. USCIS said deferred action remains possible, but only as an extraordinary exercise of prosecutorial discretion on a case-by-case basis.

💰 Current Fee: Form I-485 filing fees change periodically. Verify the exact amount at [USCIS fees](https://www.uscis.gov/fees) before filing. A wrong fee can lead to rejection. Fee waiver requests use Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver, when permitted.

If a case involves urgent safety, medical, or humanitarian issues, an expedite request can still be attempted. USCIS usually asks for documents that prove the urgency. File the underlying form first, keep the receipt notice, and then request expedite treatment through [myUSCIS](https://my.uscis.gov) or by calling 1-800-375-5283. Expedite requests are discretionary and do not bypass eligibility rules.

Case status checks are straightforward. Use the receipt number at [myUSCIS](https://my.uscis.gov) for updates. Check posted estimates at [USCIS processing times](https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/). If the case is outside normal time, submit an inquiry through the USCIS online account. Keep copies of the state court predicate order, birth records, identity documents, and every filing notice in one place. That file often becomes essential if USCIS issues an RFE.

USCIS listed three official records behind the latest SIJ changes: the June 3, 2026 DHS press release on juvenile immigrant fraud claims, the April 10, 2026 USCIS policy memorandum PM-602-0198 on SIJ classification and deferred action, and the FDNS report on criminality, gangs, and program integrity concerns in SIJ petitions. Anyone with an approved SIJ petition should review whether a visa is available, whether employment authorization remains valid, and whether Form I-485 can be filed now. Download forms at [USCIS forms](https://www.uscis.gov/forms), confirm fees at [USCIS fees](https://www.uscis.gov/fees), and track the case through [myUSCIS](https://my.uscis.gov).

📋 Official Resources: Download forms at [USCIS forms](https://www.uscis.gov/forms). Check processing times at [USCIS processing times](https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/). Fees and processing times are subject to change, always verify current information at [USCIS](https://www.uscis.gov).