When Do You Need A U Visa Lawyer?

U-1 nonimmigration Visas (U visas) are used by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in very special circumstances. Only 10,000 U visas are permitted per year and permission is granted on a case-by-case basis. Hopefully, you won't ever need a U visa, but it's better to have the knowledge about them and never use it, than it is to need it and know nothing. So here, we'll go over what a U visa is, who uses it and when you need experienced immigration lawyers by your side.

What is a U Visa?
A U visa is permission from the United States government to allow someone from a foreign country to enter or stay in the US in order to assist a law enforcement investigation after they were a victim of criminal activity in the US. U visas allow those foreign victims to stay in the US for the duration of the investigation when they otherwise may not be able to stay.

What are the qualifications of a U visa?
There are six legal requirements that a potential U nonimmigrant needs to meet before they can seek a U visa. The applicant must:

1. Be the victim of a qualifying crime.
2. Suffer significant mental or physical abuse as a result of the crime.
3. Be willing and able to assist authorities in their investigation of the crime.
4. Have information about the criminal activity perpetrated upon them.
5. Have been on US soil when the crime occurred and the crime needs to have violated US law(s).
6. Be able to legally enter the US under current immigration laws.

What crimes would justify a U visa?
While being a victim of any crime is never a positive experience, U visas are really only reserved for the worst of the worst crimes. Here are just a few of the serious crimes that would justify the need for a U visa:

• Domestic Violence
• Murder
• Manslaughter
• Rape
• Prostitution
• Felonious Assault
• Abduction
• Blackmail
• Torture
• Stalking
• Slave Trade
• Trafficking
• Sexual Assault
• Hostage Situations
• Extortion

When do you need an immigration lawyer?
If you're a visitor to the United States and become a victim of a serious crime during your stay, you'll want justice. You need experienced immigration lawyers by your side to fight for your rights and help you to assist investigators. Southworth & Stamman has experienced U visa lawyers that will help you navigate the US legal channels to help you seek justice and get on the road to recovery. Call today for a consultation.