USCIS Grants 10,000 U Visas to Crime Victims by Third Quarter of FY 2010

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has already granted its 10,000 maximum allotted U Visas for FY2010.  U Visas provide immigration relief to crime victims who are willing to help law enforcement in the investigation or prosecution of crimes against them.

Congress created U Visas in the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act in 2000. The act aimed to protect victims of crime as well as to strengthen the ability of law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute cases of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and other crimes. The Department of Homeland Security released regulations with respect to the implementation of U Visas in 2007.   U Visa recipients receive temporary legal status and work eligibility, and after three years they may apply for permanent residence.  This year USCIS has reached the 10,000 statutory maximum for the first time since the agency began issuing U visas in 2008.

According to the USCIS, it will continue to accept and process new petitions for U nonimmigrant status, and will conditionally approve U visas for individuals who are found eligible but who are unable to receive a U visa in fiscal year 2010 because the statutory cap has been reached. Those conditionally approved for a U visa will be placed on a waiting list for a fiscal year 2011 U visa, which USCIS will begin issuing in October 2010.