I-918, I-914
U and T visas
The U visa protects victims of certain serious crimes who suffered substantial physical or mental abuse and who have helped, or are willing to help, law enforcement. The T visa protects survivors of severe forms of human trafficking. Both can lead to a green card after three years. We request the law enforcement certification where it is needed, document the harm and prepare any waivers the case requires.
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Last reviewed September 2026
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A certifying agency, such as a police department, prosecutor or judge, signs Form I-918 Supplement B to confirm that a U visa applicant was helpful to an investigation or prosecution. Congress caps U visas for principal applicants at 10,000 a year, so most applicants wait years for a visa to become available.
See the glossaryWho this is for
- Victims of qualifying crimes such as domestic violence, sexual assault, felonious assault and extortion
- Survivors of labour or sex trafficking
- Family members who may apply as derivatives
- Applicants who need a waiver of inadmissibility
How we help
- Certification
- We request Form I-918 Supplement B from the certifying agency for a U visa. For a T visa, where a certification is optional, we document cooperation in other ways.
- Evidence of harm
- We gather medical, counselling and personal evidence of the abuse suffered.
- Waivers
- We prepare Form I-192, which can forgive many grounds of inadmissibility in these cases.
- Family members
- We include qualifying relatives and later prepare the green card applications.
Forms involved
- I-918Petition for U Nonimmigrant Status, with Supplements A and B
- I-914Application for T Nonimmigrant Status
- I-192Application for Advance Permission to Enter as a Nonimmigrant
- I-485Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status
Government filing fees are listed on our filing fees page.
Timeline
Because of the annual cap, U visa cases can take many years. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) may grant a work permit and deferred action earlier, through its bona fide determination process, to petitioners whose filings appear complete and credible. T visas have their own cap of 5,000 a year, which has not been the limiting factor in recent years, but processing is still slow.
Document checklist
A starting list. We send a checklist for your case after the consultation.
- Form I-918 Supplement B signed by a certifying agency, for a U visa
- Police reports, court records or protective orders
- Medical or counselling records describing the harm
- Personal statement
- Passport or other identity documents
- Records of any arrests or immigration violations, for the waiver
Questions clients ask
Which crimes qualify for a U visa?
Must the crime have happened in the United States?
Does the certification guarantee approval?
Is a certification required for a T visa?
Can I get a green card?
Can family members be included?
Tell us where you are. We will show you the way forward.
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