Immigration

Congress created U visa status in 2000 to help crime victims. The purpose of the U visa is to encourage victims of crime to help law enforcement investigate and prosecute crimes without the fear of being deported.¹ The U visa doesn’t cover all crimes but it does include domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault, and felony assault, among other crimes.² 

If you get a U visa, you will get a work permit (“Employment Authorization Document”)³ and the ability to apply for lawful permanent residence (a “green card”) after three years.⁴ After five years as a legal permanent resident, you can apply for citizenship (naturalization), assuming that you meet all of the other citizenship requirements.⁵

To watch brief videos about U visas in Spanish, with English subtitles, go to our Videos page.

¹ New Classification for Victims of Criminal Activity; Eligibility for ‘‘U’’ Nonimmigrant Status, 72 Fed. Reg. 53014 (September 17, 2007)
² INA § 101(a)(15)(U)(iii)
³ INA § 214(p)(3)(B)
⁴ INA § 245(m)
⁵ INA § 316