U and T Visa Submission Process

Certification Request while pending court case

For LAPD to review your case for certification, your case must meet the following criteria:

1. The case was handled by the LAPD. Having a report number (i.e. Department of Record number DR#) or copy of the report will facilitate the process.

2. You or your client was a victim of a qualifying crime.

3. You or your client was helpful, is helpful, or is likely to be helpful to law enforcement in the investigation or prosecution of the crime. If you or your client was under the age of 16 or unable to provide information due to a disability during the time of the crime, a parent, guardian, or next friend may assist law enforcement on their behalf. As per California Law, helpfulness is presumed if, your client has not refused to provide information reasonably requested by law enforcement or the prosecutor’s office (District Attorney or City Attorney). (See Cal. Penal Code Section 679.10 for further information)

 

Procedure for Submission

If you would like the LAPD to review you or your client’s U Visa Law Enforcement Certification request, please follow the procedure outlined below. Failure to follow the correct procedure may cause delay in the review of your request.

Requests should be submitted at the investigating division in person, by United States Postal Service (USPS), private courier, or email.

A list of the divisional email address can be found here.

Mailing addresses for LAPD Community Police Stations can be found here.

If you have a question as to what division handled the investigation, you can email UVISA@lapd.online.

For purposes of our meeting the time deadlines contained in Penal Code Section 679.10, we consider the day of our receipt of the request by the U Visa Coordinator at the investigating division to be day 1 of 30, or day 1 of 7 if applicant is in removal proceedings, as defined by the statute.

 

Include the following information in your request:

  • ­ Name of victim/client and any “other names used”­
  •  Victim’s date of birth
  • ­ Government issued identification
  • ­ LAPD DR number or incident number, if known
  • ­ Name of suspect, if known
  • ­ Suspect’s date of birth, if known­
  • Indicate if applicant is in removal proceedings

 

Review Process

Upon receipt of your request, we will:

1. Verify the crime was investigated by the receiving division
2. Ensure all information requested was provided
3. Pull related reports and notes
4. Review all information to determine if the applicant qualifies

 

Certification

If the applicant qualifies, we will complete an I-918, Supplement B Certification and mail it to the applicant or attorney by U.S. Mail at the address provided.  If you prefer Overnight Mail or some other service, please provide a prepaid addressed envelope.

  • If you want to pick up the paperwork, please provide us with your contact information.
  • If you want us to send a copy by email, please provide us with your email information.

 

Denial

If, after our review of the case file, it appears that the applicant does not qualify, we will complete a denial letter and mail it to the applicant or attorney.

If you do not agree with the decision, you can submit an appeal request. All appeals are reviewed by the Department U Visa Coordinator. Appeal requests can be submitted via mail to 100 W. 1st Street, Los Angeles, California 90012 or email at UVISA@lapd.online.

 

​

​