Source: https://asistahelp.org/resource-library/u-visa-resources/
Timestamp: 2020-01-20 20:23:48
Document Index: 418223867

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 701', '§ 1252', '§ 212', '§ 212', '§ 212', '§ 1003', '§1182', '§212']

U visas - ASISTA
U visas are a form of immigration benefits for survivors of certain crimes who have been helpful in the investigation or prosecution of that crime. This library contains information about U visa requirements, the law, policy, advocacy, practice pointers and more.
USCIS: U Visa Overview
Link to the US Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) website with an overview of U visa program and requirements.
ASISTA Newsletter: First Step in U Visa Prep
This ASISTA advisory from fall 2012 contains an overview of U visa requirements and benefits.
USCIS: U Visa Date FY2012- 10/2018
Link to the US Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) website reports. These reports provide data on various aspects of USCIS operations. In addition, certain tables list the USCIS office responsible for the adjudication.
Practice Advisory: Best Evidence, Credibility, and Any Credible Evidence (May 29, 2014)
This advisory, written by Gail Pendleton and Cecelia Friedman Levin, reviews two common ways in which applications may fail to sufficiently support the credibility of the documentation supplied.
Copyright @2014 by ASISTA Immigration Assistance. All rights reserved. This product or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used without express written permission from ASISTA Immigration Assistance.
Written by Gail Pendleton, this is the second in a series on how to win U visa cases, with an emphasis on the law's requirements as well as building a relationship with law enforcement. 2008 Matthew Bender & Company, Inc., a member of the LexisNexis Group. Reprinted with permission; all rights reserved.
Winning U Visas after the Regulations (January 2008)
Written by Gail Pendleton, this is the first in a series on how to win U visa cases. 2008 Matthew Bender & Company, Inc., a member of the LexisNexis Group. Reprinted with permission; all rights reserved.
Fact sheet created by USCIS on certifying U nonimmigrant status for law enforcement (Form I-918, Supplemental B). It offers basic information as to whom may be eligible for a U visa, and under what circumstances.
Article written by Gail Pendleton on the new standard for the waiver, as well as potential strategies for U visa applicant. Click here to access Overcoming Inadmissibility for U visa Applications in Word Version.
U Visa Legal Authority
U visa: Finding and Purpose
Section 1513 of VAWA 2000 established the U visa program in October 28, 2000. This excerpt contains the Congressional findings and purposes in establishing the U visa program. For full text of VAWA 2000, click here.
INA 101(a)(15)(U): Statutory Definition of U visa Relief
This is the section of the Immigration and Nationality Act that defines U visa relief.
INA 214(p)(14): Requirements of U visa Relief
This section of the Immigration and Nationality Act defines the requirements for U visa relief for principals and derivative applicants.
INA 212(d)(14): Inadmissibility Waiver for U visa holders
This section of the Immigration and Nationality Act defines the standard for the inadmissibility waiver for U visa applicants and derivatives.
Perez v. Seafood Peddler (September 10, 2013)
The district court order in this non-precedent case prohibited the defendants from asking about the immigration status of a witness or any other person. The court reasoned that allowing such questions would have a "chilling effect" on an individual seeking to prosecute their rights. Further, the court prohibited inquiry during the discovery process regarding the U visa process and whether any person involved in this case has filed a U visa petition. Moreover, the court adopted the plaintiff's position that 8 U.S.C. 1367 prohibited disclosure of any information relation to the U visa.
First INS Memorandum: Non-Disclosure and Other Prohibitions Relating to Battered Aliens: IIRIRA 384 (May 5, 1997)
I-918 Forms & Instructions
Link to the USCIS website with the I-918 U visa application and related forms including the Supplement A for derivatives and Supplement B: Law Enforcement Certification with instructions. NOTE: Always ensure you are using the most version of the form.
I-912 Form & Instructions
Link to USCIS section on I-912, Request for Fee Waiver form and instructions.
U Comments NIPNLG (November 15, 2007)
U Comments NNEVIW (November 15, 2007)
8 USC 1367 Violation Reporting (March 2011)
This document contains information regarding to penalties for disclosure of information relating to battered or abused immigrants as well as use of information obtained from batterers and their families. It also provides contact information to report violation of VAWA confidentiality.
USCIS Policy Memorandum: Updated Guidance for the Referral of Cases and Issuance of Notices to Appear (NTAs) in Cases Involving Inadmissible and Deportable Aliens (June 28, 2018)
This policy memorandum (PM) applies to and will be used to guide referrals and the issuance of NTAs by all USCIS employees, unless otherwise specifically provided in this PM or other USCIS policy or guidance documents. This PM supersedes Policy Memorandum 602-0050, Revised Guidance for the Referral of Cases and Issuance of Notices to Appear (NTAs) in Cases Involving Inadmissible and Removable Aliens, dated November 7, 2011.
Click here to access the NTA Practice Update, June 2019:Issuance of Notices to Appear (NTAs) in Denied Humanitarian-based Immigration Cases.
