American Immigration Lawyers
Khan Law, PLLC
555 Republic Drive, Floor 2, Suite 214
Plano, TX 75074
Office: (469) 200-6508
WhatsApp: (469) 200-6508
Email: info@khanlegalgroup.com
U.S. immigration law, serving clients
in all 50 states and worldwide.
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The Visa Guide · Humanitarian
U Visa for
Crime Victims
Protection for the brave.
For victims of serious crimes who suffered substantial harm and help law enforcement: work authorization, protection from removal, and a green card path after three years. Many past immigration violations can be waived. Here’s the whole journey, in plain English.
Who Qualifies
Courage counts here.
Five things make or break a U case. The certification is the linchpin.
A qualifying crime
Victim of a qualifying crime in the U.S.: domestic violence, felonious assault, sexual assault or abuse, kidnapping, extortion, witness tampering, and others.
Substantial harm
Substantial physical or mental abuse resulting from the crime.
Helpfulness
Possession of information, and helpfulness to police or prosecutors.
The I-918B certification
A signed Form I-918, Supplement B from a law enforcement agency: the linchpin of every U case.
Admissibility, or the broad waiver
Admissible, or eligible for the broad U-visa waiver (Form I-192).
The Process
Five steps. One safe harbor.
The certification
Obtain the I-918B certification from the certifying agency: police, prosecutor, judge, or certain agencies.
The petition
File Form I-918 with a personal declaration, harm evidence, and the I-192 waiver if needed. Qualifying family members file I-918A.
The waitlist
Because only 10,000 principal U visas issue per year, USCIS reviews for a bona fide determination, granting deferred action and a work permit while you wait.
The status
Receive U status when a number is available: 4 years, extendable.
The green card
After 3 years in U status with continued cooperation, file Form I-485 for the green card.
Forms & Fees
Know the paperwork.
The U visa petition, with a personal declaration and harm evidence
Supplement B: the signed law enforcement certification
The petition for qualifying family members
The broad U-visa waiver for past immigration violations
The green card application, after 3 years in U status
Worried about fees?
Most U-visa forms are fee-exempt or waivable. And everything you share with us is confidential.
Live processing times & fees
Government numbers change monthly. These official tools are always current:
Your safety.
Our fight.
Every story is different. Tell us yours, safely and confidentially. The evaluation is free, and we’ll tell you exactly which path fits.
Attorney Advertising: general information, not legal advice. Everything you share is confidential: request a free case evaluation or call (469) 200-6508. ← Back to all visa guides
The Rules
What the U visa can and cannot do.
- Reach crimes from years ago: the law sets no filing deadline, as long as an agency will still certify
- Accept certifiers beyond the police: prosecutors, judges, child protective services, and labor agencies such as the DOL and EEOC can all sign
- Protect indirect victims: close family can qualify in defined situations when the direct victim was murdered, incapacitated, or a child
- Forgive almost any past immigration violation, including old removal orders and reentries, through the broad I-192 waiver
- Force an agency to sign: certification is discretionary, though some states set response rules and deadlines
- Turn a certification into a guarantee: USCIS decides the petition; the agency only confirms your help
- Cover crimes committed entirely outside the United States, apart from narrow cases that violated U.S. law
- Let you travel freely while it is pending: leaving can break continuous presence and trigger the unlawful presence bars
Costs
What it costs in 2026.
The government made this path essentially free. The petition has never carried a filing fee, and under the current fee rule U petitioners are exempt from the fees on every companion form, including the big waiver. Real money enters the picture only when a family member finishes the process at a consulate abroad.
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| I-918 petition and I-918A for family | $0 | No filing fee |
| I-192 waiver of past violations | $0 | Normally $1,100; U petitioners are exempt |
| I-765 work permit | $0 | Normally up to $520; exempt in U cases |
| I-485 green card, after 3 years | $0 | Normally $1,440; exempt for U-based filings |
| Family member applying at a consulate | $185 per person | The nonimmigrant visa application fee, paid abroad |
| Visa integrity fee, consular cases only | $250 per person | Charged when a consular U visa is issued; phasing in since Oct 2025; never charged for filings inside the U.S. |
Fee amounts reflect published government figures as of August 2026 and change over time; the live links above are always current. Fees apply per person, including children.
FAQ
Questions we hear every week.
The police never arrested anyone. Can I still qualify?
Yes. What matters is that you were the victim, suffered substantial harm, and helped when asked. No arrest, charge, or conviction is required, and an investigation that went nowhere can still support a certification.
Do I have to testify in court?
Only if asked, and only if the request is reasonable. The duty is to not unreasonably refuse to help, and many certified cases never involve a courtroom. The duty also continues while the petition waits, so keep your contact information current with the agency.
I am in deportation proceedings, or was removed before. Is this still open to me?
Often, yes. The I-192 waiver is one of the broadest in immigration law and can cover old orders, prior removals, and unlawful reentries. A pending petition can also support requests to pause or close proceedings. Timing matters, so raise it before your next hearing, not after.
Can I include family who are abroad?
Yes: your spouse and children, and for petitioners under 21, parents and unmarried minor siblings. A child’s age locks in when your petition is filed, so turning 21 during the wait does not remove them. Family abroad finish at a consulate, with the fees shown in the table above.
Will the person who hurt me find out?
The same federal confidentiality statute that shields domestic violence cases covers U petitions: officials cannot release information about your filing, and decisions cannot rest solely on information supplied by a perpetrator. What you share with us stays with us as well.
Can I travel while the case is pending?
Treat the answer as no until a lawyer says otherwise. Leaving can break the continuous presence some benefits require, trigger 3- or 10-year unlawful presence bars, and strand you abroad waiting on a consular visa. Ask before booking anything.