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Immigration Practice Resources

Search immigration practice advisories, sample filings, manuals, brief banks, and government guidance from trusted practitioner sources.

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Immigration court deadline 606 Asylum merits package 93 Motions, stays, and pretermission 133 Bond, detention, and habeas 79 BIA, PFR, and federal court 447 USCIS and AAO appeals 209 Crim-imm screening 151 VAWA, U, T, and survivor relief 190
Topic: Crimes and categorical approach Clear Workflow: VAWA, U, T, and survivor relief Clear

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Immigrant Legal Resource Center Practice advisory Jan 24, 2025

Using Indirect & Bystander Victim Theories to Expand U Visa Eligibility for Families

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 vi

Crimes and categorical approach Consular practice VAWA / U / T Cross-forum Direct PDF
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Immigrant Legal Resource Center Practice advisory Jan 18, 2024

California U Visa Law Update

Law enforcement agencies in California have been responding to requests for U visa certifications for many years to allow immigrant survivors of crime and their family members to apply for U nonimmigrant status. However, until 2016 there was no statewide standard or protocol for certifications. Several bills have passed in the meantime to further streamline the process. Most recently, AB 1261 was signed into law in October 2023 and went into effect on 01/01/2024. The Immigrant Legal Resource Cen

Crimes and categorical approach Family-based practice Consular practice Cross-forum Direct PDF
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Immigrant Legal Resource Center Practice advisory Jun 30, 2023

State of U Visa and T Visa Laws

U nonimmigrant status and T nonimmigrant status, often called “U visas” and “T visas,” are humanitarian forms of immigration relief for certain survivors of crime. Both forms of relief have a certification process by which applicants request certification from law enforcement or other government agencies to document their cooperation. In recent years, many states have enacted U and T visa certification legislation in order to increase access to certifications for those who are eligible. This pra

Crimes and categorical approach Consular practice VAWA / U / T Cross-forum Direct PDF
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Immigrant Legal Resource Center Practice advisory Nov 2, 2022

New Options for Survivors of Trafficking and Domestic Violence

Survivors of human trafficking and of domestic or sexual violence often are charged and convicted of offenses that arose as a direct result of their exploitation. For noncitizens, the criminal record can cause deportation or destroy their eligibility for humanitarian visas. In the last five years, California has enacted multiple laws to avoid this injustice in criminal court, including a defense to a criminal charge and a vehicle to vacate a past conviction for survivors who were coerced to comm

Removal defense Crimes and categorical approach Consular practice Cross-forum Direct PDF
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Immigrant Legal Resource Center Practice advisory Sep 13, 2022

Confidentiality Protections for Survivors of Domestic Violence, Human Trafficking and Other Crimes

Because survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other crimes are among the most vulnerable populations in the immigration legal system, numerous laws and policies have been enacted to protect the confidentiality of their information and restrict the disclosure of that information. One source of important protections is codified at 8 U.S.C. § 1367 (Section 1367), which restricts identification of survivors with humanitarian relief claims and disclosure of their information. [1] This p

Crimes and categorical approach VAWA / U / T Cross-forum Direct PDF
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Immigrant Legal Resource Center Practice advisory Jun 23, 2022

Overview of ICE’s Victim-Centered Directive

This advisory provides an overview of ICE’s new “victim-centered” approach to immigration enforcement based on an August 2021 directive, including who qualifies as a victim and which ICE actions are covered. As part of this new approach, ICE officers and agents are instructed to look out for and in various circumstances exercise prosecutorial discretion in favor of noncitizen survivors of crime as part of their decisions to arrest, detain, release, and refer noncitizens.

Crimes and categorical approach VAWA / U / T Cross-forum Direct PDF
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Immigrant Legal Resource Center Practice advisory Jul 21, 2020

The 2019 DHS U Visa Certifier Resource Guide: What Practitioners Need to Know

For an immigrant survivor of crime to qualify for U nonimmigrant status, they must obtain and submit to USCIS a certification of their helpfulness to law enforcement. A law enforcement agency (LEA) or other certifier must complete Form I-918, Supplement B, “U Nonimmigrant Status Certification,” attesting to the survivor’s assistance. In July 2019, the Department of Homeland Security issued an updated guide explaining the U visa requirements and the U visa certification process and identifying be

Crimes and categorical approach Consular practice VAWA / U / T USCIS Direct PDF
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Immigrant Legal Resource Center Practice advisory Apr 21, 2020

A Guide to State Laws on U Visa and T Visa Certifications

U nonimmigrant status and T nonimmigrant status, often called “U visas” and “T visas,” are humanitarian forms of immigration relief for crime survivors. Congress created these forms of relief with the dual purpose of aiding law enforcement, by encouraging crime victims to cooperate, and providing humanitarian relief for crime survivors. Both forms of relief have a certification process by which applicants request certification from a law enforcement agency to document their cooperation. In recen

Crimes and categorical approach Consular practice VAWA / U / T Cross-forum Direct PDF
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Immigrant Legal Resource Center Practice advisory Jan 3, 2020

Eligibility for Relief: Waivers Under INA § 212(h)

Section 212(h) of the INA provides a waiver for crimes inadmissibility grounds, which can be surprisingly useful for undocumented people, VAWA applicants, or permanent residents. It can be applied for multiple times; it has the potential to waive an aggravated felony conviction (unless it is related to drugs); it can be used both affirmatively and as a defense to removal; and it does not always require proof of "extreme hardship." Unfortunately, it can't be used to waive drug convictions or cond

Removal defense Crimes and categorical approach Waivers Cross-forum Direct PDF
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Immigrant Legal Resource Center Practice advisory Dec 19, 2019

Fee Waivers and Their Impact on DV Survivors

This report outlines the established purpose and availability of fee waivers for immigration applications, examines recent USCIS proposals to limit access and create more stringent evidentiary standards, and explores the potential consequences of a more restrictive framework on domestic violence victims and other survivors of crime. It includes results of an informal survey of legal service providers assisting domestic violence and other crime victims from around the country. Finally, it offers

Crimes and categorical approach Waivers VAWA / U / T USCIS Direct PDF
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Immigrant Legal Resource Center Practice advisory Dec 19, 2019

Identifying Humanitarian Forms of Relief for Derivatives: U Nonimmigrant Status

The U nonimmigrant status, often referred to as the “U Visa,” is a form of immigration relief available to noncitizens who have been victims of serious crimes in the United States. As part of the protection given to victims of crimes, U petitioners are able to include certain family members in the application process. These family members are known as “derivatives”. For many family members, being a derivative on an application may be the only way they will be able to get legal status in the Unit

Crimes and categorical approach Family-based practice Consular practice Cross-forum Direct PDF
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Immigrant Legal Resource Center Practice advisory Aug 15, 2019

Humanitarian Forms of Relief Part II: Asylum & SIJS

This practice advisory is the second resource in a two-part series on Humanitarian Forms of Relief for noncitizen victims of violence, serious crimes and persecution. They include: T nonimmigrant status, U nonimmigrant status, VAWA self-petition, asylum, and special immigrant juvenile status. The first advisory focused on giving an overview of VAWA, U, and T Visas. Including, eligibility requirements and some factors to consider before applying. This practice advisory will focus on giving an ove

Asylum Crimes and categorical approach Consular practice Immigration court Direct PDF
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