AAO Decision on U Inadmissibility
This old memo has excellent language near the end on the "any credible evidence" standard -- "Documentary Requirements" -- and why it exists. The discussion of "extreme hardship" is no longer relevant to VAWA self-petitions but may be helpful to those seeking VAWA cancellation, where that requirement still exists. Click here to access Virtue Memo on Any Credible Evidence Standard (and Extreme Hardship) in Word Version.
Case Law - Amicus Briefs
9th Circuit Court of Appeals Decision on Perez Perez (November 22, 2019)
Decision from the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals reversing the district court's dismissal of a suit challenging a U visa petition denial for lack of jurisdiction. The panel held that § 701(a)(2) of the Administrative Procedure Act (“APA”) and 8 U.S.C. § 1252(a)(2)(B)(ii) do not bar judicial review of U visa petition denials:
"The discretionary denials are difficult in light of 242(a)(2)(B), and probably not challengeable in many courts. Arguably, however, a “discretionary decision” that fails to apply governing standards or fails to follow governing precedent decisions is not really a “discretionary decision” and should be reviewable. A good case is Hernandez v. Ashcroft, 345 F.3d 824 (9th Cir. 2003)".
This decision is encouraging as ASISTA works with attorneys across the country to bring APA suits against DHS on various issues involving survivors' access to immigration benefits. We encourage anyone interested in representing their clients before federal courts on U visa/VAWA/T visa benefits to contact ASISTA's Litigation Counsel, Sejal Zota, for support and mentorship. You can also contact us to join our U Visa Litigation listserve where practitioners come together to share invaluable litigation strategy.
ASISTA, along with Freedom Network USA, Immigration Center for Women and Children, and the Tahirih Justice Center, submitted an amicus brief on continuances on U visa cases.Click here to download the Amicus Brief in Word version
Many thanks to fellow author: Nareeneh Sohbatian from Winston & Strawn LA.
ASISTA, along with the Asian Pacific Institute on Gender-Based Violence, Casa de Esperanza, Futures Without Violence, National Alliance To End Sexual Violence, and the Tahirih Justice Center, submitted an amicus brief in the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals regarding how just must follow the guidelines outlined in the 2012 BIA case Matter of Sanchez Sosa, and how failing to do so contravenes the protections in found in the Violence Against Women Act. We are grateful to and for the tremendous effort of Greenberg Traurig in Chicago, IL for their pro bono representation. Special thanks to Greg Ostfeld, Brian Straw, Symone Shinton, Christopher Mair and Pamela Ickes. Click here to download the 7th Cir. Amicus Brief in Word version.
Here is the amicus brief we filed to the AAO with Her Justice and ICWC, Debevoise & Plympton doing the heavy lifting (and excellent crafting) for us. Thanks to all involved, great job! Click here to download the Amicus Brief on Direct Victim Definition in Word version.
7th Circ. Rejects BIA Khan (d)(3) Waivers for Us in Proceedings (October 6, 2017)
Many thanks, again, to Chuck Roth for NIJC for leading this effort. Great job! (Gail Pendleton) Baez-Sanchez v. Sessions, (7th Cir. Oct. 6, 2017), Non-citizens seeking U visas as victims of crime may need to seek waivers for inadmissibility. By regulation, a noncitizen may invoke INA § 212(d)(14) (which is by statute entrusted to DHS) or § 212(d)(3), the general nonimmigrant waiver. The BIA has historically exercised some authority over § 212(d)(3) waivers. In L.D.G. v. Holder, 744 F.3d 1022 (7th Cir. 2014), the Seventh Circuit found that the BIA and IJs had (d)(3) waiver authority as to U visas. The BIA disagreed in Matter of Khan, 26 I&N Dec. 797 (BIA 2016), doubting that (d)(3) waivers were meant for U visa applicants, suggesting that (d)(3) waivers were unavailable to non-citizens except at Ports of Entry, and finding that even if the Attorney General has (d)(3) authority, that it has not been delegated by regulation to the BIA. The Seventh Circuit rejected Matter of Khan in a published decision (Easterbrook, J.). First, the Court rejected the BIA’s finding that IJs lack authority to decide matters except where authority is delegated by regulation. Even without a specific delegation, held the Court, 8 C.F.R. § 1003.10 provides that “IJs may exercise all of the Attorney General’s powers ‘in the cases that come before them’, unless some other regulation limits that general delegation.” Second, while the government’s briefs suggested that U visa waiver authority had been entrusted to DHS rather than to the Attorney General (and thus to IJs), the BIA made no such finding in Khan. Indeed, Khan expressly assumed that the AG may maintain some waiver authority. 26 I&N Dec. at 801. Under the Chenery Doctrine, the government attorneys are bound by the agency’s decision; the government’s attorneys therefore could not defend Khan on the ground that the Attorney General lacks waiver authority by statute. Finally, the Board doubted that (d)(3) waivers could be sought by non-citizens within the U.S. But U visa regulations make no such distinction. Found the Court, “the Secretary of Homeland Security seems to believe that he has the authority to grant waivers of inadmissibility under §1182(d)(3)(A)(ii) to aliens in the United States. See 8 C.F.R. §212.17. If the Secretary can do this, why not the Attorney General?” Baez-Sanchez and L.D.G. are crucial for noncitizen victims of crime facing removal from the United States. Allowing IJs to decide on waiver applications ensures fair process, in-person proceedings, access to counsel, reasoned decision making, and the availability of appellate review. NIJC applauds today’s decision, and will work to ensure fair process for all non-citizens facing removal from the United States.
