U Visa/T Visa/VAWA

Starting in December 2024, USCIS began conducting interviews for certain VAWA self-petitioners who have both an I-360 and an I-485 pending. ILRC and AILA’s VAWA, Us, and Ts committee compiled tips to help practitioners support VAWA self-petitioners through this additional layer of review while safeguarding their rights.

This practice advisory outlines the process for researching and commenting on federal forms. A previous advisory covers the process specific to commenting on regulations, which has many parallels to the forms comment process. Federal forms and their comment process are often overlooked by advocates, even those who regularly follow changes in regulations and comment on them. However, form changes can be significant and sometimes can be used to change policy by agencies. The statute regulating forms is the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA).

Eligibility for U Nonimmigrant Status, commonly known as the “U Visa,” hinges on whether the applicant has been the “victim” of a qualifying crime. The regulations implementing the U visa statute contemplate three categories of “victims” who may qualify for the U visa: direct, bystander, and indirect victims. This practice advisory provides a basic overview of the requirements for U nonimmigrant eligibility. It then discusses the definition of “victim” and three different ways to qualify as a victim for purposes of U visa eligibility. Finally, it addresses derivative eligibility for qualifying family members.

On October 15, 2024, the ILRC submitted a comment on the proposed changes to Form I-360, encouraging USCIS to increase the accessibility of the form for pro se respondents, including Special Immigrant Juvenile Status Applicants and VAWA self-petitioners.

Part 2 of this 2-part advisory explores some of the unexpected consequences of PD policies adopted by the ICE Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA) that can prejudice noncitizens in removal proceedings, including the practice of moving to dismiss proceedings over respondents’ objections and failing to appear at hearings.

Part 1 of this 2-part advisory provides updates on DHS’s prosecutorial discretion in removal proceedings and explores the various factors that advocates should consider when deciding whether to seek a favorable exercise of discretion from the ICE Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA). Part 1 also highlights new regulations and discusses how the upcoming presidential election may impact prosecutorial discretion.

On August 12, 2024, ILRC provided comments to USCIS on proposed changes to the application forms for T Nonimmigrant status. The comment urged USCIS to make additional changes to the form including removing the requirement for disclosure of juvenile adjudications and vacated criminal records and implementing uniform confidentiality and privacy language on the forms to ensure that the applicant’s sensitive information is protected.
Tags: U Visa/T Visa/VAWA

Immigrant survivors of domestic violence face significant barriers in seeking both domestic violence support services and immigration legal assistance. Lack of lawful status, fear of deportation, and language barriers make it difficult for immigrant survivors to access critical services. These challenges can be even more acute in underserved and rural areas, such as California’s San Joaquin Valley. This project aims to fortify the economic stability of immigrant survivors of domestic violence in California’s rural San Joaquin Valley by facilitating access to lawful immigration status, employment authorization, and public benefits for immigrant survivors, thus reducing their risk of poverty and homelessness.

On May 17, 2024, the ILRC provided comment to USCIS on proposed changes to the forms to apply for a U Visa. This is the second time that ILRC provided comment on proposed changes and USCIS accepted some of our previous comments in the newest version. We reiterated some previous requests in response to the agency’s changes and also requested that USCIS extend grace periods for the old forms to mitigate the harm to applicants who would have had to get new law enforcement certifications on new forms, which USCIS granted.

The U.S. immigration system treats children and young people differently than adults. It is important to understand how your age may impact your options for seeking relief or protection against deportation. This Community Explainer highlights how age impacts eligibility for certain forms of immigration relief, how immigrant youth can help themselves and their family members, and how to learn more.