If you are a Guatemalan who suffered a crime in the United States (domestic violence, extortion, a sexual assault, involuntary servitude, or fraud in foreign labor contracting) and you helped or are willing to help the police or prosecutors, the US immigration route built for you is U nonimmigrant status, known as the U visa, requested on Form I-918. The one document you cannot file without is signed by a US official, not by you: the Supplement B certification. This guide explains who signs it, how long it stays valid, the 10,000-per-year cap and what changes when you file from Guatemala.
This is one of three humanitarian routes we cover. For the other two, see our T visa guide and our VAWA self-petition guide.
Quick summary: The U visa is for victims of a listed crime who suffered substantial physical or mental abuse and were, are or will likely be helpful to law enforcement. The crime must have occurred in the United States or violated U.S. laws. You file Form I-918 with Supplement B, a certification signed by a police agency, prosecutor, judge or an agency such as the Department of Labor or EEOC. Without it you are ineligible, and it expires six months after signature. Fees: $0 for every form through adjustment of status (the Green Card). Only 10,000 principals can be approved per year; USCIS met the fiscal 2026 cap on September 5, 2026 and from October 1, 2026 is approving petitions filed on or before August 31, 2017. You can file from Guatemala (mail goes to the USCIS Phoenix Lockbox), but the interim work permit is only for petitioners living in the US.
U visa, T visa and VAWA: which one fits
| U visa | T visa | VAWA self-petition | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main form | I-918 | I-914 | I-360 |
| Who it is for | Victim of a qualifying crime | Victim of a severe form of trafficking | Spouse or child abused by a US citizen or permanent resident; parent abused by a US citizen son or daughter aged 21 or older |
| Law-enforcement paper | Supplement B certification, required | Supplement B declaration, optional | None |
| Cooperation with police | Required (helpfulness) | Required unless under 18 or traumatized | Not part of the requirements |
| Where you must be | US or abroad | Physically present in the US on account of trafficking | US, or abroad only in three cases |
| Yearly cap | 10,000 principals | Not covered here | Not covered here |
| Fee | $0 | $0 | $0 for the I-360 |
Sources: the USCIS U, T and VAWA program pages, checked October 15, 2026. Our T visa and VAWA guides cover their columns in detail.
Who qualifies for a U visa
The USCIS U visa page lists six requirements. You may be eligible if:
- You are the victim of qualifying criminal activity.
- You suffered substantial physical or mental abuse as a result of the crime.
- You have information about the criminal activity. If you are under 16 or unable to provide information due to a disability, a parent, guardian or next friend may hold that information for you.
- You were helpful, are helpful, or are likely to be helpful to law enforcement in the investigation or prosecution. The same under-16 and disability rule applies.
- The crime occurred in the United States or violated U.S. laws.
- You are admissible to the United States, or you apply for a waiver on Form I-192, Application for Advance Permission to Enter as a Nonimmigrant.
Qualifying crimes
The USCIS list includes: abduction, abusive sexual contact, blackmail, domestic violence, extortion, false imprisonment, female genital mutilation, felonious assault, fraud in foreign labor contracting, hostage, incest, involuntary servitude, kidnapping, manslaughter, murder, obstruction of justice, peonage, perjury, prostitution, rape, sexual assault, sexual exploitation, slave trade, stalking, torture, trafficking, witness tampering, unlawful criminal restraint and other related crimes. USCIS adds that the list includes any similar activity where the elements of the crime are substantially similar, and attempt, conspiracy or solicitation to commit any of these.
For Guatemalans recruited for US jobs, the labor items on that list matter: fraud in foreign labor contracting, peonage and involuntary servitude. Unpaid wages are not named on the list; for wage claims, see our guide to unpaid wages in the US and consular help, and for injuries and dangerous conditions see unsafe US workplaces.
What about a crime suffered in Guatemala?
USCIS states the rule as “The crime occurred in the United States or violated U.S. laws”. The Form I-918 instructions explain the second half: the crime must have violated a US federal law that provides for extraterritorial jurisdiction, or occurred in the United States (including Indian country and military installations) or its territories and possessions. When the criminal activity occurred outside the United States, the instructions say evidence may include the statutory provisions providing for extraterritorial jurisdiction and documentation showing the activity violated federal law and is prosecutable in a federal court. If you fear returning to Guatemala, the route to read is asylum for Guatemalans in the US.
