If you’ve applied for a U visa, you’re probably wondering how long it will take to get approved. Unfortunately, the wait can be very long—often 10 years or more. The exact time depends on the details of your case.
What Is a U Visa?
A U visa is for people who have been victims of certain crimes while in the U.S. These people must have suffered serious physical or mental harm and must be willing to help law enforcement in investigating the crime.
Once you’ve sent in your application (Form I-918) and all the required documents to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the waiting begins.
U visa processing time: Why Does It Take So Long?
Processing a U visa takes time for many reasons:
- Long Processing Times: USCIS takes about 6–8 years to process U visa applications. During this time, they review your forms, take fingerprints and photos (called biometrics), and decide if you qualify.
- Limited Visas Available:
- Each year, only 10,000 U visas can be approved. This does not include visas for family members. Since the limit is reached every year, many applicants have to wait until more visas become available.
- Requests for More Information
- If USCIS needs more details about your case, they will send you a “Request for Evidence” (RFE). You must respond to this before they continue processing your case, which can add delays.
- Family Members Abroad
- If you’re applying for a visa for a family member who lives in another country, they’ll need to visit a U.S. consulate for an interview. Busy consulates or requests for more documents can delay this process.
What Happens While You Wait?
- No Legal Status
- While waiting for your U visa, you don’t have legal status in the U.S. This means you could be detained by immigration authorities.
- No Work Authorization
- You cannot work legally while waiting, unless USCIS grants you “deferred action.” This is a temporary approval that allows you to apply for work authorization. However, even deferred action can take years.
Can Congress Speed Things Up?
The U visa program is part of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). If Congress delays renewing this law, U visa processing can slow down even more.
Getting Help from an Attorney
The U visa process is long and complicated. An immigration lawyer can help you with your application, paperwork, and other steps. They can also keep track of your case and deal with any issues that come up.