U Visa Law Enforcement Resource Guide
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FORM I-B CERTIFICATION BASICS
» For up-to-date USCIS U visa policies, forms, and instructions, see the U Nonimmigrant Status page.
» The Information for Law Enforcement Agencies and Judges page is another helpful resource.
PARTICIPATION BY CERTIFYING AGENCIES
Certifying agencies play a key role in the U visa program. They are oen in the best position to provide information
about the reported qualifying crime(s) and the victim’s helpfulness, as they are frequently the first to encounter
victims. Form I-918B is a required piece of evidence victims submit to USCIS to establish eligibility for U
nonimmigrant status. This certification is completed and signed by law enforcement, or the certifying agency
involved in the detection, investigation, or prosecution of
the criminal activity, but is submitted by the victim with
their petition for U nonimmigrant status. Such agencies
may include state and local agencies that enforce relevant
labor and employment laws (when such violations are also
qualifying criminal activities). Completing Form I-918B
does not automatically guarantee eligibility for a U visa. In
determining a victim’s eligibility, USCIS will carefully examine
all the evidence provided in a U visa petition, including Form
I-918B and any attached records.
Answer Questions Completely: USCIS encourages you to
answer all form questions as completely as possible. If there
is missing information, the victim may ask that you complete
Form I-918B a second time with more information due to a
request from USCIS for additional information.
Signing Authority: The head of the certifying agency has
the authority to sign certifications or to delegate authority
to other agency oicials in a supervisory role to sign
certifications. Federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial judges
have direct authority to sign and may not delegate that
authority. Judges may sign certifications based on a review of court records involving the victim. A judge may sign
the certification based on having conducted the sentencing in a criminal case. A judge may also sign based on having
detected a qualifying crime during a proceeding (criminal or civil) over which they presided.
Timing: USCIS must receive the U visa petition within 6 months of the date the certifying oicial signed Form I-918B.
If USCIS receives the U visa petition from the petitioner or their attorney more than six months aer the Form I-918B
was signed and dated, the Form I-918B will have expired and will not be accepted. In these situations, the petitioner
or their attorney will need to obtain a newly signed and dated Form I-918B from the certifying agency.
Certifying Agencies
The following types of agencies can certify
Form I-918B:
Any federal, state, tribal, territorial,
or local law enforcement office or
agency, prosecutor, judge, or other
authority that has the responsibility to
detect, investigate, or prosecute the
qualifying criminal activity, or convict
or sentence the perpetrator.
Agencies with criminal investigative
jurisdiction, such as child and
adult protective services, the
Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission, and federal and state
Departments of Labor.
3. https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/victims-human-traicking-other-crimes/victims-criminal-activity-u-nonimmigrant-
status/victims-criminal-activity-u-nonimmigrant-status
4. https://www.uscis.gov/tools/resources/information-law-enforcement-agencies-and-judges
5. The terms “Form I-918B”, “U Visa Certification,” “certification,” and “law enforcement certification” will be used
interchangeably throughout this Guide and all refer to the same document.
6. See 8 CFR 214.14(c)(2)(i).