USCIS Publishes Fourth Quarter FY2025 Data on Special Immigrant Juvenile Petitions
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has released its Fiscal Year 2025, Quarter 4 performance data for Form I-360 petitions filed by Special Immigrant Juveniles (SIJ). This update, known as the FY2025 Q4 Data I-360, includes the March 2026 dataset that updates petition receipts, completions, and pending inventories for the fiscal year.
The report provides an overview of adjudication activity and filing levels for SIJ petitions over time. As with prior performance data releases, the information reflects aggregate agency activity rather than case-specific outcomes.
Understanding SIJ Classification in FY2025 Q4 Data I-360
The court makes Special Immigrant Juvenile classification available to certain noncitizen children who have been declared dependent on a juvenile court or placed under the custody of a state agency, department, or individual, and for whom reunification with one or both parents is not viable due to abuse, neglect, abandonment, or a similar basis under state law. Applicants seek SIJ classification by filing Form I-360 with USCIS.
Approval of the SIJ petition allows eligible individuals to apply for lawful permanent residence when a visa number becomes available. SIJ classification in EB-4 category is subject to visa limits and annual demand.
FY2025 Q4 Filing Volumes and Case Movement
The newly released data outlines the volume of petitions received during FY2025, as well as the number of cases adjudicated and those remaining pending at the close of the fourth quarter. By examining receipts in comparison to completions, observers can identify general workload patterns and shifts in pending case inventory.
Quarterly reporting helps evaluate filing demand changes and its correlation with case processing activity. Pending inventory levels may reflect broader trends such as resource allocation, surges in filings, or procedural adjustments within USCIS operations.
Advocates and legal service providers closely monitor overall adjudication trends because SIJ petitions often involve time-sensitive circumstances for minors and intersect with visa bulletin movement in the EB-4 category.
Practical Implications for Applicants and Representatives
Quarterly performance data provides SIJ petitioners, guardians, and supporting organizations with context for understanding how cases are flowing through USCIS. Processing times depend on filing completeness and caseload, with workload indicators informing petition review expectations.
Practitioners use performance figures to assess filing trends and compare receipt shifts with adjudication output. Careful preparation of Forms I-360, consistent supporting documentation, and adherence to current USCIS evidentiary standards remain central to compliant case management.
Broader Context Within the EB-4 Category
SIJ petitions fall within the EB-4 special immigrant classification, which is subject to annual numerical limits. When demand exceeds available visa numbers, priority date backlogs may develop. USCIS reports focus on petition processing, but approval volumes can affect visa availability trends.
Monitoring both USCIS adjudication data and Department of State visa bulletin updates provides a fuller picture of the SIJ landscape. These sources help stakeholders understand petition status and administrative and statutory interactions.
The FY 2025 Q4 dataset tracks SIJ petition developments and activity through the fiscal year’s end.
