If you were the victim of a serious crime in the United States and you helped, or are willing to help, the police or prosecutors, the U Visa exists for you. Congress created it so that victims could come out of the shadows without fear of deportation. Verde Law prepares U Visa cases end to end, including the one document most people cannot get on their own.
Who qualifies for a U Visa
You may qualify if all of the following are true:
- You were the victim of a qualifying crime, such as domestic violence, felonious assault, sexual assault, kidnapping, extortion, witness tampering, or similar offenses
- You suffered substantial physical or mental abuse as a result
- You have information about the crime and were, are, or are likely to be helpful to law enforcement
- The crime occurred in the United States or violated U.S. law
Your immigration status does not matter. Entering without inspection does not disqualify you, and many past immigration violations can be forgiven through a waiver filed with the case.
The certification is the gateway
Every U Visa requires a signed law enforcement certification confirming your helpfulness. Police departments, prosecutors, and judges each handle these requests differently, and an incomplete or poorly framed request is how strong cases die quietly. We prepare the certification request, present your cooperation clearly, and follow through until it is signed or every avenue is exhausted.
Filing now still matters, even with the wait
Congress caps U Visas each year, and the line is long. Here is why that should not stop you: applicants with strong, complete filings can receive work authorization and protection from deportation while they wait. The sooner your case is in line, the sooner those protections can arrive.
Your family can benefit too
Depending on your age, your spouse, children, and in some cases your parents and unmarried minor siblings can be included as derivatives.
From U Visa to green card
After three years in U status, meeting the requirements, you can apply for permanent residence. We plan for that step from the first day, because the strongest green card case is built inside a well-run U Visa case.
If the crime was committed by your own spouse, parent, or adult child who is a citizen or resident, a VAWA self-petition may be an option that requires no police certification at all. If the crime involved forced labor or commercial sex, review our T Visa page. We evaluate all three paths in one consultation.
The crime happened years ago. Can I still apply?
Possibly. There is no deadline on when the crime occurred, but helpfulness and certification still have to be established. Old cases need careful handling, not abandonment.
Do I have to testify in court?
You must not refuse reasonable requests for help, but many cases never require courtroom testimony. Cooperation takes many forms.
You reported the crime. Now let the law keep its side of the deal. Free, confidential consultations in English or Spanish.