U Visas

Many people come to the United States from other countries in hopes of finding a better life. Sadly, though, many foreign nationals who enter the country become victims of criminal acts perpetrated by their employers or other individuals. Foreign-born victims of unlawful activity may be reluctant to report such activity to the authorities out of fear of being removed or losing their lawful status. Fortunately, they may be eligible for U visas, which are visas that allows crime victims to stay in the United States. If you were the target of criminal behavior and are interested in obtaining a U visa, it is advisable to hire an experienced attorney to assist you with the process. The Boston individual representation immigration attorneys of O’Neil & Hauser P.C. can advise you of your options and help you compile the evidence needed to avoid further harm and lawfully remain in the country.  Our attorneys all have more than twenty years of experience working in immigration, and immigration makes up more than ninety percent of our practice. We have an office in Boston, and we regularly assist clients with immigration issues around the world.

Congress created the U visa, which is a non-immigrant visa, in 2000, with the goal of helping law enforcement agents investigate and prosecute criminal behavior. People granted U visas may be able to remain in the United States for an extended period or, in some cases, permanently. Only people who meet certain requirements are eligible for U nonimmigrant visas. First, they must be victims of qualifying criminal acts and must have sustained significant mental or physical abuse due to the fact that they are victims of such crimes. Qualifying crimes include kidnapping, obstruction of justice, sexual exploitation, slave trade, felonious assault, extortion, fraud in foreign labor contracting, torture, stalking, witness tampering, and unlawful criminal restraint. The attempt, solicitation to commit, and conspiracy to commit any of the noted crimes qualifies as well.

Secondly, they must have information about the crimes, and either were, are, or will be helpful to law enforcement agents investigating or prosecuting the crimes. Additionally, the crimes must either have happened in the United States or violated United States laws. Finally, people must be admissible to the United States, or if they are not admissible, must apply for a waiver to be eligible for U visas.

People applying for U visas must complete the appropriate forms and gather evidence demonstrating their harm. Generally, this may include narrative statements describing the crimes and how they were impacted by them, medical records, police reports, affidavits from medical providers or people who have knowledge of the crime, and court orders.

People granted U visas may be able to bring certain family members to the United States after their visas have been approved. U visa holders who are over 21 may petition for U visas for their spouses or children, while those under 21 may petition for U visas for their parents, spouses, children, and unmarried siblings under 18.

It is an unfortunate reality that many foreign nationals living in the United States suffer harm due to criminal activity, but there are measures they can take to escape abuse and retain their right to remain in the country. If you are from another country and are the victim of a crime, you may be eligible for a U visa, and you should speak to an attorney as soon as possible. At O’Neil & Hauser P.C., our trusted Boston lawyers understand the hardships encountered by non-citizens who are subject to unlawful behavior, and if you hire us, we will advocate aggressively on your behalf.  Many of our attorneys are bilingual, and we offer translation services in several languages, including Portuguese, Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, Greek, Italian, French, and Arabic. We maintain a strong relationship with numerous government agencies, which we have developed over our many years in practice, and we are members of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. You can reach our Boston office via our online form or by calling (617) 426-8100 to set up a meeting.