U Visa / Victims of Criminal Activity

USCIS today announced that we are updating the USCIS Policy Manual to allow us to review Form I-918, Supplement A, Petition for Qualifying Family Member of a U-1 Recipient, and determine whether a qualifying family member is bona fide as soon as the principal petitioner receives a bona fide determination, even if the principal petitioner has not filed Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization. If the qualifying family member has already filed Form I-765, we also may adjudicate that application.
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In an effort to address some of its most glaring backlogs, the USCIS is opening a new service center called the HART Service Center. This facility, which will eventually operate fully remotely, will handle Humanitarian, Adjustments, Removing Conditions, and Travel Documents cases. USCIS aims to have the center fully operational by fall of 2024.
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USCIS today announced that it is issuing updated policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual regarding applications for T nonimmigrant status (or T visas) for victims of severe forms of trafficking in persons.
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USCIS is updating the USCIS Policy Manual to implement a new process, referred to as Bona Fide Determination, which will give victims of crime in the United States access to employment authorization sooner, providing them with stability and better equipping them to cooperate with and assist law enforcement investigations and prosecutions.
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One of the issues facing many immigrants in the United States is the choice between reporting a horrific crime and risk being deported or to live with the pain and fear of being a victim of the crime again. With the climate we are living in currently, more than ever immigrants fear coming forward when they are the victim of a crime. They suffer in silence out of fear of deportation. The consequence for the United States is that violent criminals remain on the streets to attack and brutally hurt other people, including U.S.
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Um estrangeiro que tenha sido vítima de um crime nos Estados Unidos pode se qualificar para o status U de não-imigrante. O visto U é concedido a vítimas de certos crimes que sofreram significativo abuso físico e mental e desejam ajudar autoridades do governo e da Justiça na investigação e no processo da atividade criminosa.
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O secretário do Departamento de Segurança Interna dos EUA, John Kelly, anunciou em 26 de abril de 2017 o lançamento oficial do Escritório de Vítimas Envolvendo Crimes de Imigração (VOICE, na sigla em inglês), do Serviço de Imigração e Controle de Duanas (ICE). O VOICE dará assistência às vítimas de crimes cometidos por estrangeiros.
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WASHINGTON – Today, Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly announced the official launch of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement Office (VOICE).  The VOICE office will assist victims of crimes committed by criminal aliens.

ICE built the VOICE office in response to the Executive Order entitled Enhancing Public Safety in the Interior of the United States, which directed DHS to create an office to support victims of crimes committed by criminal aliens.

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USCIS has agreed with the Ombudsman’s recommendation to implement a parole policy for U visa petitioners and qualifying family members who live abroad. The U visa – available to individuals who have suffered substantial physical or mental abuse as a result of a qualifying crime and who meet certain other criteria – are capped at 10,000 per fiscal year. When the cap is exceeded, U petitioners who live abroad are placed on a waiting list and must then proactively seek humanitarian parole to enter the United States. As a result, victims of crimes residing abroad are not able to easily aid investigators and prosecutors.
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Un extranjero que ha sido víctima de alguna actividad criminal puede calificar para un Estatus U Estatus de No inmigrante. El Estatus de No inmigrante se reserva para víctimas de ciertos crímenes, quienes han sufrido abuso mental o físico sustancial y quienes están dispuesto a asistir a los funcionarios encargados de hacer cumplir la ley y oficiales del gobierno en las investigaciones y enjuiciamiento de la actividad criminal.
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A foreign national who has been victim of criminal activity may qualify for U Nonimmigrant Status. The U nonimmigrant status (U visa) is set aside for victims of certain crimes who have suffered substantial mental or physical abuse and are willing to assist law enforcement and government officials in the investigation or prosecution of the criminal activity.

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