San Diego U Visa Lawyer - San Diego Immigration Lawyer: San Diego Immigration Attorney

San Diego U Visa Lawyer – U Visa Attorney in San Diego – San Diego Immigration Lawyer

San Diego U Visa Lawyer Habib Hasbini, Attorney at Law – 945 4th Avenue, Suite 309, San Diego, CA 92101 – Phone: (619) 350-3111 – 425 W. Beech Street, Unit:538, San Diego, CA 92101 – Phone: (619) 383-0001 – Email: hasbini@immigrationlawyer-sandiego.com

San Diego U Visa Lawyer by Habib Hasbini, Attorney at Law.

San Diego U Visa Attorney

San Diego Immigration Lawyer

Top San Diego Immigration Lawyer with 10.0 Avvo Rating

Arabic, English, French, and Spanish Speaking Staff

Law Offices of Hasbini in San Diego

San Diego U Visa Attorney

Victims of Criminal Activity: U Nonimmigrant Status

The U nonimmigrant status (U visa) is set aside for victims of certain crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse and are helpful to law enforcement or government officials in the investigation or prosecution of criminal activity. Congress created the U nonimmigrant visa with the passage of the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act (including the Battered Immigrant Women?s Protection Act) in October 2000. The legislation was intended to strengthen the ability of law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute cases of domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking of aliens and other crimes, while also protecting victims of crimes who have suffered substantial mental or physical abuse due to the crime and are willing to help law enforcement authorities in the investigation or prosecution of the criminal activity. The legislation also helps law enforcement agencies to better serve victims of crimes.

U Nonimmigrant Eligibility

You may be eligible for a U nonimmigrant visa if:
?You are the victim of qualifying criminal activity.
?You have suffered substantial physical or mental abuse as a result of having been a victim of criminal activity.
?You have information about the criminal activity. If you are under the age of 16 or unable to provide information due to a disability, a parent, guardian, or next friend may possess the information about the crime on your behalf (see glossary for definition of ?next friend?).
?You were helpful, are helpful, or are likely to be helpful to law enforcement in the investigation or prosecution of the crime. If you are under the age of 16 or unable to provide information due to a disability, a parent, guardian, or next friend may assist law enforcement on your behalf.
?The crime occurred in the United States or violated U.S. laws.
?You are admissible to the United States. If you are not admissible, you may apply for a waiver.

Qualifying Criminal Activities

?Abduction
?Abusive Sexual Contact
?Blackmail
?Domestic Violence
?Extortion
?False Imprisonment
?Female Genital Mutilation
?Felonious Assault
?Fraud in Foreign Labor Contracting
?Hostage
?Incest
?Involuntary Servitude
?Kidnapping
?Manslaughter
?Murder
?Obstruction of Justice
?Peonage
?Perjury
?Prostitution
?Rape

?Sexual Assault
?Sexual Exploitation
?Slave Trade
?Stalking
?Torture
?Trafficking
?Witness Tampering
?Unlawful Criminal Restraint
?Other Related Crimes*?

*Includes any similar activity where the elements of the crime are substantially similar.

?Also includes attempt, conspiracy, or solicitation to commit any of the above and other related crimes.

Applying for U Nonimmigrant Status (U Visa)

To apply (petition) for a U nonimmigrant status, submit:
?Form I-918, Petition for U Nonimmigrant Status
?Form I-918, Supplement B, U Nonimmigrant Status Certification. The Form I-918, Supplement B, must be signed by and authorized official of the certifying law enforcement agency and the official must confirm that you were helpful, and currently being helpful, or will likely be helpful in the investigation or prosecution of the case.
?If any inadmissibility issues are present, you must file a Form I-192, Application for Advance Permission to Enter as Nonimmigrant, to request a waiver of the inadmissibility;
?A personal statement describing the criminal activity of which you were a victim; and
?Evidence to establish each eligibility requirement – visit our Forms section, specifically the Humanitarian Benefits Based Forms.

