In 2000, Congress passed the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act, which created the U nonimmigrant status, also known as the U visa. This law was intended to allow law enforcement agencies to better serve the victims of crimes such as sexual assault, domestic violence, and human trafficking. Immigrant victims of crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse and who are willing to help law enforcement officials investigate and prosecute these crimes are eligible to receive a U visa and remain in the United States.

Eligibility Requirements

To receive a U visa, all of the following eligibility requirements must be true:

• You are the victim of a qualifying crime.
• You suffered substantial mental or physical abuse because of that crime.
• You have information about the criminal activity.
• You are helpful, were helpful, or were likely to be helpful to law enforcement officials during the investigation and prosecution of the crime.
• The crime occurred in the United States.
• You are eligible to be in the United States.

In addition, you must submit a signed certification from a law enforcement official to be used as evidence in support of the petition for a U visa. This certification will give U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) information about the criminal case, including your willingness in the investigation, prosecution, or sentencing of the crime. Any federal, state, or local law enforcement authority who plays a part in the criminal case may complete the certification. Other officials such as child protective services, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Department of Labor can also complete the certification.

An estimated 1.13 million people obtained lawful permanent resident (LPR) status in the United States in 2017, according to the Department of Homeland Security. While employer exploitation can happen to anyone, immigrants tend to be the target of exploitation or abuse, threatening the lawful immigration status of many workers.

Abusive Behaviors of Employers

Certain behaviors exhibited by employers can violate laws related to wages and hours, protections provided by equal employment laws, or workers’ rights to participate in protected collective activity, but sometimes employer abuse can be considered a criminal offense. These behaviors include things such as:

• Trafficking
• Rape
• Unlawful criminal restraint
• False imprisonment
• Blackmail
• Involuntary Servitude
• Witness tampering
• Obstruction of justice
• Extortion
• Domestic Violence
• Kidnapping
• Being held hostage
• Manslaughter
• Murder

In situations which these behaviors occur, workers may possibly be eligible to receive a U visa.

When a United States citizen plans to marry someone who is a citizen of a foreign country, they may be able to obtain a nonimmigrant visa that will allow their fiancé to come to the U.S. to get married, after which they may apply for a Green Card. However, the process of bringing a fiancé to the United States is complex, and it involves multiple government agencies. To complete the process of fiancé immigration, the following steps must be followed:

1. File a petition for fiancé - To begin the process, a U.S. citizen must file Form I-129F (Petition for Alien Fiancé(e)) with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). If USCIS approves this petition, they will recognize the relationship between the citizen and their fiancé and send the approved petition to the National Visa Center (NVC).
2. Apply for a fiancé visa - After the Department of State (DOS) receives an approved Form I-129F, the fiancé can apply for a K-1 nonimmigrant visa at the U.S Embassy or consulate in the country where they currently live. 
3. Attend a visa interview - The fiancé will be interviewed by a DOS consular officer, and they will be required to provide certain documentation, including proof of required medical examinations and vaccinations and an affidavit of financial support. If the fiancé qualifies, a visa will be issued.
4. Enter the U.S. - After a visa is issued, it will be valid for up to six months. The fiancé will travel to the United States, and they will be inspected by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), who will decide whether to admit them to the U.S. 
5. Get married - After the foreign fiancé enters the United States, they must marry their U.S. citizen fiancé within 90 days. 
6. Apply to adjust status - After getting married, the immigrant spouse may apply to become a lawful permanent resident of the United States by filing Form I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status). Both spouses may be required to provide documentation and attend an interview.
7. Remove conditions on residence - Spouses who have been married for less than two years when applying to adjust their status will receive a conditional Green Card that will be valid for two years. Within 90 days of the expiration of this Green Card, they must apply for permanent residence by filing Form I-751 (Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence).

Contact a DuPage County Immigration Lawyer

Meeting the requirements for fiancé immigration can be a complicated process, and the assistance of an experienced immigration attorney is often required in order to ensure that the proper forms are filed and the correct steps are followed. At Khan Nayyar & Associates, LLC, we can provide you with the legal help you need as you work to bring your loved one to the U.S. to get married. Contact our Oak Brook immigration attorneys today by calling 630-LAWYERS.

