For many immigrants who were victims of qualifying crimes that occurred on U.S. soil, a U Visa may be an opportunity to seek residency status in the U.S. If you decide to work with the experienced immigration attorneys at the Solano Law Firm when applying for a U Visa in Birmingham, you may improve your chances for approval.
Our bilingual U Visa attorneys and support staff can evaluate your eligibility for a U Visa. We prepare, file, and follow your application through the evaluation and review process to ensure you are treated fairly and accurately. We also help you prepare for interviews and requests for cooperation from law enforcement authorities.
Who Is Eligible To Apply for a U Visa?
In Birmingham and beyond, immigrants may be eligible for a U Visa if they:
- Were a victim of a qualifying crime that caused substantial physical, psychological, or emotional harm, such as serious physical assault, human trafficking, or sexual servitude, or employment-related exploitation
- Have been, are being, or are likely to be helpful to law enforcement personnel in investigating these crimes and prosecuting individuals who may be charged with committing the crimes
- Obtain proof from law enforcement personnel certifying their helpfulness to bringing criminals to justice
The processing time for a U Visa can stretch over two or three years. It is reasonable that a prospective applicant may not be willing to wait that long, particularly given the requirement for continued cooperation with law enforcement and fear of retaliation from the perpetrators of the underlying crimes. When an immigrant attorney at Solano Law Firm represents eligible U Visa applicants, they can prepare their applications properly, providing guidance throughout the process. Our team has experience with how the U visa processing system works and can help push applications through the system to help achieve a favorable result.
How Do Our Attorneys Increase the Chances for U Visa Approval?
The foundation of every Birmingham U Visa application is a Form I-918B Certification that verifies the applicant’s cooperation with criminal investigations. Many U Visa applications are denied because of mistakes the applicant makes, such as submitting photocopies rather than originals of critical documents, leaving blanks on the form, or including incomplete or incorrect descriptions of how they have assisted crime investigators. Our immigration lawyers make sure that this critical form is correct, complete, and signed before it is filed.
We also confirm that the agency with primary responsibility to investigate the crime is the same agency that certifies the Form. Crime investigations often involve overlapping jurisdictions and police or sheriff’s departments, and an applicant can easily be confused about which agency they should approach for certification.
Further, we verify that all information on this Form, including dates of any underlying crimes, crime locations, and victim names and addresses, is consistent with police reports and other documentation of the crime. If new or corrected information becomes available, we submit necessary updates and revisions.
Contact a Birmingham Attorney If You Need Help Applying for a U Visa
The immigration attorneys at the Solano Law Firm could provide all the information you need to determine if applying for a U Visa in Birmingham is your best path to permanent U.S. residency. We could also help you with every aspect of your U Visa application, from gathering the necessary forms and documentation to following your application through the review process.
Do not risk dealing with the USCIS without immigration legal assistance. Please call us or contact the Solano Immigration Law Firm through our website today.