Victims of Criminal Activity: U Nonimmigrant Status

Scared battered women looking around a corner

Background

The following U Nonimmigrant information is explained in this area of the website.
?U Nonimmigrant Eligibility
?Qualifying Criminal Activities
?Applying for U Nonimmigrant Status (U Visa)
?Filing for Qualifying Family Members
?Fees to File U Nonimmigrant Status Applications
?U Visa Extensions
?U Visa Cap
?Applying for a Green Card
?Resources for Victims of Human Trafficking & Other Crimes

U Nonimmigrant Eligibility

Qualifying Criminal Activities

?Sexual Assault
?Sexual Exploitation
?Slave Trade
?Stalking
?Torture
?Trafficking
?Witness Tampering
?Unlawful Criminal Restraint
?Other Related Crimes*?

*Includes any similar activity where the elements of the crime are substantially similar.

?Also includes attempt, conspiracy, or solicitation to commit any of the above and other related crimes.

Applying for U Nonimmigrant Status (U Visa)

You may also apply (petition) for U nonimmigrant status if you are outside the United States. To do this, you must:
?File all the necessary forms for U nonimmigrant status with the Vermont Service Center.
?Follow all instructions that are sent from the Vermont Service Center, which will include having your fingerprints taken at the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
?If your petition is approved, you must consular process to enter the United States, which will include an interview with a consular officer at the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

Filing for Qualifying Family Members

Certain qualifying family members are eligible for a derivative U visa based on their relationship to you, the principal, filing for the U visa. The principal petitioner must have their petition for a U visa approved before their family members can be eligible for their own derivative U visa.

If you, the principal, are…

Then…

Under 21 years of age You may petition on behalf of your spouse, children, parents and unmarried siblings under age 18
21 years of age or older You may petition on behalf of your spouse and children.

To petition for a qualified family member, you must file a Form I-918, Supplement A, Petition for Qualifying Family Member of U-1 Recipient, at the same time as your application or at a later time.

Fees to File U Nonimmigrant Status Applications U Visa Extensions
?All U nonimmigrant status applications (petitions) and other forms related to the U petition are filed with the USCIS Vermont Service Center.
?All U nonimmigrant status applications (petitions) are free. You may request a fee waiver for any other form that is necessary for your U nonimmigrant status application (petition) by filing a Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver, or by including your own written request for a fee waiver with your application or petition.

U Visa Extensions

When U nonimmigrant status is granted, it is valid for four years. However, extensions are available in certain, limited circumstances if the extension is:
?Needed based on a request from law enforcement,
?Needed based on exceptional circumstances,
?Needed due to delays in consular processing, or
?Automatically extended upon the filing and pendency of an application for adjustment (application for a Green Card).

U Visa Cap
?The limit on the number of U visas that may be granted to principal petitioners each year is 10,000. However, there is no cap for family members deriving status from the principal applicant, such as spouses, children, or other eligible family members.
?If the cap is reached before all U nonimmigrant petitions have been adjudicated, USCIS will create a waiting list for any eligible principal or derivative petitioners that are awaiting a final decision and a U visa. Petitioners placed on the waiting list will be granted deferred action or parole and are eligible to apply for work authorization while waiting for additional U visas to become available.
?Once additional visas become available, those petitioners on the waiting list will receive their visa in the order in which their petition was received. Petitioners on the waiting list do not have to take any additional steps to request the U visa. USCIS will notify the petitioner of the approval and the accompanying U visa.

Applying for a Green Card

You may be eligible to apply for a Green Card (adjustment of status/permanent residence) if you meet certain requirements, including:
?You have been physically present in the United States for a continuous period of at least three years while in U nonimmigrant status, and
?You have not unreasonably refused to provide assistance to law enforcement since you received your U visa.
?To apply for permanent residence (a Green Card) for yourself or a qualifying family member, visit our Green Card for a U Nonimmigrant page.
?PLEASE NOTE: Any qualifying family member who does not have a derivative U visa when the principal U nonimmigrant receives a Green Card is no longer eligible for a derivative U visa, but may still be eligible to apply for lawful permanent residence.
?For information on extending your principal U visa to ensure your family member remains eligible for a U visa, please visit the T and U visa extension memorandum.

Family Members Deriving Status

If the family member deriving status based on your status has met the eligibility requirements for a Green Card, they may apply for lawful permanent residence by filing their own Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, and following the instructions on the Form I-485, Supplement E.