Amicus Brief on CIS Reliance on Arrests
Amici curiae submitted this brief because United States Citizenship and Immigration Services ("USCIS") has rendered a decision that denies important protections to immigrants who are victims of domestic violence and creates a dangerous precedent for the use of uncorroborated and unreliable evidence in immigration proceedings.
Reopening and Termination of Proceedings for Approved U Visa (March 14, 2013)
BIA disagrees with DHS opposition, grants reopening and termination of proceedings for approved U visa (not yet adjusted)
Matter of Sanchez Sosa (June 7, 2012)
Matter of Yauri (October 28, 2009)
U.S. v. Mills (June 18, 2009)
Matter of T - Deportation Proceedings (November 25, 1959)
Where evidence of fraud of marriage to a U.S. citizen was found insufficient to support respondent's deportation under section 241(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, deportation on invalid visa charge under section 241(a)(1) is also precluded when predicated upon same evidence of fraudulent marriage. Act of 1952-Section 241(a)(1) [8 U.S.C. 1251 (a)]-Inadmissible at time of entry, not nonquota immigrant.
- Us for Lawful Permanent Residents -
U Visa Cases in Proceedings
NTA Practice Update (June 2019)
NTA Practice Update: Issuance of Notices to Appear (NTAs) in Denied Humanitarian-based Immigration Cases.
Annotated Notes and Practice Pointers: USCIS Teleconference on Notice to Appear (NTA) Updated Policy Guidance (December 5, 2018)
These annotated notes have been compiled by ASISTA, AILA and ILRC, commenting on the information shared by USCIS during the November 15, 2018 national stakeholder teleconference. We added practice pointers and clarification to USCIS responses.
(d)(3) Waivers
- Sample Motions -
Sanchez Sosa Motion to Continue or Administratively Close Removal Proceedings (U Visas)
Sanchez Sosa Motion to Continue or Administratively Close Removal Proceedings Pending USC Adjudication on U Visa (U Visas)
Sanchez Sosa Motion to Continue (U Visas)
Sample Joint Motion to Terminate Removal Proceedings Without Prejudice
Sanchez Sosa Motion to Continue Individual Hearing (Opposed by DHS) (U Visas)
Sanchez Sosa Brief on Good Cause for Continuance U-1 Nonimmigrant Status Application Pending
Sample Stay Request for U Visa Applicant (U Visa)
Sample Motion to Terminate Removal Proceedings Without Prejudice (U Visa)
Sample Motion to Reconsider Denial of Motion to Administratively Close Removal Proceedings and Motion to Continue (U Visa)
Sample Motion to Reopen and Motion for Stay of Removal (U Visa)
Decisions & Advisories
BIA Unpublished Decision: IJs Must Follow Sanchez Sosa (July 10, 2017)
BIA Unpublished Decision: IJs Must Follow Sanchez Sosa (June 29, 2017)
U Visa Holders Granting Temporary Injunction (January 2018)
- EAD Litigation -
Rodriguez v. Neilsen, Memorandum & Order (EDNY, Sept. 30, 2018)
Many thanks to Celso Perez and Kurzban, Kurzban, Weinger, Tetzeli & Pratt for crafting the brief for us, to Julie Carpenter of Tahirih Justice Center and our other core group drafters, and to all the organizations that signed on. Click here to download Amicus Brief on Bona Fide EAD for U Applicants in Word version
EAD Mandamus Complaint (Sept. 29, 2016)
Click here to download the EAD Mandamus Complaint in Word version
This practice advisory provides practitioners a road map for assessing a U Visa petitioner's potential risk of removal.
ASISTA Practice Pointer: CBP Transfer Notices for U Visas Petitions (November 2019)
Sample RFE Response - I-918B by State Judge in Civil Protective Order Hearing (January, 2014)
ASISTA thanks our member Julie Dinnerstein of Sanctuary for families. Click here to download the Sample RFE Response in Word version.
This October 4, 2016, policy memorandum provides guidance about extension of status for T and U nonimmigrants, including any related I-485, application to adjust status. This PM rescind and replaces PM 602-0032.1. This PM revises chapters 39.1 and 39.2 of the Adjudicator's Field Manual.
Webinar Recording on Challenging Discovery
U Visa Discoverability: What To Do? This is a webinar training sponsored by the Family Justice Center Alliance, presented by Susan Breall, Wanda Lucibello, Jonathan Moore, Mike Agnew, and Gail Pendleton. This webinar explores different strategies about how to respond to U visa requests (or other immigration files) in criminal court and may apply to other legal venues as well.
Understanding and Responding to Subpoenas: A Guide for Immigration Attorneys Representing U Visa Applicants
Developed by Stanford Law School's Immigrants' Rights Clinic, in collaboration with Bay Rea Legal Aid.