U Visa

A petition for "U Nonimmigrant Status" (commonly referred to as a "U Visa") provides immigration protection for victims of qualifying crimes and their qualifying family members (as appropriate), who are helpful to law enforcement in the detection, investigation or prosecution of criminal activity. This is a temporary visa that can be valid up to four years. The U Visa Program is administered by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the federal agency within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and is responsible for determining whether a person is eligible for a U Visa.

The Monroe Police Department may certify a U Visa application if they investigated the qualifying crime.

The following basic steps are intended to assist a potential petitioner and in no way constitute legal advice.

1. Determine eligibility: Please visit USCIS’s U Visa Immigration webpage.

2. Complete petition forms: If you feel you or a family member qualify, you will need to submit the appropriate federal I-918 forms, along with evidence documenting cooperation with law enforcement.

3. Submit completed forms: The Chief of Police is under no legal obligation to certify a U Visa application. Law enforcement officers must concur that an applicant has cooperated and will continue to cooperate in prosecuting the criminal case. Certification of a U Visa application does not automatically grant an immigration benefit.

Once Form I-918 - U Nonimmigrant Status Certification is completed, please submit it to the address below:

Monroe Police Department
Attn: Patricia Pendry, Administrative Manager
818 West Main Street
Monroe, WA 98272

If you have specific questions, please contact Patricia Pendry, Administrative Manager, at ppendry@monroewa.gov or 360-863-4583.