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U-Visa and T-Visa certification
U-Visa
A U-Visa is administered by the Department of Homeland Security, providing immigration protection for victims and their qualifying family members of qualifying crimes, who are helpful to law enforcement in the detection, investigation or prosecuting of criminal activity.
The U-Visa generally allows victims to remain and work in the U.S. for 4 years, although in some cases this may be extended.
T-Visa
A T-Visa provides immigration benefits to victims of trafficking and their qualifying family members. U.S. federal law lists sex trafficking and labor trafficking as a “severe form of trafficking in persons”.
Sex trafficking: When someone recruits, harbors, transports, provides, solicits, patronizes, or obtains a person for the purpose of a commercial sex act, where the commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or the person being induced to perform such act is under 18 years of age; or
Labor trafficking: When someone recruits, harbors, transports, provides, or obtains a person for labor or services through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery.
Our office is only able to assist with T-Visas that are sought relevant to a trafficking crime in our office.
What we do
Our role in the U-Visa and T-Visa application process is limited to that of any certifying agency. A certifying agency for completing the form I-918B, Petition for Nonimmigrant Status Certification, can be any federal, state, tribal, territorial, or local law enforcement agency, prosecutor, judge, or other authority with the authority to:
- Detect
- Investigate
- Prosecute qualifying crimes or convicts or sentences the perpetrator of the qualifying crime or crimes (in the case of our office)
Certifying agencies can also be agencies with criminal investigative jurisdiction, such as child and adult protective services, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and federal and state Departments of Labor.
List of qualifying crimes on the Law Enforcement Resource Guide
Cases from the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office
Criminal cases that have been filed in the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office may be certified through our office. We must be able to confirm victim cooperation and participation in the prosecution of the qualifying crime.
If the case was not filed in the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, the application must include a signed certification from the law enforcement agency where the crime occurred or from another certifying agency.
Law enforcement must be able to confirm victim cooperation with the law enforcement investigation.
Find certifying law enforcement agencies in Washington and how to contact them
How to request certification through our office
Once the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office receives your application, we will edit and add information as necessary.
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Download the correct supplement B Form
Be mindful of the expiration date on the top right corner of the form, as the application is updated every so often.
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Complete the supplement B form as an editable PDF
If you need assistance during the application process, contact:
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Submit your paperwork
Email your cover letter and the completed form as an editable PDF to paovau-adult@kingcounty.gov.
If you have questions, email or call 206-477-3743 to reach the Victim Assistance Unit.
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Your application is reviewed and processed
King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has 90 days to review and process the application, then send it to the correct certifying official for review. In some urgent cases, such as when the victim is in federal immigration removal proceedings, it is required that we execute the certification within 14 days of receiving the request (RCW 7.98.020).
Immigration resources
Peace in the Home Helpline
Phone: 1 (888) 847-7205
Connects callers to an advocate that speaks their language. This is an automated system: wait until you hear your language and select that language.
Languages available:
- Amharic
- Chinese
- Japanese
- Khmer
- Lao
- Russian
- Romanian
- Somali
- Spanish
- Tagalog
- Thai
- Tigrigna
- Ukrainian
- Vietnamese
Websites
- Visit the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement website to find out if someone is in immigration custody
- Immigration and Customs Enforcement: Know Your Rights
- Financial Help for Immigrants for financial help available in Washington and other states for immigrants
Community partners
Colectiva Legal del Pueblo
Phone: 206-931-1514
Collective Legal del Pueblo website
Provides immigration-related legal advice, information, representation and education to low-income Washington State residents. U-Visa and T-Visa information available.
Northwest Immigrant Rights Project
Phone: 206-587-4009 or 1-800-445-5771
Provides immigration-related legal advice, information, representation, and education to low-income Washington State residents. U-Visa and T-Visa information available.
U-Visa Information from King County Sheriff
Phone: 206-263-3199
Email: KCSOUvisa@kingcounty.gov
King County Sheriff immigration webpage
U-Visa Information from Seattle Police Department
Phone: 206-233-5141
WashingtonLawHelp.org
Washington Law Help U-Visas webpage
Frequently asked questions and other information regarding U-Visas, the application process, qualifying crimes and eligibility.
Washington State Department of Commerce
Safety and Access for Immigrant Victims Program webpage
Offers helpful resources in several languages, links to find a certifying agency, and information on free or low-cost legal service providers.