U Visa Lawyers in Oakland

Serving Clients Throughout California

The risk of deportation exists for far too many immigrants in America. There may be many ways to protect yourself from being deported, though not everyone is eligible for each defense. For immigrants who were victims of crime in the United States, one such legal option is the U visa.

Being the victim of a serious crime or the survivor of horrifying violence can be enough to break some people. Coupling that event with the risk of seeing yourself deported while your attacker still walks the streets is simply too much. While no one wants to be the victim of such crimes, the U visa can at least help ensure that deportation need not be a point of concern following your ordeal.

Not every individual and not every crime qualifies, however. To learn more about eligibility, you should speak to an immigration attorney. Call Landerholm Immigration at (510) 491-0291 to discuss your options.

What Are The Benefits Of A U Visa?

In addition to providing the recipient with lawful status in this country for four years, the U visa affords other benefits to immigrants eligible to receive it.

• Authorization for legal work in the US
• Eligibility for lawful permanent residency via adjustment of status
• U visa benefits for qualifying family members

Contact our Oakland office to schedule a free initial consultation with one of our immigration lawyers.

Who Qualifies For U Visas?

If you are legally eligible for a U visa, you may be able to avoid being deported from the United States of America. U visas are exclusively reserved for non-US citizens who have been harmed in a serious crime during their time on American soil.

Requirements for a U visa include:

• You must have been the victim of a qualifying crime.
• You must have suffered serious physical or mental harm because of the qualifying crime.
• You have information about the crime that has been helpful, will be helpful, or could be helpful to law enforcement in the investigation and prosecution of the crime.
• You have received a certification from a federal, state, or local law enforcement authority stating that you have been helpful in their investigation.
• You must be either admissible to the United States or have a waiver of inadmissibility. What this means is that you must not have a serious criminal history or a history of immigration offenses.

If you meet the above criteria, you may be eligible for a U visa regardless of your legal immigration status. A U visa is like personal amnesty and can help secure work and protection from deportation for victims of crimes.

Certain family members may qualify to become derivative U visa recipients if they meet other criteria. If you believe you may qualify, please contact the Landerholm Immigration, A.P.C. U-visa lawyers.