U Visa Lawyer for Crime Victims
If you were the victim of a serious crime in the United States and helped — or are willing to help — the police or prosecutors, you may qualify for a U visa, even if you are undocumented today. T.P.L. Global, LLC helps crime victims across the country build strong, carefully documented U visa petitions.
Attorney Tejas G. Patel, Esq. (Massachusetts Bar since 2014, AILA member) and our team work with you in Gujarati, Hindi, Punjabi, Spanish or English, and most cases are handled remotely, wherever you live in the U.S.
On This Page
Key Facts
- 10,000 U visas per year
- Work permit after bona fide determination
- Spouse & children can be included
- Green card after 3 years in U status
- No USCIS fee for Form I-918
What Is a U Visa?
A U visa is a temporary immigration status for victims of certain serious crimes who suffered substantial physical or mental abuse and are helpful to law enforcement. It gives work authorization, can include close family members, and after three years in U status can lead to a green card. Only 10,000 principal U visas are granted each year.
Work authorization. Once USCIS grants a bona fide determination, you receive deferred action and a work permit valid for four years.
Family included. Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 can apply with you — and parents and siblings if you are under 21.
Path to a green card. After three years of continuous presence in U status, you can apply for permanent residence.
Do I Need a Lawyer for a U Visa?
The law does not require one, but most denials and long delays come from incomplete petitions — a missing law-enforcement certification, weak evidence of harm, or an unaddressed waiver.
Since 2025, USCIS weighs new discretionary factors and issues Notices to Appear more often after denials. A careful screening of your history before filing matters more than ever.
Who Qualifies for a U Visa?
You must meet five requirements, and you prove them with evidence, not just your own statement.
- You were the victim of a qualifying crime that happened in the United States or violated U.S. law.
- You suffered substantial physical or mental abuse because of the crime. Medical records, therapy notes, and statements from people who know you all help show this.
- You have information about the crime.
- You were, are, or are likely to be helpful to police, prosecutors, a judge or another certifying agency. The agency confirms this by signing Form I-918 Supplement B, which must be signed within the six months before you file.
- You are admissible to the U.S., or you qualify for a waiver. Most problems — unlawful entry, past removal orders, many criminal records — can be waived on Form I-192, but USCIS decides each waiver case by case.
Not sure you qualify? You may still qualify if the case was never prosecuted, if the abuser was never convicted, or if you are an indirect victim (for example, the parent of a child victim). We review the police report, court records and your history in the first consultation.
Qualifying Crimes for a U Visa
The law lists these crimes (and attempts, conspiracy or solicitation to commit them):
| Violence and abuse | Sexual crimes | Exploitation and control | Crimes against justice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic violence | Rape | Human trafficking | Obstruction of justice |
| Felonious assault | Sexual assault | Involuntary servitude | Perjury |
| Murder, manslaughter | Abusive sexual contact | Peonage, slave trade | Witness tampering |
| Kidnapping, abduction | Sexual exploitation | Fraud in foreign labor contracting | |
| Torture | Incest | Extortion, blackmail | |
| False imprisonment, unlawful criminal restraint | Prostitution | Being held hostage | |
| Stalking | Female genital mutilation |
A crime that goes by a different name under state law can still qualify if its elements match one on this list — that analysis is often where an attorney adds the most value.
The U Visa Process, Step by Step
- Consultation and screening — we review the crime, your evidence and your full immigration and criminal history.
- Law-enforcement certification — we request Form I-918 Supplement B from the certifying agency.
- Petition filed — Form I-918 with your statement and evidence, the I-192 waiver if needed, Form I-765 for a work permit, and Form I-918 Supplement A for each family member.
- Bona fide determination (about 2 years) — if granted: deferred action and a 4-year work permit.
- Waitlist and final decision (8+ years) — when a cap number is available, USCIS grants U status for up to 4 years.
- Green card — after 3 years of continuous presence in U status, file Form I-485 for permanent residence. Read more: U visa path to a green card.
- Citizenship — generally 5 years after becoming a permanent resident, you can apply to naturalize.
