Humanitarian
Form I-918
Petition for U Nonimmigrant Status (U-Visa)
Filed by victims of qualifying crimes who have suffered substantial physical or mental abuse and are helpful to law enforcement in the investigation or prosecution of the crime.
- Filing fee
- No fee
- Biometrics
- No fee
Who can file
- Victims of qualifying crimes (domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking, etc.)
- Must have suffered substantial physical or mental abuse
- Must have information about the criminal activity
- Must be helpful to law enforcement (or have been helpful)
- Crime must have occurred in the U.S. or violated U.S. laws
Send with it
- Personal declaration about the crime and abuse
- Law enforcement certification (I-918 Supplement B) signed by certifying agency
- Evidence of the qualifying criminal activity
- Evidence of substantial abuse
- Evidence of helpfulness to law enforcement
Worth knowing
- There is an annual cap of 10,000 U-visas - expect long wait times
- No filing fee required
- You may receive a work authorization (bona fide determination) while waiting
- After 3 years in U status, you can apply for a green card
- Many legal aid organizations provide free help with U-visa cases
Common mistakes
- Not obtaining the law enforcement certification
- Insufficient evidence of substantial abuse
- Not including all qualifying family members
- Giving up due to long processing times
Questions
- How much does Form I-918 cost?
- USCIS charges no filing fee for Form I-918.
- How long does Form I-918 take?
- Typically 24 to 60 months, depending on the office and the category. Check the current USCIS times for your office before you plan around it.
Related forms
Fees are as published by USCIS. Confirm on USCIS's fee schedule (G-1055) before you pay - a wrong fee gets a filing rejected. General information, not legal advice.