Immigration / U-Visa

The U visa is suitable for people who have been victims of physical or psychological abuse and who can, for example, act as witnesses in the USA or provide other valuable information to help solve the crime. In particular, the aim is to avoid people not wanting to disclose information for fear of deportation.

The U visa is based on the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act passed by the US Congress in 2000 and the Battered Immigrant Women’s Protection Act.

The U visa belongs to the category of so-called non-immigrant visas and is intended to make it easier for the US authorities to investigate criminal offenses. Victims of abuse can also use the visa to seek protection in the USA. The prerequisite for this is that the offense was committed within the USA and therefore falls within the jurisdiction of the US criminal prosecution authorities.

Ill-treatment within the meaning of the U visa is of a physical or mental nature. Overall, this can include many different criminal offenses. By obtaining a visa, the victim of abuse undertakes to cooperate with the US authorities in the criminal prosecution. Once the visa has been granted, applicants have the right, for example, to work as legal employees, open bank accounts, obtain a driver’s license and pursue professional or academic training.

The U visa is divided into the subcategories U-1 to U-5, whereby the U-1 visa is intended for the “main victim of abuse” and the other categories are intended for relatives (spouses, children, parents, siblings).

We will be happy to support you in applying for a U visa and arrange the necessary steps. Please feel free to contact us and arrange an individual consultation.