Form I-918 (Petition for U Nonimmigrant Status)
Updated May 2026
Form I-918 is the USCIS petition by which a victim of a qualifying crime applies for U nonimmigrant status. The U visa protects victims who have suffered substantial physical or mental abuse and who help law enforcement investigate or prosecute the crime. There is no filing fee for the I-918, and the petition requires a Form I-918 Supplement B signed by a qualifying law enforcement certifier.
What Form I-918 is
Form I-918 is the central document in every U visa case. It is filed with USCIS at the Vermont Service Center. The current form, instructions, and edition are at uscis.gov/i-918. The U visa was created by the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000 and is codified at INA section 101(a)(15)(U).
The U visa serves a dual purpose. From the victim's perspective, it provides legal status, work authorization, protection from removal, and a path to permanent residence. From the government's perspective, it encourages immigrant crime victims to come forward and cooperate with law enforcement without fear of deportation.
Who can file
The principal petitioner is the victim of a qualifying crime. USCIS recognizes three categories:
- Direct victim. The person against whom the qualifying crime was committed.
- Indirect victim. The spouse, parent, or unmarried sibling under 18 of a direct victim who is deceased, incapacitated, or unable to provide information due to incompetence or minor status under 16.
- Bystander victim. A person who suffered unusually direct harm from witnessing the qualifying crime against another. Rare but recognized.
Qualifying crimes
The U visa is limited to victims of specific crimes enumerated in the statute. The current list includes:
- Domestic violence, sexual assault, abusive sexual contact
- Trafficking, slavery, involuntary servitude, peonage
- Kidnapping, abduction, false imprisonment, unlawful criminal restraint
- Felonious assault, manslaughter, murder, attempted murder
- Stalking
- Witness tampering, obstruction of justice, perjury
- Extortion, blackmail
- Fraud in foreign labor contracting
- Prostitution-related crimes
- Female genital mutilation
- Hostage-taking
- Solicitation to commit any of the above
- Any "similar activity" that violates federal, state, or local criminal law
Filing fee
There is no filing fee for Form I-918 itself. There is also no fee for Form I-918 Supplement A (derivative petition). Form I-192 (admissibility waiver, when needed) has a fee of $930, which USCIS typically waives in U visa cases because the underlying purpose is humanitarian.
Required elements
To approve Form I-918, USCIS requires the petitioner to show:
- Qualifying crime. The crime is on the statutory list.
- Substantial physical or mental abuse. The victim suffered substantial harm from the crime.
- Possession of information about the crime. The victim has, or had, information about the crime.
- Helpfulness to law enforcement. The victim has been, is being, or is likely to be helpful in the investigation or prosecution.
- Occurrence in the U.S. or violation of U.S. law. The crime took place in the United States or violated U.S. law.
- Admissibility (or a waiver). The petitioner is admissible to the U.S. or has an approved Form I-192 waiver.
Form I-918 Supplement B (law enforcement certification)
Form I-918 Supplement B is the certification that the petitioner has been, is, or is likely to be helpful in the investigation or prosecution of the qualifying crime. It is signed by an authorized law enforcement official, typically:
- Police chief, sheriff, or designated certifying official within a police or sheriff department
- State or federal prosecutor
- Judge in some jurisdictions
- Child protective services (in certain abuse cases)
- Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (in workplace-crime cases)
- Department of Labor (in fraud or labor-trafficking cases)
- Other agencies authorized under USCIS guidance
The Supplement B must be signed within 6 months of filing the I-918. If the certification is older than 6 months when USCIS receives the petition, the case is RFE'd. Renewing a certification can be challenging because some agencies have policies about reissuing certifications and others change leadership during the case's pendency.
For a deeper analysis of the certification process, including what to do when law enforcement refuses to sign, see our companion guide on the U Visa Certification Process.
Form I-918 Supplement A (derivatives)
The principal petitioner can include qualifying family members as derivatives by filing Form I-918 Supplement A for each:
- Spouse of the principal. Regardless of where the marriage occurred, as long as it is legally valid.
- Unmarried children under 21 of the principal.
- If the principal is under 21: parents (any age) and unmarried siblings under 18.
Each derivative is independently considered for the Bona Fide Determination once the principal's BFD issues. Derivatives in the U.S. receive their own 4-year EAD and deferred action. Derivatives abroad must process at the U.S. embassy after the full U visa approval.
The Bona Fide Determination
Because the U visa statutory cap of 10,000 per year produced a waiting list of more than a decade, USCIS now issues a Bona Fide Determination (BFD) much earlier in the process, typically 5 to 6 years after filing. The BFD grants the principal and qualifying derivatives a 4-year EAD and deferred action against removal while the full U visa adjudication continues.
See our deep cluster guide on the U Visa Bona Fide Determination for the eligibility rules, evidence USCIS reviews, and the practical effect of the BFD.