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When a non-citizen who lives in the United States is the victim of a crime, they may be afraid to come forward and report the crime for fear of deportation. However, following the passage of the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act, these people have the option to report the crime, assist law enforcement in prosecuting criminals, and obtain a visa which will allow them to remain in the United States.

U Nonimmigrant Visas

A person is eligible to apply for a U visa if they meet the following requirements:

• They have been the victim of certain qualifying crimes, including domestic violence, false imprisonment, extortion, sexual assault, stalking, trafficking, and unlawful criminal restraint, which occurred in the U.S. or violated United States laws.
• They suffered “substantial physical or mental abuse” as a result of the crime.
• They can provide information about the crime to law enforcement and are willing to assist in the investigation or prosecution of the criminal activity.
• They meet the requirements for admissibility to the U.S.

A person can apply for a U visa by filing Form I-918 (Petition for U Nonimmigrant Status), along with Form I-918, Supplement B (U Nonimmigrant Status Certification). They must also submit a statement describing the crime committed against them. If they are inadmissible to the United States, they may request a waiver of inadmissibility by filing Form I-192 (Application for Advance Permission to Enter as Nonimmigrant).

When a U.S. citizen plans to marry a foreign national who resides in another country, they are able to apply for a K-1 nonimmigrant visa (also known as a fiancé visa), allowing their future spouse to immigrate to the United States for the purposes of getting married. However, the process of applying for this type of visa can be complex, and it is important to understand the requirements that must be met.

Required Documentation for a Fiancé Visa

To apply for a K-1 nonimmigrant visa, a U.S. citizen must file Form I-129F (Petition for Alien Fiancé(e)). They will be eligible to file this petition if both spouses are legally able to get married and plan to do so within 90 days after the alien fiancé arrives in the United States. After the petition is approved, the National Visa Center (NVC) will assign a case number and send information to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the country where the fiancé resides, and a visa interview will be scheduled. The foreign national fiancé must provide the following documentation at this interview:

• A completed Form DS-160 (Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application) - After completing this form, the confirmation page can be printed to bring to the interview.
• A valid passport - The passport must be valid for travel to the U.S. for at least six months after the period of time the fiancé plans to stay in the country.
• Proof of dissolution of previous marriages - Both the U.S. citizen and foreign national fiancé must provide divorce or death certificates for any previous spouses.
• Criminal records - An applicant must provide police certificates containing any arrest records from countries where they have lived for at least six months after reaching the age of 16.
• Medical examination and vaccination records - An applicant must receive a medical examination from an authorized doctor. While vaccinations are not required at this time, immigration law requires immigrants to receive certain vaccinations in order to obtain legal permanent resident status, and applicants are encouraged to receive these vaccinations as soon as possible.
• Proof of financial support - Applicants must demonstrate that they and/or their spouse will be able to provide support for them while they live in the United States. A Form I-134 (Affidavit of Support) may be required by the Consular Officer.
• Two passport photos
• Proof of relationship - Applicants may be required to provide evidence, such as photographs, that their relationship with their intended spouse is genuine.
• When a K-1 visa has been approved and issued, the fiancé can enter the U.S., and after the marriage has taken place, they can apply for a green card as a lawful permanent resident.

Contact a DuPage County Immigration Attorney

The application and interview process for a fiancé visa can be complex, and mistakes or omissions made during this time can cause significant delays. If you, your fiancé, or other family members are planning to immigrate to the United States, the skilled attorneys at Khan Nayyar & Associates, LLC can help you meet your legal requirements and work with you to complete the process as quickly and efficiently as possible. Contact an Oak Brook immigration lawyer today by calling 630-LAWYERS.

If a U.S. citizen wishes to bring a foreign national to the U.S. in order to marry him or her, the U.S. citizen may apply for a fiancé visa. A fiancé visa (also called a K-1 nonimmigrant visa) allows a U.S. citizen’s foreign national fiancé to enter and stay in the U.S. for about three months so that the U.S. citizen and foreign fiancé may get married. Once they are married, permanent residence (green card) for the foreign fiancé may be applied for. In addition, if the foreign fiancé has children who are under the age of 21 and are unmarried, the children are eligible for a K-2 nonimmigrant visa. 

If the foreign national fiancé does not marry the petitioner within 90 days of his or her arrival to the U.S., the fiancé status of the visa applicant immediately expires. 

In order to be eligible for a fiancé visa, the petitioner must show that: