U-Visa

Administered by the Department of Homeland Security, a U-Visa allows immigration protection for victims of qualifying crimes and their qualifying family members (as appropriate), who are helpful to law enforcement in the detention, investigation or prosecution of criminal activity. This is a temporary visa that can be valid up to four years, and in some cases may be extended.

U-Visa’s are not automatic, and can only be granted if the appropriate paperwork is sent to Homeland Security via the law enforcement agency where the criminal activity occurred.

If the incident(s) occurred within the jurisdiction of the City of Snohomish, then applicants submit their completed I-918 documents for certification. The certifying official is Chief Rob Palmer. 

In order to certify a petition, the petitioner should submit evidence, attached to their petition, of their cooperation with law enforcement. The officers or detectives involved must concur that a U-Visa applicant has both cooperated with law enforcement and will cooperate in any subsequent prosecution before Chief Palmer certifies the application.

Requests should be forwarded to Heather Craig, Lead Law Enforcement Technician, for research and processing. Approved files will then be forwarded to Chief Palmer for final authorization/signature of certification.

The Snohomish Police Department is under no legal obligation to sign off on a declaration and may do so at its discretion. Certification does not automatically grant an immigration benefit. Without law enforcement certification, the U-Visa will be denied. 

RESOURCES - Department of Commerce

For more information on the process and forms required, please visit http://www.uscis.gov/i-918

Forward requests to the following address:
Snohomish Police Department
Attn: Heather Craig
230 Maple Ave.
Snohomish, WA 98290
Phone: 425-388-6278

For questions email SnohomishPD@Snoco.Org or telephone: (425) 388-6278 during normal business hours.

To find out if someone is in immigration custody:

https://locator.ice.gov/odls/homePage.do

Immigration and Customs Enforcement: Know Your Rights:

https://www.nwirp.org/resources/know-your-rights/

About the many VISAs available:

For a comparison chart of the different visas available to victims of crime, click here

For an interactive graphic describing the different VISAs available, click here