After full U visa approval
Roughly 10 years after the original I-918 filing, USCIS reaches the case at the front of the cap line and issues the full U visa approval. The recipient then enters U nonimmigrant status formally. Three years of continuous physical presence in U status (counting much of the BFD wait time) qualifies the recipient to file Form I-485 to adjust to permanent residence under INA section 245(m).
Common pitfalls
- Stale Supplement B. The certification must be signed within 6 months of the I-918 filing. Older certifications are RFE'd.
- Missing the I-192 waiver. Petitioners with prior immigration violations or criminal history must file I-192 with the I-918. Filing without it when one is needed delays the case.
- Filing for the wrong crime. Crimes not on the statutory list, even serious ones, do not qualify. Bait-and-switch attempts (using a different crime in the petition than what was actually committed) trigger denials.
- Insufficient evidence of substantial harm. The U visa requires substantial physical or mental abuse. Generic letters are weaker than medical records, mental health evaluations, and contemporaneous police reports.
- Helpfulness gone wrong. If the victim was helpful at the time of the original report but later refuses to cooperate with subsequent law enforcement requests, the certification can be withdrawn.
Frequently asked questions
What is Form I-918?
Form I-918, Petition for U Nonimmigrant Status, is the application by which a victim of a qualifying crime applies for U visa classification. The U visa protects crime victims who have suffered substantial physical or mental abuse and who help law enforcement investigate or prosecute the crime. Form I-918 is filed with USCIS along with Form I-918 Supplement B, signed by a qualifying law enforcement certifier, and any required derivative supplements.
Is there a filing fee for Form I-918?
No. There is no filing fee for Form I-918 itself, including the Supplement A derivative applications. Applicants who are also requesting a Form I-192 admissibility waiver pay the I-192 fee separately, currently $930, though USCIS waives that fee for VAWA, U, and T cases in most circumstances. Always verify current fees at uscis.gov/i-918.
Who can file Form I-918?
Three categories: a direct victim of a qualifying crime; an indirect victim where the direct victim is deceased, incapacitated, or a minor under 16; and a bystander victim who suffered unusually direct injury from witnessing the qualifying crime. The list of qualifying crimes includes domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, kidnapping, extortion, witness tampering, and more than two dozen others. See INA section 101(a)(15)(U) for the full list.
What is the I-918 Supplement B?
Form I-918 Supplement B, Declaration of Law Enforcement Officer for Victim of Trafficking in Persons, is the certification that the petitioner has been, is, or is likely to be helpful in the investigation or prosecution of the qualifying crime. It is signed by an authorized official at the law enforcement agency (typically police, sheriff, prosecutor, or sometimes a state attorney general or judge). The Supplement B must be signed within 6 months of the I-918 filing. Without a valid Supplement B, USCIS will not approve the U visa.
How long does Form I-918 take?
Full U visa approval currently takes around 10 years from filing because of the 10,000-per-year statutory cap. However, USCIS now issues a Bona Fide Determination roughly 5 to 6 years after filing, granting the petitioner a 4-year EAD and deferred action against removal. See our companion guide on the U Visa Bona Fide Determination for details on this critical earlier benefit.
Can my family come with me on a U visa?
Yes, through derivative classifications on Form I-918 Supplement A. Eligible derivatives include: spouse and unmarried children under 21 of the principal; and (if the principal is under 21) parents and unmarried siblings under 18. Each derivative needs a separate Supplement A. Derivatives in the U.S. receive the same Bona Fide Determination benefits as the principal.
What is Form I-192 and when do I need it?
Form I-192, Application for Advance Permission to Enter as a Nonimmigrant, is the admissibility waiver U visa applicants file when they have grounds of inadmissibility (such as prior overstay, EWI, fraud, or certain criminal history). The I-192 is filed alongside the I-918 and is adjudicated together. USCIS approves the I-192 generously in U visa cases because the underlying purpose is humanitarian. The I-192 fee is normally $930 but USCIS waives it in U cases.
Does U visa approval lead to a green card?
Yes, eventually. After U status is granted, the recipient must maintain U status (including continuing to assist law enforcement if requested) and accumulate three years of continuous physical presence. After those three years, the U recipient can apply for adjustment of status to lawful permanent residence on Form I-485 under INA section 245(m). Because of the long wait between filing and U approval (about 10 years currently), most U applicants reach permanent residence about 13 years after their original I-918 filing.
Go deeper
For deeper analysis of the U visa process, see our cluster guides on the U Visa Bona Fide Determination, the U Visa Certification Process, and our U and T Visas pillar. For a parallel humanitarian path, see VAWA Eligibility Requirements. Return to the Immigration Glossary hub for other terms.
Talk to a Claxton Law immigration attorney
U visa petitions are evidence-intensive and procedurally complex. The petition you file today shapes the Bona Fide Determination timeline, the full U visa approval, and ultimately the green card. Claxton Law represents U visa petitioners from securing the Supplement B certification through full adjustment to permanent residence. All consultations are confidential.