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USCISHumanitarian & Relief

Official form guide

Form I-918: Petition for U Nonimmigrant Status

Form I-918 is the Petition for U Nonimmigrant Status, used by victims of qualifying criminal activities who have suffered substantial physical or mental abuse and are helpful to law enforcement. It allows eligible individuals to apply for temporary U visa status, providing protection and work authorization in the U.S.

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Form Overview

USCIS Form I-918 - Petition for U Nonimmigrant Status

Form I-918 is the Petition for U Nonimmigrant Status, used by victims of qualifying criminal activities who have suffered substantial physical or mental abuse and are helpful to law enforcement. It allows eligible individuals to apply for temporary U visa status, providing protection and work authorization in the U.S.

The form captures personal information, details about the qualifying criminal activity, evidence of physical or mental abuse, documentation of assistance to law enforcement, and information about any prior immigration status.

Risk Radar

Scan points
  • 1Failure to provide complete and truthful information may result in denial and potential immigration consequences.
  • 2Missing law enforcement certification when required
  • 3Insufficient evidence of qualifying criminal activity
  • 4Incomplete documentation of mental or physical abuse
  • 5Failure to demonstrate helpfulness to authorities

Plain English

The U visa is for people who have been victims of crimes in the United States and helped police or prosecutors with their case. This form helps you prove you were a victim, that the crime was serious, and that you cooperated with authorities. The U visa gives you temporary legal status and a work permit while you're in the U.S.

Submission Date

  • Filing date: File as soon as possible after being identified as a qualifying victim and having provided or being willing to provide assistance to authorities. There is no specific deadline, but delays may affect eligibility.
  • Preparation window: collect IDs, supporting records, and signatures in advance.
  • Final review: verify names, dates, and required fields before submission.

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Glossary Terms

physicalpetitionpermit

Hover a term to preview the meaning.

What this form is for

  • Use this form when you are a victim of qualifying criminal activity and have provided or are willing to provide assistance to law enforcement
  • Do not use this form if you have already been granted U status or have a pending petition
  • Check Form I-918 Supplement B if applying with qualifying family members under 21

Form selector

Use this form or another form?

Already have a pending U visa petition

Request for Continued Presence

✓ Must be filed before current status expires

Form I-918 Supplement A

Applying with qualifying family members

Information About U Nonimmigrant Status Eligible Family Members

✓ Must be filed with the principal petition

Form I-918 Supplement B

Seeking permanent residency after 3 years

Adjustment of Status

✓ Available only after continuous U status for 3 years

Form I-918, Supplement B, Form I-485

Deadline or filing window

There is no specific deadline to file Form I-918, but it should be filed as soon as possible after being identified as a qualifying victim and having provided or being willing to provide assistance to authorities. Delays may affect eligibility, particularly if the criminal case concludes before the petition is filed.

  • —Number of qualifying family members | Principal applicant + eligible family members | Total U visa slots requested | Ensure not exceeding the 10,000 annual cap
  • —Time in U status | Current date - U visa start date | Eligibility for permanent residency | Must wait 3 years before applying

Checklist

What you need before filling it out

1

Part 1: Personal Information

Passport, birth certificate, government ID · Personal documents

⚠ Inconsistent information with other documents✕ High
2

Part 2: Information About the Qualifying Criminal Activity

Police report, court documents, medical records · Law enforcement, medical facilities

⚠ Missing dates or case numbers✕ High
3

Part 3: Information About Your Help to Authorities

Certification from law enforcement, affidavits · Law enforcement agency

⚠ Lack of specific details about assistance✕ High
4

Part 4: Information About Your Abuse

Medical records, psychological evaluations, photographs · Medical facilities, personal records

⚠ Insufficient evidence of substantial harm✕ High
5

Supplement B: Family Information

Birth certificates, marriage certificates, adoption records · Personal documents

⚠ Missing relationship documentation✕ Medium

Before you submit

  1. 1Verify all personal information matches government-issued ID
  2. 2Include copies of all required identification documents
  3. 3Attach evidence of qualifying criminal activity (police reports, court documents)
  4. 4Provide documentation of physical or mental abuse (medical records, evaluations)
  5. 5Include law enforcement certification if available
  6. 6Complete and sign Form I-918 Supplement B if applying with family members
  7. 7Confirm correct filing fee payment method and amount
  8. 8Make copies of entire packet before mailing
  9. 9Use trackable mail service to confirm delivery

How to file this form

  1. 1Obtain current edition of Form I-918 from USCIS website
  2. 2Complete all sections of Form I-918 with accurate information
  3. 3Gather supporting documents including evidence of crime and abuse
  4. 4Complete Form I-918 Supplement B if applying with family members
  5. 5Prepare payment for filing fee (check or money order)
  6. 6Mail completed forms and documents to USCIS Texas Service Center
  7. 7Wait for biometrics appointment notice (typically 2-3 months after filing)
  8. 8Respond to any Requests for Evidence (RFE) from USCIS

Known limitations

  1. 1Annual cap of 10,000 U visas per fiscal year
  2. 2Processing times can exceed 3 years due to high volume
  3. 3Law enforcement certification is required for some applicants but may be difficult to obtain
  4. 4Applicants with certain criminal convictions may be ineligible
  5. 5Dependents must be directly related to the principal applicant
  6. 6No derivative status for parents of adult principal applicants

Field map

Compact field-by-field guide

7 fields

Applicant Info

3 items

Full Legal Name

Your current legal name as in your passport.

