Laredo Visa Attorney

HELPING IMMIGRANTS & FAMILIES ACHIEVE U.S. CITIZENSHIP IN TEXAS

Visa applications can be confusing and frustrating for people who want to live in the U.S. At Cardenas & Rodriguez, our Laredo visa attorney can guide you through your options. Whether you’re seeking a temporary visa, a green card, or U.S. citizenship, we can help you determine the appropriate path toward your immigration goals.

We provide U visa help in Laredo for victims of eligible crimes who are seeking protection under U.S. immigration law. Both of our attorneys provide counsel and communication in Spanish. We assist immigration clients on both sides of the U.S./Mexico border and throughout the U.S.

U visa petitions require careful preparation of the victim’s statement, supporting evidence, agency certification, and applicable immigration forms. We explain the eligibility requirements and prepare petitions for review by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Schedule a consultation with our Laredo visa attorney by calling (956) 625-0894 or using our online contact form.

What Is a U Visa?

A U visa is a nonimmigrant visa for a victim of qualifying criminal activity who has been or is likely to be helpful to authorities investigating or prosecuting a crime. A grant allows a noncitizen to live and work lawfully in the U.S. It also creates a potential path to lawful permanent residence for recipients who later satisfy the applicable requirements.

A noncitizen may be eligible if they suffered substantial physical or mental abuse because of that criminal activity. The applicant must possess information about the activity and must have been, be, or be likely to be helpful to investigators or other government officials. The crime must have occurred within the U.S. or violated U.S. law.

As part of the application process, an applicant must submit a certification signed by an authorized agency that describes the victim’s cooperation with authorities. The perpetrator doesn’t need to have been convicted, prosecuted, or arrested. Certification is only the first step. USCIS ultimately reviews the applicant’s immigration and criminal background and all other submitted evidence to decide whether to grant the U visa.

If you were the victim of a crime in the U.S., you may qualify for U visa status.

Crimes That May Support a U Visa Petition

Federal immigration law limits U visa eligibility to specified categories of criminal activity. Related serious conduct may also qualify when it falls within one of those categories.

Covered crimes include:

• Domestic violence, stalking, and felonious assault
• Sexual assault and abusive sexual contact
• Kidnapping and false imprisonment
• Trafficking and involuntary servitude
• Extortion and obstruction of justice

An attempt, conspiracy, or solicitation to commit a covered crime may also support a petition. Eligibility depends on the underlying conduct and available evidence, not simply the name assigned to the offense in a police report.

The U Visa Application Process

Our immigration practice handles U visa matters from the certification stage through preparation of the petition for USCIS review. We assess each case individually to determine which evidence and forms apply.

Law Enforcement Certification

A U visa petitioner must obtain a certification documenting that the victim has been, is being, or is likely to be helpful in detecting, investigating, or prosecuting a covered crime. The petitioner submits this certification through Form I-918, Supplement B. It doesn’t grant immigration status or guarantee USCIS approval.

Attorney Norberto Cardenas III formerly served as a prosecutor in Webb County, Texas. We explain the certification requirement and help clients prepare the supporting information relevant to their request.

Form I-918 & USCIS Review

The principal applicant submits the petition with the certification and supporting evidence. Petitioners may provide credible evidence addressing the crime, resulting abuse, their knowledge of the activity, and their cooperation with authorities.

USCIS has sole jurisdiction over U visa petitions and conducts a de novo review. This means it independently evaluates the evidence rather than treating the certification as a final eligibility decision. Attorney Rowena G. Rodriguez-Medina is admitted to practice before the United States Department of Justice Executive Office for Immigration Review and in U.S. Immigration Courts.

The Annual U Visa Cap & Waiting List

Federal law limits U visas for principal petitioners to 10,000 per fiscal year. The annual cap has been reached every year since 2010, so an approvable petition doesn’t necessarily result in immediately available U visa status.

When the cap is reached, USCIS places eligible principal petitioners and their qualifying derivative family members on a waiting list for a final decision and visa availability. Petitioners on the waiting list may receive deferred action and employment authorization. Individual processing times vary, and there’s no annual cap for qualifying family members who derive status from a principal petitioner.

U Visa Options for Qualifying Family Members

A principal U-1 petitioner may request derivative U status for certain relatives by submitting Form I-918, Supplement A. The qualifying family categories depend on the principal victim’s age.

Federal rules recognize the following family relationships:

• Principal victim under age 21: A spouse, unmarried children under 21, unmarried siblings under 18, and parents may qualify.
• Principal victim age 21 or older: A spouse and unmarried children under 21 may qualify.

Each relative must meet the applicable requirements. The principal petitioner’s eligibility doesn’t automatically establish derivative status for every family member.

Employment Authorization & Lawful Permanent Residency

A person granted U-1 nonimmigrant status is authorized to work based on that status. USCIS automatically issues an initial Employment Authorization Document to U-1 recipients who are in the U.S.

U nonimmigrant status may be approved for up to four years in the aggregate. Limited extensions are available in circumstances involving continued cooperation with authorities or other qualifying grounds.

After at least three years of continuous physical presence in the U.S. while in U status, a recipient may apply to become a lawful permanent resident. This isn’t automatic. The applicant must satisfy the applicable requirements, including not having unreasonably refused to assist authorities after receiving U status.

Discuss U Visa Relief in Laredo

A free initial consultation gives you an opportunity to discuss the crime, your cooperation with authorities, and the next steps for a potential petition. We provide Spanish-language counsel and communication for clients who prefer to discuss their immigration matter in Spanish.

We can assess the circumstances and explain the requirements that may apply to your petition.

Call (956) 450-7951 to speak with our U visa attorney in Laredo.