U visas for crime victims, can be used by any victim of a crime to apply for status with the Immigration Service in case they can prove that they were injured because of a crime that occurred in the United States and there was cooperation with the authorities of this country in the attempt to arrest or pursue the aggressor. In 2000, Congress authorized U Nonimmigrant status in the Protection Act known as “Victims of Trafficking and Violence.”
The goal of this legislation is to promote law enforcement in immigrant communities. The Visa was created to “strengthen the ability of law enforcement agencies to detect, investigate, and prosecute cases of domestic violence, sexual assault, immigrant trafficking, and other crimes… while offering protection to victims of the aforementioned crimes to defend the humanitarian interests of the United States. This Visa will help law enforcement officers to collaborate with those immigrant victims of crimes, and thus also to prosecute those crimes committed against foreigners.
The typical Visa U crime will involve a case of domestic or sexual violence against a woman who will hesitate to contact authorities to report the abuser for fear of contact with law enforcement agencies. U Visas were created in part to protect those most vulnerable victims of immigrant communities.
To qualify for a U Visa, a person must demonstrate: – that they have suffered substantial physical or mental abuse as a result of being a victim of criminal activity in the United States; – that this person possesses information related to criminal activity; – the person has been of assistance to an officer of a federal, state, or local law enforcement agency, including the Police Department or Prosecutor’s Office investigating the crime.
The applicant must have suffered “substantial” harm as a result of the crime, although the crime may be physical or emotional. To apply for a U Visa, the immigrant will need to obtain certification that a crime has existed and that he or she has cooperated with law enforcement authorities or the prosecutor in the investigation of the crime. An immigrant can qualify for this class of visas even if they do not have documents.
Congress passed this law along with the possibility of asking for a pardon for those cases of inadmissible immigrants that apply by U status.
After three years, a U Visa holder is eligible to apply for Adjustment of Status if they were physically present in the United States for a continuous period of at least three years from obtaining the U Visa and the presence is justified on humanitarian grounds to secure family unity or is otherwise in the public interest. There are no limits on the number of U Visa Status Adjustments, but the Immigration Service has exclusive jurisdiction, and decisions cannot be reviewed by the Immigration Court. The U Visa is a useful tool for many women and men who can document that they were victims of a crime in the United States, in order to legalize their status.
Very happy for having obtained my residency and for the patience they had handling my case. I went to my interview outside of the United States and I came back well, being a resident. When I went to my interview, they gave me everything I needed. The service was the best and with a very good price for the service. I recommend this law firm a lot, especially my attorney Lisa Elkin, excellent work!
Excellent service, thank you Alcock and Associates for your services, especially to Daniella Hernandez for her help and patience and explaining to us my siblings’ case, thank you very much Daniella.
I am very thankful with the Alcock group, for the very good experience that I had from my first interview with Emmanuel and later on with Daniela Hernandez. I thank my attorney Nicholas for having excellent people and for solving my case, which was a petition through my daughter, and everything got resolved favorably.
Hi, my experience was very satisfactory, from the beginning the treatment was very good all the way up until the end, the attorney Lisa Elkin and the assistant Daniela were very nice and very professional, I was very happy with their service, I recommend them very highly, I thank them and I am going to highly recommend them.
It was a pleasure to have as a representative this wonderful work team. The immigration attorney Lisa Elkin and her very professional assistant Daniella Hernandez were always looking after my wife's case from beginning to end.
Thank you very much Alcock and Associates for your excellent service, especially attorney Lisa Elkin who helped me obtain my residency. This law firm is very recommended. Thank you!
I definitely recommend these attorneys, they helped me so much with my residency case. They were always there for anything I needed, especially attorney Lisa and Daniella Hernandez.
Thank you very much Alcock and Associates for all your service. I obtained my residency and came to the United States from El Salvador. Especially to my attorney Lisa, thank you very much. I recommend this firm very much. Thank you for everything!!!
Thank you very much to my attorney Lisa and to Daniela. They were always very attentive in my case and thanks to that we obtained very good results. I completely recommend them and once again thank you.
After waiting for a long time, we finally are able to feel more at peace with our residency, thanks to Jennifer for her guidance and to Daniela for her help and patience, and to the attorney Nicholas for being interested in our case. Thank you.
During our consultations, we will dedicate ourselves to answer your questions, explain your options and your first consultation is completely free. We will make sure we know the details of your case so that you can have the best possible support. We have the best specialized attorneys to give you the best options and know how to proceed with your legal situation.
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Alcock & Associates, PC has attorneys licensed to practice immigration law throughout the United States. Our offices in Virginia provide representation to those in need of U.S. federal immigration services. Our attorneys are not authorized to practice the laws of the State of Virginia and will not provide legal advice on any matter or case that falls within the jurisdiction of the laws of the State of Virginia or any local law of any municipality of Virginia.
Alcock & Associates P.C.
9315 Center Street #101
Manassas, VA 20110
