U visa
The U visa is a United States nonimmigrant visa which is set aside for victims of crimes (and their immediate family members) who have suffered substantial mental or physical abuse while in the U.S. and who are willing to assist law enforcement and government officials in the investigation or prosecution of the criminal activity. It permits such victims to enter or remain in the US when they might not otherwise be able to do so. Background. The US Congress created the U nonimmigrant visa with the passage of the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act (including the  Battered Immigrant Women’s Protection Act) in October 2000. The legislation was intended to strengthen the ability of law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute cases of domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking of people, and other crimes while, at the same time, offer protection to victims of such crimes. The legislation also helps law enforcement agencies to better serve victims of crimes. Eligibility. Requirements. There are six legal requirements for U nonimmigrant status: Qualifying criminal activity. Crimes whose victims may qualify for U nonimmigrant status include: Certification of helpfulness. A petition for U nonimmigrant status must also contain a "certification  of helpfulness" in the form of a U Nonimmigrant Status Certification (Form I-918, Supplement B) from a certifying law enforcement agency. This document demonstrates the petitioner "has been helpful, is being helpful, or is likely to be helpful" in the investigation or prosecution of the criminal activity. The government entities which are considered "certifying agencies" for the purpose of a U visa application include federal, state or local law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and judges, as well as child protective services, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Department of Labor. U visa-based adjustment of status: obtaining a green card /lawful permanent residence. After three years of continuous physical presence in the United States while in U nonimmigrant status, a U visa holder may be eligible to adjust status and become a lawful permanent resident if certain requirements are met. An applicant for U visa-based adjustment of status must still be in valid U status at the time he or she files the Form I-485, which is the date on which U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) receives the properly-completed application. With the completed and signed Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, applicants must  submit: Types of U-visas. The specific types of U-visas are: Impediments to issue. As of January 2016, there is a backlog of 64,000 requested U-visas, but only 10,000 U-1 visas can be issued per year. (There is no limit on the number of "derivative" U visas—U visas other than U-1.) Some police departments do not certify any applicants as cooperating, either for political reasons or due to confusion over the law, though in some jurisdictions like California and New York City, there are laws or policies which require prompt certification of anyone eligible. Incidents. Abuse of  this visa has been attempted by groups who have tried to pull cons or hoaxes on law enforcement in order to qualify for the visa. A major incident occurred in Seattle during October 2019. A group of ten staged a hostile takeover of a restaurant. Two members of the group posed as robbers wearing masks and tying up the other people to make it look as though a crime had been committed. Statistics. Number of visas issued by year. Although the U status was created in October 2000, the first visas based on this status were issued in Fiscal Year  2009. In the table below includes data from fiscal years, so for instance the year 2009 refers to the period from October 1, 2008 to September 30, 2009. Note that this only counts U visas issued at embassies and consulates outside the United States, and does not include people who changed non-immigrant status to U status within the United States (through Form I-918).