The U Visa – the specific kind of nonimmigrant visa that has been set aside for victims of specific crimes within the US – can be a huge relief to the people who need it. Being able to remain in the US for up to four years can be a huge boon, especially after a major crime has impacted your life.
However, like any visa, there is a wait time to worry about. While it is easy to get disheartened about having to wait, you do not necessarily need to stick to the time that you have been given – and there can be a few ways to speed things up.
But how do you get a U visa faster, and what should you look out for if you need quick U visa acceptance?
Getting Your U Visa and EAD Work Permit Faster
One of the advantages of the U visa system is that you can get an EAD work permit that lasts for three years, allowing you to get a job and work like any other US citizen. However, this is subject to its own wait times too, with some customers waiting months for theirs.
Thankfully, there are ways around this. Several third-party companies and services aim to make this process faster by acting as a kind of representative for your application case, demanding a faster response from the US Government in the hopes of getting your visa and permits sooner.
While this is not the same as legal representation, it does allow you to speed up the waiting times, ensuring that you will have a good chance of getting a response quickly. Considering the circumstances of many people’s applications for a U visa, a quick reply is often invaluable to their comfort and safety.
Is Speeding Up U Visa Processing Times Allowed?
As long as you are doing everything through legal channels and not trying to go around the legal system for a faster reply, there is nothing wrong with pushing for a lower wait time or demanding a quicker response. The only real risk is that these things don’t happen, but you yourself should not get in any trouble.
Of course, if you start using underhanded tactics to try and get the visa extremely early, expect much more severe consequences. You should never be dishonest or attempt to lie about your case or the circumstances that have led to your application, and especially you should not try to get a visa through illegal means.
Taking legal steps to try and accelerate your application is the best way to ensure that you will have a response quickly. This might mean that it is best to work with professionals who can offer legal ways to reduce U visa processing times rather than attempting to do it on your own.
Remember: while a long wait can unfortunately be quite common, that waiting time is not set in stone. With the right support targeted at the right places, you can legitimately and legally demand a faster response, with a very good chance of success if you have an expert helping you to do it correctly.
