Once USCIS has approved your U visa application,
you may only enter the U.S. with an official visa from the consulate or with advance parole if you have filed your application for lawful permanent residence
.
Can you travel internationally with U visa?
If you filed a U-Visa application in the U.S. and it's pending,
it is not advisable to travel abroad
. If you travel before USCIS adjudicates your I-918 petition, you will be stuck outside the U.S. until it's approved and transferred to an embassy or consulate near you.
What can you do with a visa U?
The U nonimmigrant status (U visa) is set aside for victims of certain crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse and are helpful to
law enforcement or government officials in the investigation or prosecution of criminal activity
.
Can you go to Mexico with visa U?
If a multiple entry US visa is granted (this includes transit visas), you will be able to use it to enter Mexico without having to apply for a Mexican Visitor Visa
(this does not apply for ESTA or electronic authorizations for travel into the US).
Can you lose U visa?
An arrest or other police contact could hurt your status.
If you commit certain crimes and are arrested, you could lose your U visa and be deported
. If you are arrested for any reason, advise your public defender that you are here under the U visa and contact an immigration lawyer or NWIRP right away.
How long is the wait for U visa?
After you submit your application, the U visa waiting time can range between
12 to 18 months
. However, this process can be prolonged if you fail to correctly fill out the application or are required to submit additional documentation.
What percentage of U visas are approved?
U Visa Success Rate
The U visa approval rate is
87 percent
for principal petitioners, according the USICS.
Why are U Visas important?
The U Visa suspends many of the grounds of inadmissibility while other immigrant visas do not offer such a possibility. If you entered the United States illegally and multiple times or have a final order of deportation, the U visa allows you to apply for a waiver and stay eligible for getting the U visa status.
What is the main purpose of the U visa?
What Is the U Visa's Purpose? Congress created the U nonimmigrant visa in 2000 when it passed the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act. Its purpose was
to encourage immigrants to report crimes to law enforcement and also to afford protection for those willing to cooperate
.
How long does it take to get a green card through U visa?
Applications for an adjustment from U nonimmigrant status to lawful permanent residency are filed with the USCIS Vermont Service Center. The processing time for a green card can vary significantly from case to case, though it generally takes
1 – 2 years
.
How many U visas have been granted?
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
.
Can you travel while U visa is pending?
Unless you have another valid visa that allows you to travel in and out of the U.S. (such as an F-1 student visa), you will be stuck outside the U.S. until USCIS is done deciding on your application and has transferred it to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for what is known as “consular processing.”
Is U visa a green card?
U.S. immigration law allows noncitizens 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.
What is deferred action U visa?
Deferred action is not an immigration status, but it
allows USCIS to give you a work permit so you can work legally while you wait for a decision on your U visa
.
How do I know if my U visa is approved?
Remember: Look at your I-94 card to find out when your status started. If you got U nonimmigrant status while in the U.S.,
your I-94 card is at the bottom of your approval letter from USCIS
. If you came into the U.S. on a U visa, you need to print your I-94 card from the website www.cbp.gov/I94.
Can U visa holders get financial aid?
U visa holders are not eligible for Federal Financial Aid
; however, depending on state law, they may be eligible for in-state tuition or other state and private assistance.
What happens 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.
What is the difference between U visa and T visa?
U visa applicants must prove that they suffered “substantial physical or mental abuse” as a result of the qualifying crime. T visa applicants do not need to provide documentation of physical or mental abuse (though this evidence is helpful to build a convincing case).
Can you get a work permit with a pending U visa?
On June 14, 2021, USCIS announced a new “bona fide determination” process whereby
certain U petitioners and their family members with pending U petitions can receive four-year work authorization and deferred action while they wait for full adjudication
.
Can I get a work permit while waiting for U visa?
Petitioners placed on the waiting list will be granted deferred action and are eligible to apply for work authorization while waiting for additional U visas to become available
. Under the new guidance, USCIS advises that applicants submit two Applications for Employment Authorization (I-765) with any U visa petition.
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).
Who are eligible for U visa?
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.
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.
