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U Visa for U.S.

U Visa for U.S.

The U visa for US, or the U nonimmigrant status, is issued for victims of certain crimes who have endured psychological or physical abuse and assists law enforcement or government officials in the investigation or prosecution of criminal deeds.  

Our immigration lawyers in Miami can help you apply for this visa, as well as for a residence permit in USA.

Reasons for issuing the U Visa for the US

The visa for US was issued by Congress with the passage of the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act (including the Battered Immigrant Women’s Protection Act) in the year of 2000. The laws were meant to reinforce the capability of law enforcement bodies to investigate and prosecute cases of domestic aggression, sexual assault, trafficking of foreign citizens and other crimes, while at the same time protecting the victims of criminality who have endured significant psychological or physical abuse owed to the crime and who want to assist law enforcement agencies in the investigation and prosecution of the illegal activity. Our immigration lawyers in USA can offer more details on these issues.

Our immigration lawyers can also assist you in case you want to marry a Cuban in USA and need assistance with all the immigration procedures. We can also help you apply for USA citizenship.

Starting your own US company from scratch or purchasing an existing one is required for a direct EB-5 investment. However, as a candidate for an investor visa in the USA, you must also fulfill other conditions, such as injecting specific amounts of money in designated areas. While this is one of the surest pathways for citizenship, we invite you to get in touch with us for support in obtaining it.

We are at your disposal if you want to move to USA from Australia. The US U visa which enables employee transfers can also be obtained with our lawyers’ help.

Eligibility for the U visa for U.S.

The individuals who can obtain the U visa for U.S. are the ones who were in one of the following situations. If you do not find yourself in any of them, you might want to apply for asylum in the US.

•    He or she has to be a victim of qualifying illegal activity;
•    The applicant should have endured significant physical or psychological abuse resulting from being a victim of illegal activity;
•    The candidate has information on the illegal activity. In case he or she is under 18 years of age or is not capable of offering information because of disability, a parent, a guardian, or a friend could have the information on his or her behalf. Our immigration lawyers in the United States can provide more information on this matter;
•    In order to receive the U visa for the US, he or she was, is, or is likely to be helpful to law enforcement in the investigation or prosecution of the illegal deed. If the candidate is under 16 years of age or is not able to offer information because a disability, a parent, a guardian, or a friend can help law enforcement on his or her behalf;
•    The illegal deed happened in the U.S. or broke U.S. laws;
•    The applicant is admissible into the U.S. If he or she is not admissible, he or she can apply for a waiver.

How to apply for a U visa

People who want to file for a U visa for the United States can do so from within the country or outside it. 

While you can petition yourself, you can also use the assistance of a U visa lawyer, especially when you do not live in this country. For this reason, here are the documents you need to draft:

  • the Petition for U Non-immigrant Status, Form I-918, Supplement B;
  • a personal statement outlining the criminal activity of which you were a victim;
  • evidence to establish each eligibility requirement;
  • Form I-192, Application for Advance Permission to Enter as Non-immigrant.

Form I-918, Supplement B must be signed by an authorized representative of the law enforcement agency, attesting that you have been helpful, are being helpful, or will probably be useful in the investigation or prosecution of the case.

If you file for the U non-immigrant status from abroad, the petition must be sent to the Vermont Service Center. Once accepted, you will be directed to the nearest US Embassy or Consulate to continue the process.

If one of your questions is ‘’Is there a U visa attorney near me?’’, you can rely on our immigration lawyers in the USA who can represent you even if you live in another country.

Interview requirements for the US U visa

In most cases, visa interviews are required no matter the type of visa you apply for. However, when it comes to the U visa, here are the main aspects to consider:

  • for children below the age of 13 there are no visa requirements in most cases;
  • the same applies to people older than 80;
  • people aged 14 to 79 must usually take the visa interview unless they apply for renewal.

Please mind that the need for an interview is at the discretion of the authorities, which is why it is advisable to ask for the support of a U visa lawyer in the USA.

The U visa and the US Green Card

If you fulfill specific criteria, you can qualify for a Green Card whether for the adjustment of your status in the United States or for permanent residency purposes. The following conditions need to be met:

  • you have held the U non-immigrant status for at least 3 years and have physically resided in the country;
  • during that time, you have not disobeyed the law.

In order to apply for a US Green Card, you need to visit one of the centers for Victims of Crime.

It is also possible for family members of U visa holders to apply for Green Cards. Our U visa lawyer can assist in such matters.

Do I need a U visa attorney near me?

If you want to apply for this visa, you need to meet the requirements of law, however, the list of criminal activities under which it can be issued is quite extensive. It ranges from blackmail and extorsion to crime, which is why the assistance of a U visa lawyer is of key importance. The respective attorney does not need to be near you necessarily, as it is best to use the services of one who specializes in such cases.

If you wonder how a U visa attorney near you can help, here are a few aspects to consider:

  • he or she will be able to answer your questions shortly;
  • he or she will represent you before the authorities;
  • he or she will offer updates on your visa application status on a regular basis.

If you need assistance, do not hesitate to ask for the support of our immigration lawyers in Miami.

Criminal activities in the United States

According to the latest data gathered by the Council on Criminal Justice, in the first half of 2023:

  • the number of homicides in 30 cities went down by 9.4% compared to the same period of the previous year;
  • the number of aggravated assaults also registered a decrease of 2.5% compared to the first half of 2022;
  • domestic violent cases, however, registered an increase of 0.3% in 11 cities during this time.

For more details on the residence permit, please contact our US immigration attorneys. We can also guide you in obtaining USA citizenship.

You can count on us if you want to apply for an U visa for the United States.