The term U visa describes a special immigration status granted through one of many humanitarian relief programs offered by the United States. This special status is reserved for eligible foreign nationals in the United States after they have been a victim of a serious crime.
If you hear that a foreign national is granted a U visa, it means they are given U nonimmigrant status. A U visa lawyer is an experienced immigration attorney that is familiar with this special form of humanitarian relief.
Your U visa lawyer at Laura Leon Law understands:
If you have been offered a U visa by law enforcement or another official, an experienced U visa lawyer can help you safely navigate the process. If you haven’t been offered a U visa yet, but want to see if you might be eligible, your U visa lawyer will take a careful look at your situation in a confidential consultation.
Your U visa lawyer will make sure you fulfill all U visa requirements before advising you to take any steps.
To be eligible for U nonimmigrant status:
After confirming your eligibility, you’ll need to collect documents that support your petition. Depending on your case, these may include:
Submitting organized and complete evidence can help USCIS better evaluate your petition.
To apply for a U visa, your U visa lawyer will help you fill out a Form I-918, Petition for U Nonimmigrant Status and make sure that an official has filled out the Supplement B, U nonimmigrant Status Certification that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will need to process your petition. They will also help you file any additional forms required for waivers or qualifying family members, if applicable.
Once your application package is complete, submit your petition to USCIS.
After USCIS accepts your petition, they will schedule a biometrics appointment to collect your fingerprints, photographs, and signatures as part of the agency’s background and security checks.
You may check your case status online while your U visa application is pending. USCIS may request additional documentation before making a decision. If you receive a Request for Evidence (RFE), it is important to:
A U visa lawyer can help you respond to USCIS requests and keep your case moving forward while you wait for a decision.
U visa processing times vary from case to case, and several factors can influence how long USCIS takes to review a petition. While applicants cannot control every aspect of the process, understanding these factors can help set realistic expectations.
Some of the most common factors that may affect your U visa processing timeline include:
Working with a U visa lawyer to submit a complete and well-documented petition may help reduce avoidable delays and minimize the likelihood of receiving a Request for Evidence.
Your U visa lawyer can tell you if you meet the eligibility requirements, but they can’t submit your U visa petition without the cooperation of an agent or official filling out the certification of your eligibility.
Your U visa attorney can look at your unique situation and make sure that you are admissible into the United States or consider whether a waiver of inadmissibility may be needed. They can also tell you whether the crime is likely a qualifying crime.
If you’re a foreign national, any time you speak with an immigration official or law enforcement, you are safer with legal representation. Even officials with good intentions may end up steering you wrong, so you need a U visa lawyer even if you are interacting with a supportive officer or official.
Remember, the law enforcement agent or official isn’t the one who can actually grant you U nonimmigrant status. They just help provide you with the certification you need. USCIS officials who process your petition are the ones deciding your case.
Your U visa lawyer is familiar with the types of crimes that are considered qualifying criminal activity. Qualifying criminal activity according to USCIS can include the following:
Discuss what happened to you with your U visa lawyer, because this list doesn’t cover all the eligible crimes and often victims don’t realize that the differences between U.S. law and laws in other nations. The U.S. has a lower tolerance for many types of activities. If you feel like you have been abused in some way, it’s entirely possible you are the victim of a crime that the U.S. considers severe.
Derivative U visas are available to certain family members of U visa holders. Your U visa lawyer can file a Supplemental A, Petition for Qualifying Family Member of U-1 Recipient with your U visa petition to help keep eligible family members in the country and safe.
Your U visa lawyer can explain the benefits of a U visa in detail, but essentially, U nonimmigrant status will provide you with the right to legally work in the country, protection from removal, and eventually, the eligibility to apply for a green card if you meet all conditions. A U visa will also make you eligible to apply for other state and federal benefits.
Your U visa lawyer won’t need to help you get permission to work. USCIS will automatically issue you an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) when your status is approved. Your U visa lawyer can help your family members with derivative status apply for an EAD though.
A skilled U visa lawyer should prepare you for your biometrics appointment and help you gather all the documents you will need to bring. At our firm, your U visa lawyer will make sure you are entirely prepared for this appointment, because we know that it can be intimidating.
U visa lawyers know that this nonimmigrant status can be used as a removal defense. Your U visa lawyer at our firm will look at all available options to prevent your removal if you want to stay in the country and are facing removal orders.
CONTACT US TODAY
No matter where you are in the U visa process, a skilled U visa lawyer is your greatest advocate. Whether you need help applying for a U visa, need a U visa lawyer to speak with law enforcement, or would like help filing for an adjustment of status because you have become eligible for a green card through your U visa status, contact a U visa lawyer at Laura Leon Law today.
(979) 810-8880
