Who Qualifies For U Visa?

“U” visas allow immigrants who are victims of domestic violence or sex crimes to live and work in the United States for up to four years or more. And after three years of living in the U.S., a U visa holder and his/her immediate family members may apply for green cards. There is no fee to apply for a U visa.

What must an immigrant to do qualify for U visa status?

To qualify for a U visa, a victim must submit a signed certification from a law enforcement official. This certification (known as USCIS Form 1-918, Supplement B, U Nonimmigrant Status Certification) is evidence in support of the petition to USCIS for U nonimmigrant status.

Who can qualify for AU visa?

U Visa Eligibility Criteria

• 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.
• In the course of this criminal activity, you must have suffered substantial physical or mental abuse.

Who can be U visa derivative?

Through the I-929 process, a U-1 can include the following qualifying family members: (if the U-1 is under 21 years) spouse, unmarried children under 21 years of age, and parents; • (if the U-1 is over 21 years) spouse or unmarried children under 21 years of age.

How does the U visa work?

A U-Visa lets victims of crimes who meet certain requirements stay in the United States. A U-Visa provides the following benefits: You can legally live in the United States for four years. After three years of having a U-Visa you can apply for a green card to stay in the U.S. permanently.

How long does it take for U visa to be approved?

It can take from 12 to 18 months for the U visa to be processed and approved. The processing times may vary widely though, since for example, if you are required to send in additional evidence to USCIS, processing times may become longer.

What is the difference between U visa and T visa?

A primary difference between U visas and T visas is that individuals who apply for a U visa are required to cooperate with law enforcement to a greater extent. In some cases T visa applicants would also have to cooperate with law enforcement but, it is less common when compared to U visa cases.

What if U visa is denied?

If USCIS denies your request for a U visa, 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 are at risk for being detained and deported.

How much is the U visa?

There are no fees to file a U visa application for you and your family members.

What are the benefits of U visa?

U visa status benefits include the following:

• 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.

Can you 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.

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

Because it is taking so long for the government to review U visa applications, USCIS may give you a work permit and deferred action while you wait for a final decision.

Is U visa a green card?

U.S. immigration law allows aliens who have been victims of certain crimes and granted U nonimmigrant status (U visa) to become lawful permanent residents (get a Green Card). To qualify for a Green Card as a crime victim, you must have U nonimmigrant status and meet certain eligibility requirements.

Can I stay in US while waiting for U visa?

You are allowed to stay in the United States while you have U nonimmigrant status. If you were in the U.S. when you got your U nonimmigrant status: The approval letter from USCIS says the date your U status started and the date it ends at the top of the letter.

Why is U visa taking so long?

One reason it takes so long is that Congress limited the number of U visas the government can give out to 10,000 per year,¹ but far more than 10,000 people apply for U visas each year, so the line of applications waiting to get reviewed gets longer and longer every year.

Can a U visa be revoked?

Scenarios in Which U Status May be Revoked For derivative U Visa holders, an approved petition may be revoked if the derivative U’s relationship to the principal is terminated or if the principal U’s approved petition is revoked.