U Certification Requirements
- The judge will certify that the litigant:
- was a victim of a qualifying criminal activity;
- possesses information about the criminal activity; and
- “has been helpful, is helpful or is likely to be helpful” in the investigation of the qualifying crime(s).
- The victim has not refused or failed to provide information and assistance reasonably requested.
- Judges can certify multiple categories of qualifying criminal activity, such as domestic violence or child abuse.
- The statutory citations for qualifying criminal activity may simply list the relevant article of the Family Court Act or Domestic Relations Law, or the New York State Penal Laws.
- For a current list of U Certification qualifying crimes, see the USCIS webpage – Victims of Criminal Activity: U Nonimmigrant Status.
