U-Visa Certifications
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.
U-Visa Certifications
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.
The Doraville Police Department can review law enforcement certification packages on a case by case basis. We will only certify packages in the following circumstances:
* Cooperation of the Applicant/Victim/Witness
* The qualifying crime occurred within our jurisdiction
* There is or was an active investigation and/or prosecution
Please remember that there is no legal requirement for the Doraville Police Department to certify these packages.
Doraville Police Department will report all instances of fraud to the USCIS. Some examples are:
* Individuals reporting qualifying crimes that did not take place;
* Individuals staging qualifying crimes in order to appear eligible;
* Individuals incentivizing others to commit a qualifying crime against them;
* Attorneys, victim advocates, or victims intentionally providing erroneous or misleading information on the forms, or significantly altering the forms after they are signed.
For more information regarding the U Visa please visit the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services website at www.uscis.gov/humanitarian