New York City — All Five Boroughs
If you were the victim of a crime in New York City, you may qualify for a U-visa — legal immigration status, work authorization, and a path to a green card. Your immigration status does not matter. Mandi Law Group represents crime victims throughout all five boroughs. Call (518) 698-0347 for a confidential consultation.
The U nonimmigrant visa (U-visa) was created by Congress to protect undocumented and documented immigrants who are victims of qualifying crimes and who cooperate with law enforcement. In New York City, where immigrant communities are often victimized precisely because they fear reporting crimes, the U-visa is a critical protection tool. It provides 4 years of legal status, work authorization, and — after 3 years — a direct path to a green card.
Mandi Law Group represents U-visa applicants throughout all five NYC boroughs and Westchester County. We obtain the law enforcement certification from NYPD and NYC district attorney offices, prepare complete I-918 petitions, and ensure clients receive deferred action and work authorization during the waiting period.
Call (518) 698-0347 for a confidential consultation. Your immigration status does not prevent you from applying.
From obtaining police certification to achieving a green card — we handle every step of the U-visa process.
We prepare and file complete U nonimmigrant status petitions (Form I-918) with USCIS on behalf of crime victims in New York City. The U-visa provides 4 years of legal status, work authorization, and — after 3 years — a direct path to a green card. We handle all documentation, certification, and filing.
Every U-visa requires a certification (Form I-918 Supplement B) from a law enforcement agency or prosecutor confirming that the victim was helpful in the investigation or prosecution of the crime. We work with NYPD precincts, the Manhattan DA, Brooklyn DA, Queens DA, Bronx DA, and other certifying agencies to obtain certifications for our NYC clients.
Qualifying family members of U-visa recipients can also receive U-visa status as derivatives. Spouses, children, siblings (if the victim is under 21), and parents (if the victim is under 21) may qualify. We prepare derivative petitions for all eligible family members to maximize protection for the entire family.
After holding U-visa status for 3 years, U-visa holders who have continued to assist law enforcement may apply for lawful permanent residence (green card). We handle the I-485 adjustment of status for U-visa holders, including the special U nonimmigrant adjustment provisions that waive many standard grounds of inadmissibility.
USCIS caps U-visa approvals at 10,000 per year. When the cap is reached, qualifying applicants are placed on a waiting list and may receive deferred action (protection from deportation) and work authorization while they wait. We ensure all waitlisted NYC clients have active deferred action and EAD so they can work legally during the wait.
Not all crime victims qualify for the U-visa. Victims of domestic violence may qualify for VAWA self-petition instead. Trafficking victims qualify for the T-visa. We assess every crime victim client's full situation and advise on whether U-visa, T-visa, VAWA, or another relief best fits their circumstances.
The U-visa covers victims of a broad list of qualifying criminal activities, including: domestic violence, sexual assault, rape, felonious assault, manslaughter, murder, kidnapping, abduction, trafficking, extortion, blackmail, false imprisonment, robbery, witness tampering, obstruction of justice, perjury, stalking, and many other serious crimes. The crime must have occurred in the United States or violated U.S. laws. The victim must have suffered substantial physical or mental abuse as a result of the criminal activity and must be helpful — or willing to be helpful — to law enforcement. You do not need to have pressed charges or seen the perpetrator convicted.
Yes. The U-visa is specifically designed to protect undocumented crime victims who report crimes to law enforcement. USCIS and DHS have policies protecting U-visa applicants from removal while their petition is pending. When you file a U-visa petition, you are protected from deportation during USCIS adjudication. Additionally, ICE has prosecutorial discretion policies that generally prevent removal of pending U-visa applicants. Immigration enforcement should never prevent a crime victim from coming forward — and the U-visa was created precisely to allow undocumented victims to cooperate with police without fear of deportation.
The law enforcement certification (Form I-918 Supplement B) must be signed by a certifying official at a qualifying agency — typically NYPD, the district attorney's office, or another law enforcement or prosecutorial agency involved in the case. NYPD and NYC DA offices have established U-visa certification procedures. We contact the relevant precinct's crime victim liaison or the DA's victim services unit, submit the certification request with supporting documentation, and follow up to obtain the signed certification. The certifying agency has discretion to certify — we prepare compelling requests that explain the case and the victim's cooperation.
USCIS is severely backlogged on U-visa petitions due to the 10,000 annual cap. Current wait times for U-visa adjudication are approximately 5-7 years from filing to approval. However, once USCIS places an applicant on the waiting list (which happens within months of filing), USCIS typically grants deferred action and an Employment Authorization Document (EAD), allowing the applicant to work legally while waiting. After 3 years of approved U-visa status, the applicant can apply for a green card. We file as promptly as possible and ensure all waitlisted clients receive their EADs.
Yes. If you are the principal U-visa applicant (the direct crime victim), you can petition for qualifying family members as derivatives on Form I-918 Supplement A. If you are under 21 years old, qualifying derivatives include your spouse, children, siblings, and parents. If you are 21 or older, qualifying derivatives are your spouse and unmarried children under 21. Derivative family members get the same 4 years of U-visa status and work authorization as the principal. They also qualify for adjustment of status to a green card after 3 years. We prepare all derivative petitions as part of our U-visa representation.
Regardless of your immigration status, the U-visa may give you legal protection and a path to permanent residence. Contact Mandi Law Group for a confidential consultation.