First, if you were granted U visa status in the U.S.,
you will have to go to a consulate to get an actual U visa to re-enter the U.S.
You are not automatically granted this visa, which is a sticker in your passport needed for traveling, when you are approved for U visa status.
What is the U visa category?
The U visa is a
United States nonimmigrant visa
which is set aside for victims of crimes (and their immediate family members) who have suffered substantial mental or physical abuse while in the U.S. and who are willing to assist law enforcement and government officials in the investigation or prosecution of the …
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
.
What happens after your U visa is approved?
After you file your application for permanent residence, you will need to wait for USCIS to make its decision, which could take as long as two years. While you wait for the decision,
USCIS will extend your U visa status, and you can apply for or renew your work permit
.
Can I go out of the country with visa U?
In most instances,
it is not advisable for people in U-visa status to travel abroad
, even after U-visa status has been granted. If you'd like to travel overseas while in U-visa status, you should consult with an experienced immigration attorney near you who can explain all of the risks involved with such travel.
How long does it take for U visa to be approved?
Gather any required documents and submit them to the USCIS or to a US embassy. Wait for your U visa application to be processed. This may take anywhere
between 12 and 18 months
. After your visa has been approved, follow any further instructions sent to you by USCIS.
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.
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
.
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.
How many U visas are approved each year?
Each year, USCIS may approve
up to 10,000
U visa petitions.
Can you study on U visa?
U nonimmigrants are permitted to study in the United States while maintaining U status
. The SEVP guidance notes that, where the principal U nonimmigrant is under 21, any derivative parents and unmarried siblings under the age of 18 are also permitted to study in the United States.
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.
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 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.
Can you work on U visa?
Under the new policy, U-Visa applicants who submitted a complete application and are not a risk to national security or public safety, and deserve a positive exercise of discretion, should receive a “Bona Fide Determination” (BFD) work permit, valid for a renewable 4-year period.
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
.
How long is the U visa backlog?
That is unfair to the victims in question and undermines the confidence that underlies the visa's crime-fighting purpose. Second, even without efficient certification from law enforcement, the backlog of U visa applications has grown so much that at the current pace, it would take
over 17 years
to process them all.
What documents are needed for U visa?
- U Visa Document Checklist. I. FORMS AND DECLARATION.
- II. EVIDENCE OF IDENTITY.
- III. EVIDENCE OF SUBSTANTIAL PHYSICAL OR. MENTAL ABUSE.
- IV. COOPERATION AND ASSISTANCE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.
How long is the U visa waitlist?
Every year, the U.S. government issues no more than 10,000 U visas, and that's created a backlog. Some applicants are waiting
five to seven years
for the government to process their applications. That's a long time for individuals who need to work.
What is the waiting list for U visa?
In the fourth quarter of FY 2020, the median processing time from receipt of a U visa petition until placement on the waiting list was
50.1 months
and the processing time from waitlist placement until final adjudication was 10.8 months. Source: USCIS.
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).
Can I apply for U visa if I have DACA?
Q: Do I give up my VAWA or U petitions if I get DACA? A:
No, you can pursue both at the same time
.
