subject: Uscis Approves 10,000 U Visas In Fiscal Year 2010 [print this page] Quite recently it has been announced that 10,000 U nonimmigrant status visas have been issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in the fiscal year 2010. Crime victims are offered immigration protection through the U nonimmigrant status. Apart from the immigration protection being offered, the efforts of law enforcement forces to battle against those crimes are also reinforced by the U visa. Thus the approval of 10,000 U visas is considered an achievement. This is the maximum number that USCIS has approved since 2008 when it started issuing the U visa.
Alejandro Mayorkas, USCIS Director is of the view that the U nonimmigrant status allows USCIS to offer crime victims critical immigration protection. He is also of the opinion that the status enables law enforcement forces to protect victims of crimes. He also stated that this effort of USCIS in collaboration with service providers and law enforcement forces has benefitted thousands of deserving immigrants.
Commencing October 1, 2010, the beginning day of financial year 2011, USCIS will resume the issuance of U nonimmigrant status. The new petitions for U visa will be accepted until Oct. 1, 2010 by USCIS and those petitioners who have been approved on a conditional basis will be kept on waiting list. USCIS also allows qualifying family members and conditionally approved petitioners to remain in the US and file for work authorization.
In order to strengthen the powers of law enforcement officials in investigating and prosecuting crimes, including domestic violence, murder, sexual assault, kidnapping, sexual exploitation, and other affiliated crimes, the U nonimmigrant status was created under the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act. This visa will benefit those crime victims who have undergone physical or mental abuse and wish to cooperate with the law enforcement officials in investigating the crimes. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services approximately approved 6,000 U visa petitions in financial year 2009.
