Does this sound familiar?
You were the victim of a serious crime and cooperated with the authorities, or you want to but don’t know how. Your immigration situation is uncertain and you’re afraid. You know the U Visa exists, but nobody resolves the first thing for you: who signs the certification, which office it goes to, how long it can take, and what the package must include for the agency and then USCIS to take it seriously. It’s a long process, but well organized from the first phase it opens the way to a work permit and permanent residency.
What is U Visa?
The U Visa is a humanitarian status for victims of certain serious crimes that occurred in the U.S. who suffered substantial harm and helped — or are willing to help — the authorities in the investigation or prosecution of the crime. The process has THREE phases: (1) the official certification (Form I-918B) signed by an agency with jurisdiction over the crime, (2) the I-918 petition before USCIS, which the victim can file herself at no cost and with no attorney required by law, and (3), if USCIS approves it, the path to permanent residency. In Minnesota the law protects this process: since 2021, every certifying agency must respond to a certification request within 90 days — or within 14 days if the victim is in removal proceedings (Minn. Stat. § 611A.95). Here we explain the full path with official sources, and we organize the document package for the three phases.
The three phases, explained.
With this you can understand the full process and decide your next step — you don't need a call to know where to start.
Phase 1 · The certification (I-918B)
Signed by an agency with authority over the crime: the police that investigated, the prosecutor's office, or a judge. The victim or her representative requests it; signing is at the agency's discretion and, once signed, it is valid for 6 months to be submitted to USCIS.
In Minnesota, with a legal deadline
Since 2021 the certifying agency must respond to your request within 90 days — or within 14 days if you are in removal proceedings and expressly request it (Minn. Stat. § 611A.95). It does not require charges or a conviction: having cooperated with an investigation is enough.
No attorney required by law
The I-918 petition is a self-petition: the victim files it herself before USCIS. Free legal aid organizations also support these cases.
Phase 2 · The I-918 petition before USCIS
With the signed certification, Form I-918 is filed at no cost, with your personal statement and the evidence of harm. There is an annual cap of 10,000 visas and the wait can take years; in the meantime USCIS can grant a work permit.
Phase 3 · The path to residency
With U status approved and 3 years of continuous presence, you can apply for permanent residency — a separate filing with its own requirements.
Your information is protected
In Minnesota, the certifying agency is prohibited from disclosing your immigration status, except by legal order or with your authorization.
This is for you if…
Victims of eligible crimes
You suffered a serious crime in the U.S., such as domestic violence, assault, kidnapping, extortion or sexual abuse.
Physical or emotional harm
The crime caused you substantial harm that can be documented.
Cooperation with authorities
You helped, are helping or are willing to help in the investigation or prosecution of the case.
Seeking the certification
You need to request the official certification from the agency with jurisdiction over the crime — we help you organize that package.
To be able to apply for the U Visa, USCIS establishes that you must meet these eligibility criteria:
Primary source: USCIS — Victims of Criminal Activity: U Nonimmigrant Status ↗
Everything we prepare with you.
Initial stage — certification request: we organize the package presented to the agency (case summary, report number, timeline of your cooperation and request letter)
Administrative guidance on which agency to address the request to: the police department that investigated, the prosecutor’s office handling the case, the court, or another authority with jurisdiction over the crime
Information on the criteria agencies usually review before signing: that the crime is qualifying, that your help was or will be useful, and that you have information about the case
Tracking of the signed certification’s validity: it must be submitted to the government within 6 months of the signature
Petition stage: preparation of the complete documentary package, with your personal statement and the evidence of harm organized
Personalized evidence checklist and submission instructions
What this solution does not include.
A clear process, step by step.
You write to us
Tell us your situation through whichever channel you prefer and we explain, at no cost, the scope and the limits of what we do.
Document gathering
You get a clear checklist of what we need, and we answer your questions while you gather it.
Package preparation
We prepare the forms and organize the evidence into a complete, well-ordered package.
Review with you
We review everything with you before filing: nothing goes out without your confirmation.
Filing and follow-up
You get clear instructions for filing and for every stage that comes after.
Clear costs, no fine print.
León & Asociados is not a law firm. The decision to sign the certification belongs exclusively to the agency, and inadmissibility analysis or any legal interpretation belongs to a licensed immigration attorney if your case needs it. Our work is explaining the process with official sources and organizing the document package for each phase.
Frequently asked questions
Ready to start your case?
You already have the full explanation of the three phases with their official sources. If you decide to move forward, contact us to organize the certification package or the USCIS petition — no prior call needed to understand the process.
Legal notice
León & Asociados LLC es una empresa de consultoría profesional registrada en el estado de Minnesota. Ofrecemos dos líneas de solución: (1) preparación de formularios y documentación migratoria, y (2) consultoría en optimización de procesos, análisis de datos, metodología Lean Six Sigma y automatización.
León & Asociados LLC NO es una firma de abogados y ninguno de sus representantes es abogado, ingeniero profesional licenciado (PE), ni asesor legal o financiero.
Las soluciones de preparación migratoria se limitan a la organización y preparación de formularios conforme a las instrucciones oficiales de USCIS; no constituyen asesoría legal de ningún tipo. Las soluciones de consultoría técnica se basan en metodologías de mejora de procesos y análisis de datos; no constituyen práctica profesional de ingeniería regulada.
Para asuntos que requieran representación legal migratoria o soluciones de ingeniería profesional licenciada, León & Asociados LLC recomienda consultar con un abogado de inmigración licenciado o un ingeniero profesional (PE) con licencia activa.
León & Asociados LLC is a professional consulting firm registered in the state of Minnesota. We offer two lines of service: (1) preparation of immigration forms and documentation, and (2) consulting in process optimization, data analysis, Lean Six Sigma methodology, and automation.
León & Asociados LLC is NOT a law firm, and none of its representatives is an attorney, licensed professional engineer (PE), or legal or financial advisor.
Immigration preparation solutions are limited to the organization and preparation of forms in accordance with the official USCIS instructions; they do not constitute legal advice of any kind. Technical consulting solutions are based on process-improvement methodologies and data analysis; they do not constitute the regulated professional practice of engineering.
For matters requiring legal immigration representation or licensed professional engineering solutions, León & Asociados LLC recommends consulting a licensed immigration attorney or a professional engineer (PE) with an active license.
León & Asociados LLC · Professional consulting · Not a law firm or licensed engineering firm · Minnesota, USA