The U Visa in 2026: What to Expect
The U visa is still one of the strongest paths for crime victims, but the wait is long and the rules tightened in 2025.
- A long line. More than 400,000 petitions were pending as of late 2025, and the 10,000 annual cap was reached on September 9, 2025. Final decisions are being made for petitions filed around April 2017, so expect a wait of eight years or more for final approval. Check current figures on the USCIS processing times tool.
- Bona fide determination (BFD) comes first. USCIS reviews pending petitions for a BFD automatically. If granted, you receive deferred action and a work permit valid for four years. The average wait for a BFD has been about two years.
- Less forgiving review. Since August 2025, USCIS weighs additional negative discretionary factors, and BFDs are often denied when background checks show certain arrests or convictions.
- Denials carry more risk. Under a February 2025 USCIS memo, a denied or withdrawn petition can lead to a Notice to Appear in immigration court. That is why we screen your record before filing, not after.
- What has not changed: most grounds of inadmissibility can still be waived, public charge does not apply, your information is protected by federal confidentiality law (8 U.S.C. § 1367), and there is no annual cap on U-based green cards.
How we decide whether you should file: before we prepare anything, we review your entry history, any arrests or court cases, prior immigration filings and the strength of the law-enforcement certification. If filing could expose you to more risk than benefit, we will tell you plainly — and look at alternatives such as VAWA, a T visa or SIJS.
Can My Family Get U Visa Status Too?
Yes. If you are 21 or older when you file, you can include your spouse and unmarried children under 21. If you are under 21, you can also include your parents and unmarried siblings under 18. Family members do not need to prove harm or helpfulness, but they must be admissible or receive a waiver.
Documents We Will Ask For
- Police report, court records, or other proof of the crime
- Signed Form I-918 Supplement B (we can request it for you)
- Your personal statement describing the crime and its effect on you
- Evidence of harm: medical or therapy records, photos, statements from family or counselors
- Passport, birth certificate, and any immigration documents
- Records of any arrests or court cases, even minor or dismissed ones
How much does a U visa cost?
USCIS charges no filing fee for Form I-918 itself. Other forms may carry fees or require a fee-waiver request, and the legal fee depends on the case — whether a waiver, family members or removal proceedings are involved. We explain our fees clearly during your consultation, before you decide to hire us.
U Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Can a U visa lead to a green card?
Yes. After three years of continuous physical presence in U status, you can apply for permanent residence on Form I-485. Time spent waiting for a BFD or on the waitlist does not count toward those three years.
How long does a U visa take in 2026?
The first protection, a bona fide determination with a work permit, has taken about two years. Final U status currently takes eight years or more because of the 10,000-per-year cap.
Do I need a police report to apply?
Not always. What you need is a certification (Form I-918 Supplement B) from a police department, prosecutor, judge or other certifying agency. A police report helps, but other records can support the certification request.
Can I apply if I entered the U.S. illegally or have a removal order?
Often, yes. Most grounds of inadmissibility, including unlawful entry and prior removal orders, can be waived on Form I-192. Each waiver is discretionary, so we review your history first.
Can I work while my U visa is pending?
Once USCIS grants a bona fide determination, you receive a work permit valid for four years. File Form I-765 with your petition so it can be issued as soon as the BFD is granted.
Can U visa applicants be deported?
A pending petition alone does not stop removal. A BFD grant gives deferred action, which offers protection while it lasts. If you are in removal proceedings or detained, tell us right away — timing matters.
Can U visa holders travel outside the U.S.?
Travel is risky and can break the continuous presence needed for a green card. Talk to us before any trip.
Is my information kept confidential?
Yes. Federal law (8 U.S.C. § 1367) restricts how DHS uses and shares information from U visa petitions, and the abuser cannot be told about your case.
Sources: USCIS Policy Manual, Vol. 3, Part C, Ch. 2 · USCIS Form I-918 · ILRC U visa practice advisory (Dec 2025). Last updated: October 30, 2026.
This page provides general information, not legal advice. Every case depends on its facts. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. No attorney-client relationship is formed until a written agreement is signed.
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