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OTHER ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS CITZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION STATUS

OTHER VISA STATUSES

Visa Statuses: K, S, T, U, and V

There have been several new visa categories issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) [formerly the Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS)] over the past several years.

Some categories of non-immigrant status allow the status (visa) holder to work and eventually adjust to lawful permanent residence. These categories allow the individual to apply for adjustment to Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) status after he or she has had the nonimmigrant status for a period of time.

Such visa statuses include, for example:

K status: For the spouse, child, or fiancé (e) of a U.S. citizen S status: For informants providing evidence for a criminal investigation. Also known as the “Snitch Visa”.

T status: For victims of Trafficking.* U status: For victims or witnesses of specified crimes (who have suffered substantial physical or mental abuse and agrees to cooperate with the government) V status: For spouses and children of LPR’s whose visa petitions have been pending for at least three years.

[Law found at 8 U.S.C. section 1101 (a)(15)(K), (S), (T), (U), and (V).]

*Victims of Trafficking receive benefits to the same extent as refugees (06 OMM INF-5). (See OTHER ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING) . MRG