- The Department of Labor
- Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
- Child Protective Services
At one time, undocumented foreign-born victims of crime and domestic violence
in the United States had an impossible choice: endure their situation
in silence or seek help from the police and risk deportation.
That changed when Republican Senator Spencer Abraham and late Democratic
Senator Ted Kennedy designed the U-visa to encourage immigrants to report
criminal activity to law enforcement. It became law in 2000 as part of
the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act and continues to
be seen as a lifeline for immigrants who are victims of repeated violence,
especially in the home or workplace.
What Does the U-Visa Cover?
The U-visa is a temporary nonimmigrant visa available to applicants who
are victims of certain crimes. It protects individuals who have suffered
significant physical and/or mental abuse due to rape, torture, trafficking,
abduction, domestic violence, and other violent offenses. (You can find
a total list of applicable crimes
here
on the USCIS website.
How to Apply for a U-Visa
You must obtain a law enforcement certification before filing a petition
for U nonimmigrant status. This certification may come from a local, state,
or federal law enforcement agency or other authority tasked with the investigation
or prosecution of the crime. This includes judges and prosecution. Other
agencies authorized to issue a certification include:
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