Requiredtext
Date and Place of Birth

Complete date (MM/DD/YYYY) and city/country of birth.

Requiredtext
Country of Nationality

Country where you hold citizenship.

Requiredtext

Basis

2 items

Basis for Protection

Detailed description of the harm, persecution, or disaster you are fleeing.

Requiredtext
Date of Last Arrival in U.S.

Date you last entered the United States (MM/DD/YYYY).

Requireddate

Evidence

1 items

Supporting Evidence

List all documents supporting your application, including affidavits, country condition reports, and identification.

Requiredtext

Signatures

1 items

Applicant Signature

Sign under penalty of perjury.

Requiredsignature
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Current form status
USCIS

The current edition of Form I-918 was last revised in 2020. Check the USCIS website for the most recent version before filing.

What changed or needs a fresh check

  • Edition date: Check USCIS website for current version (last revised in 2020)
  • Fee: $535 as of 2023, subject to change
  • Mailing address: Texas Service Center, address specified in current instructions
  • Processing time: Currently 3-4 years, subject to change
  • Biometrics appointment: Required after filing, scheduled by USCIS

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Quick Facts

Victims of qualifying criminal activities who have suffered substantial physical or mental abuse and are willing to assist law enforcement or government officials with the investigation or prosecution of criminal activity.
The form captures personal information, details about the qualifying criminal activity, evidence of physical or mental abuse, documentation of assistance to law enforcement, and information about any prior immigration status.
File as soon as possible after being identified as a qualifying victim and having provided or being willing to provide assistance to authorities. There is no specific deadline, but delays may affect eligibility.
Submit to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Texas Service Center address specified in the current form instructions. Currently filed by mail.
Mistakes can lead to denial of the petition, loss of filing fees, delays in processing, and potential loss of eligibility for U status if the qualifying criminal activity is not properly documented.
Complete Form I-918 with all required sections, gather supporting evidence of the qualifying criminal activity and abuse, obtain certification from law enforcement if possible, prepare Form I-918 Supplement B if applying with qualifying relatives, and file with the required fee and supporting documents.

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After you file

  1. 1Keep a complete copy of all submitted documents
  2. 2Track your case online using the receipt number
  3. 3Attend all scheduled biometrics appointments
  4. 4Respond promptly to any Requests for Evidence
  5. 5Update USCIS with any address changes
  6. 6Maintain records of continued presence if applicable
  7. 7Keep documentation of ongoing assistance to authorities
  8. 8Check annual visa bulletin for visa availability updates

Sources

  • SRCForm I-918 is the Petition for U Nonimmigrant Status | Confirmed from form title
  • SRCForm requires evidence of qualifying criminal activity | Standard requirement for U visa
  • SRCLaw enforcement certification is required in some cases | Based on standard U visa requirements
  • SRCForm I-918 Supplement B is for qualifying family members | Confirmed from USCIS instructions
  • SRCProcessing time is currently 3-4 years | Based on USCIS processing times as of 2023
  • SRCFiling fee is $535 as of 2023 | Based on USCIS fee schedule
  • SRCForm is filed at Texas Service Center | Based on current USCIS filing locations
  • SRCAnnual cap of 10,000 U visas | Confirmed from U visa regulations
  • SRCNo specific filing deadline | Based on U visa regulations

Common confusion points

Law enforcement certification requirement

Some applicants need certification from authorities, others don't

→ Check Part 3 instructions for your specific situation

Substantial physical or mental abuse threshold

Standard is higher than ordinary harm

→ Medical documentation should clearly indicate severity

Helpfulness to authorities definition

Must be more than just testifying

→ Provide specific details of cooperation in the application

Derivative eligibility for family members

Only certain family members qualify

→ Review Supplement B for complete list of eligible relatives

Cap on annual visas

Only 10,000 available per year

→ Check visa bulletin for current availability

Adjustment of status after 3 years

Requires continuous U status

→ Maintain valid status and avoid absences from U.S.

Workflow map

Related forms and next steps

4 signals

Before

Form I-918, Supplement B (for family members), Form I-918 Supplement A (for Continued Presence)

Current

I-918

After

Form I-485 (Adjustment of Status after 3 years in U status)

Often used with

Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization), Form I-131 (Application for Travel Document)

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Public DomainCreated by the U.S. federal government. Not subject to copyright (17 USC § 105). Freely copyable without restriction.
Public DomainCreated by the U.S. federal government. Not subject to copyright (17 USC § 105). Freely copyable without restriction.
Public DomainCreated by the U.S. federal government. Not subject to copyright (17 USC § 105). Freely copyable without restriction.
Public DomainCreated by the U.S. federal government. Not subject to copyright (17 USC § 105). Freely copyable without restriction.
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