U Visa Certification Requirements

To be eligible for U nonimmigrant status (U visa) from the federal government, a requestor must receive a certification form from a certifying official attesting that the person has been the victim of certain criminal activity and has been, is being, or is likely to be helpful to the detection, investigation, or prosecution of the criminal activity. The bill sets a required time frame for completion or denial of the certification request and sets forth the factors that may and may not be considered in the certification process. If a certifying official denies a certification request, the bill requires the certifying official to give the requestor a written statement containing the reasons for the denial. The bill also prohibits certain disclosures to immigration authorities and requires law enforcement certifying agencies to provide crime victims with information about the U visa. (Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.) (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)