Are You An Immigrant Crime Victim?
The U visa was created by Congress to help victims of crime remain in the U.S. legally. If you have been a victim of a crime and helped the police or law enforcement, you may be eligible for a U visa. Like all immigration laws, the process can be complex and intimidating.
Our attorneys at Robert F. Jacobs & Associates, PLC, are very experienced with the immigration process and procedure and can help you obtain a U visa if you are eligible.
If you have been victimized by a crime, life can become difficult. This is even more true for immigrants. You may be fearful of being associated or implicated in the crime and believe your immigration status can be at risk.
Congress recognized that in order to prosecute many crimes, it would be helpful if all victims could testify or otherwise participate in the investigation and prosecution regardless of their immigration status.
The Victims Of Trafficking And Violence Protection Act
The Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act was made law in 2000. It was designed to protect crime victims. It does this by helping them assist in the prosecution of the crime that they were victimized by. A U visa allows victims of crime to remain in the U.S. and work toward obtaining a green card.
Types Of Crimes Covered By The U Visa
The law contains a long list of crimes that make an immigrant eligible to receive a U visa. The listed crimes include:
- 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
As long as this list is, it’s not all-inclusive. If you have been victimized by these or similar crimes, we can help you determine if you are eligible for a U visa.
The Complexity Of Immigration Law
Applying for a U visa is complex. Especially if English is not your first language, and even if it is, immigration law is very technical. Missing documents, filling out a form wrong, a late filing, missing a hearing, any of these issues can lead to the denial of your application for a U visa. This is where working with an experienced immigration attorney can be very helpful. Our attorneys know how critical obtaining a U visa can be to a person who was victimized by a crime.
You do not want to feel that the immigration system is also victimizing you a second time. We prevent that and protect your rights and work aggressively to see that you obtain the immigration status you are entitled to as a victim of crime in the U.S.
Contact Us Today
If you have been the victim of a crime and are an immigrant, speak to us first. We can help. Call our Los Angeles area office at 866-308-5703 or send an email.