Congress created the U nonimmigrant visa with the passage of the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act (including the Battered Immigrant Women’s Protection Act) in October 2000. The legislation was intended to strengthen the ability of law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute cases of domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking of aliens and other crimes, while also protecting victims of crimes who have suffered substantial mental or physical abuse due to the crime and are willing to help law enforcement authorities in the investigation or prosecution of the criminal activity. The legislation also helps law enforcement agencies to better serve victims of crimes.
The Solicitor’s Office will review all requests for U Visa Certification to determine if the applicant was a victim on a State Court case that was being prosecuted by this office and whether the victim was cooperative with the investigation and prosecution of the crime. In addition, the applicant must have been a victim of the crime of domestic violence, and the case must have been resolved by going to trial, with the defendant entering the Pre-trial Diversion Program, and/or a conviction. The Gwinnett County Solicitor’s Office reserves the right to decline certification requests of those applicants who fail to meet these criteria.
Applications for U Visa Certification WILL NOT BE REVIEWED UNLESS ACCOMPANIED BY:
1. A copy of the police department incident report;
2. The State Court case number;
3. Contact information for the applicant or his or her representative;
4. A self-addressed stamped envelope.
U Visa Certification Application Requests should be sent to:
Juliana Franco
Director, Victim Services
Gwinnett County Solicitor’s Office
75 Langley Drive
Lawrenceville, Georgia 30046
