Visa U I-198
The U Visa was created by the United States Congress to protect undocumented victims of violent crimes.
Only 10,000 visas are granted per year and the waiting period is extensive.
The process is divided into three steps:
Certification: get the signature of the police department, prosecutor who took the case in court, or the judge who ruled against the criminal.
Submit the certification with the U Visa Application (I-918) before the immigration service (USCIS). This process could last around 5 to 6 years, depending on the waiting priority date.
Once the U Visa is approved, the petitioner will have to wait another 3 years to apply for residency, but he/she acquires U visa benefits such as permission to work, social security number, driver's license, and, in some cases, permission to leave the US due to an emergency.
In addition, the victim and spouse's children under 21 years of age can benefit. If the victim is a minor, the minor's parents could also obtain residency.
Through Pardon's submission, the U Visa can waive many irregularities that no other procedure waives.