A victim of a qualifying criminal activity that occurred in the United States may be eligible to apply for nonimmigrant status under the U-Visa program. Possession of a U-Visa allows recipients to lawfully remain in the United States for a temporary period of time. If certain conditions are met, an individual with U-nonimmigrant status may adjust to lawful permanent resident status.
The first step to applying for a U-Visa is knowing what counts as a qualifying criminal activity. Qualifying crimes that may warrant the acceptance of a U-Visa application include, but are not limited to, abduction, blackmail, domestic violence, and sexual assault. The second step is to cooperate with local or state law enforcement, prosecutors, judges, or other officials in the detection, investigation, prosecution, conviction, or sentencing of the criminal activity. This step is key to filing for U-nonimmigrant status.
The applicant should then obtain and complete a copy of USCIS Form I-918, Petition for U Nonimmigrant Status (Form I-918) with the help of a legal representative. Before sending the application to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for approval, the cooperating law enforcement agency or official must complete Form I-918B. These are some of the steps that are involved in applying for this visa.
If you think you may be eligible for U-nonimmigrant status or need help navigating the process, contact us at 908-424-1011.