Even if your family members never had U nonimmigrant status or a U visa, they may still be eligible for a Green Card.
?First, you must file a Form I-929, Petition for Qualifying Family Member of U-1 Nonimmigrant, for each eligible family member.
?You may file the Form I-929 at the same time or after you file your Form I-485.

If the Form I-929 for your family member(s) is approved:
?Family members in the United States may file the Form I-485 to apply for a Green Card.
?Family members outside the United States must first visit a U.S. embassy or consulate to obtain their immigrant visa. Information for the local U.S. embassy or consulate and the procedures for obtaining a visa to enter the United States may be found at www.usembassy.gov.
?NOTE: The Form I-929 is the form that is used to establish whether your family member is eligible to apply for a Green Card based on your U visa based lawful permanent resident status. This does not mean that your family member will receive a Green Card. Even if the Form I-929 is approved, your family member is not automatically eligible for work authorization. They are eligible to work once they have received their Green Card.

Fees to File Form I-929
?All Form I-929 applications are sent to the USCIS Vermont Service Center.
?There is a filing fee for the Form I-929. If you are unable to pay the fee, you may request a fee waiver by also filing a Form I-912, or by submitting a separate written request for a fee waiver.

Based in San Diego, Chula Vista and
El Cajon, Immigration Lawyers at

Law Offices of Hasbini specialize
in immigrant and non-immigrant visa processing, U.S. permanent residence,
green card, working visas, H-1B’s, business and investment visas,
naturalization, corporate and business immigration, political asylum,
as well as deportation and removal matters.

San Diego immigration defense lawyer Habib Hasbini and his associates truly understand what it takes to get our clients the legal help they
deserve. By remaining open and honest with our clients, we are consistently
able to provide the highest quality of care and service. We are familiar
with the emotional investment clients make in the immigration process.
San Diego immigration defense lawyer Habib Hasbini and his associates combine personal experience, knowledge of the immigration
system, and extensive legal experience to provide the immigration
services you need.

Our clients come
from various backgrounds and we work hard to accomplish each of their
immigration goals. Our diverse staff represents our true international
nature and can accommodate nearly every client. Our international staff
speaks Arabic, English, French, and Spanish.

San Diego immigration defense attorney Habib Hasbini and his associates have a 10/10 Avvo rating and ranked number 1 at

www.immigrationlawyersandiego.info and at
www.sandiegoimmigrationlawyer.info providing high quality legal counsel for all immigration matters.

Few things are more worrying than facing immigration problems. Your future is at stake when USCIS and the Immigration Courts make decisions about your family’s right to stay in the U.S. The Law Offices of Hasbini is a recognized leader in immigration law, with the highest reputation in San Diego for helping immigrants resolve their immigration problems. Our staff is committed to bringing immigrant families together, and to keep them here when trouble strikes. Our firm aims to provide the best possible legal representation to all clients. We are proud of the representation that we provide and we value each one of our clients. If you are in need of high-quality legal counsel, contact our firm and see how we can help.

The firm’s founder, Habib Hasbini, has the critical insights immigrants need in defending their immigration case. With 15 years of experience, Habib Hasbini has the knowledge to successfully navigate his clients through the U.S. immigration system. It is vital that your case be handled by immigration lawyers with your best interests in mind; our attorneys have resolved even the most difficult immigration problems, and earned a hard-won reputation representing immigrants at the cutting-edge of immigration law.

Our legal team represents clients like you facing a variety of immigration problems, including:

We can handle any type of immigration problems regarding a spouse of a US citizen within the US, parents of US Citizens, sons and daughters of US citizens, spouse & unmarried children of US residents, married sons & daughters of US citizens, and brothers and sisters of US citizens.Our firm is dedicated to helping individuals with immigration matters when they are visiting the US, and assisting them before the Asylum Office.

Law Offices of Habib Hasbini is dedicated to winning the toughest immigration cases. Your case must be carefully evaluated to determine the best legal strategy to assist you and your family . Our offices serve immigrants from all over California, the United States, and around the world in most kinds of immigration defense matters. We are here to help you quickly solve your immigration problems, so you and your family can finally build a future here in the United States.

Contact a San Diego immigration defense attorney from our firm to address your immigration legal problem:

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