Readers ask: How To Apply For U Visa?

The first step toward petitioning for a U nonimmigrant visa is to file Form I-918, Petition for U Nonimmigrant Status, with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). You must submit Form I-918 Supplement B, U Nonimmigrant Status Certification, at the same time you submit Form I-918.

• Applying for a U visa involves the following steps: Prepare USCIS Form I-918, Petition for U Nonimmigrant Status. Include Form I-918, Supplement A if also applying for derivative status for a qualifying family member, and make sure they sign it. Have a qualifying agency provide a certification of your helpfulness to accompany this I-918 petition.

When applying for a U Visa, you will need to complete a few main steps, in order to get the visa. These steps are as listed and clearly explained below: Cooperate with law enforcement to get the status of a victim. Complete the online application form. Collect the required documents and submit them at the USCIS or US embassy.

How do you qualify for a visa U?

U Visa Eligibility Criteria

1. You must have been a victim of a “ qualifying criminal activity,” and this crime must have occurred in the United States or violated U.S. law.
2. In the course of this criminal activity, you must have suffered substantial physical or mental abuse.

How long does it take to get the U visa?

Processing times vary. The government is currently taking about 6-9 months to approve or deny a U application. This time may change depending on the number of applications people send in. Also, it can take longer if the government requests more information partway through the process.

How much is the U visa?

How much does it cost to obtain a U visa? There is no fee to apply for a U visa. There is a filing fee of $230 in order to apply for a derivative visa for a family member (Form I-929).

What crimes qualify for U visa?

What crimes qualify for a U Visa for victims of criminal activity

• Rape;
• Torture;
• Murder, manslaughter, or felonious assault;
• Trafficking;
• Domestic violence;
• Sexual crimes: sexual assault, abusive sexual contact, incest, prostitution, sexual exploitation, female genital mutilation;

What if U visa is denied?

If USCIS denies your request for U visa status, then your status is still the same as it was before you applied. This means that, if you are in the country without legal documentation, you might be subject to detention and even deportation.

Can I travel with U visa?

U Visa Applicants Can Get Stuck Outside the U.S. If They Leave. A pending application for U status does not give you any reentry privileges. Therefore, applicants should not travel outside the U.S. unless an emergency situation requires it.

Why do visas get denied?

An application may be denied because the consular officer does not have all of the information required to determine if the applicant is eligible to receive a visa, because the applicant does not qualify for the visa category for which he or she applied, or because the information reviewed indicates the applicant falls

What are the benefits of U visa?

What Are the Benefits of the U Visa?

• Lawful status for up to four years;
• Work authorization;
• Derivative benefits for qualifying family members; and.
• Eligibility to adjust status to a lawful permanent resident after three years.

How many U visas have been granted?

The U Visa Is a Sizeable Source of Permanent Immigration Currently there are more than 200,000 U visa petitions that are pending action from USCIS. More than 170,000 applications have been approved since 2009. (See Table 2.) The approval rate over 10 years is 82 percent.

Which visa is easy to get to us?

A citizen of a foreign country who wishes to enter the United States must, in most cases, first obtain a visa to do so. This can be either a nonimmigrant visa for a temporary stay or an immigrant visa for permanent residence. For many, a ” B ” visitor visa is the easiest and most appropriate one to get.

How long is a US visa valid?

Visa Validity – How long do Visas Last? Once your B1/B2 Tourist Visa is issued, it will be valid for 10 years.

What happens when U visa expires?

circumstances will be valid for one year from the date the U nonimmigrant status ends. In the case of an untimely Form I-539 filed after U nonimmigrant status has expired, the extension will be valid from the date the previous status expired and for one year from approval of the extension.

Can U visa be denied?

USCIS may deny a U visa petition for a variety of reasons including if the victim’s criminal history warrants such a decision. Denials may occur in cases where a victim has multiple arrests, convictions, or has a serious or violent criminal arrest record.

Can I get a work permit while waiting for U visa?

Yes. When you apply for a U visa as a principal applicant or as a derivative family member, you can get a four-year work permit once your U visa has been granted. During that approximately 3 ½ year wait, you will not have a work permit.

Does battery qualify for U visa?

A certification is required for the U Visa. There are no exceptions to this. The specific criminal statute needs to be analyzed to determine whether it could be considered a felonious assault. Battery is not enoughthe assault needs to be felonious or