Supplement B: the certification that makes or breaks the case
Form I-918, Supplement B, U Nonimmigrant Status Certification, is completed by the US official, not by you. The Supplement B instructions (edition 01/20/25) set three hard rules:
- It is required. Completing it is at the certifying agency’s discretion, but “without a completed Supplement B, the petitioner will be ineligible for U nonimmigrant status”.
- It expires. Once the official completes it, “it will be valid for six months from the date of signature”. If you do not file Form I-918 within six months, you need a new Supplement B from the certifying agency.
- It must be original. The instructions say each Supplement B must be properly signed and filed, and that USCIS will not accept a photocopy of the signature page or a typewritten name in place of a signature.
Who can sign it
| Role | Who qualifies (Supplement B instructions) |
|---|---|
| Certifying agency | A federal, state, local or tribal law enforcement agency; prosecutor; authority; or federal, state or local judge responsible for the detection, investigation, prosecution, conviction or sentencing of the crime |
| Agencies named as examples | Child Protective Services, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Department of Labor |
| Certifying official | The head of the certifying agency, or a person in a supervisory role specifically designated by the head to issue U certifications |
| Judges | A federal, state or local judge can sign as certifying official |
| If the head did not sign | Attach the agency head’s written designation of the certifying official |
The Department of Labor and the EEOC are named in the instructions as examples of certifying agencies, so a certification request is not limited to the police.
Forms and fees
| Form | What it does | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| I-918 | Petition for U nonimmigrant status (principal) | $0 |
| I-918, Supplement A | Petition for a qualifying family member | $0 |
| I-918, Supplement B | Certification completed and signed by the certifying official | Filed with your I-918 |
| I-192 | Waiver if you are inadmissible | $0 for U petitioners |
| I-765 | Work permit (bona fide or waiting list) | $0 for the initial and renewal bona fide or waiting-list work permit |
The USCIS U visa page says U petitioners and U nonimmigrants are fee exempt for all forms through adjustment of status, and the I-918 page says USCIS does not charge a fee for Form I-918 and the initial Form I-765 associated with it. The I-918 page lists edition 01/20/25 and says that edition may still be used despite the expiration date. You do not need a fee waiver (Form I-912) for these forms.
The I-918 checklist asks for: the completed Supplement B; evidence you are a victim of a qualifying crime; evidence of substantial physical or mental abuse; evidence you have information about the crime and that it is qualifying and violated US law or occurred in the US; evidence of helpfulness; a personal statement; Form I-192 if inadmissible; and, for each family member on Supplement A, credible documentation of the relationship.
Where to mail Form I-918 (since October 7, 2026)
The I-918 page says USCIS changed the filing location on October 7, 2026, with a 30-day grace period for forms postmarked on or before November 9, 2026 and sent to a prior location.
| You live in | Mail to |
|---|---|
| Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas | USCIS Dallas Lockbox |
| Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin | USCIS Chicago Lockbox |
| Outside the United States (for example, Guatemala) | USCIS Phoenix Lockbox |
If you live in a US state not listed in the table above, check the Where to File section of the USCIS I-918 page for your filing location.
Phoenix Lockbox by US Postal Service: USCIS, Attn: 1367, P.O. Box 20020, Phoenix, AZ 85036-0020. By FedEx, UPS or DHL: USCIS, Attn: 1367 (Box 20020), 2108 E. Elliot Rd., Tempe, AZ 85284-1806. The other addresses are on the USCIS I-918 page.
The older USCIS U visa overview page (last reviewed December 22, 2025) still says U petitions are filed with the Vermont Service Center. The I-918 form page is the newer of the two (last reviewed October 9, 2026); follow it.
The 10,000 cap, the waiting list and the bona fide work permit
The U visa page sets the limit: “The limit on the number of U visas that may be granted to principal petitioners each year is 10,000”. There is no cap for family members deriving status from the principal. When the cap is reached, USCIS keeps a waiting list; people on it get deferred action or parole and can apply for a work permit while waiting.
The current numbers, from the I-918 alert:
| Item | Status on the I-918 page (last reviewed October 9, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Fiscal year 2026 cap | Met as of September 5, 2026 |
| Past years | “We have met this cap every year since fiscal year 2010” |
| Approvals since October 1, 2026 | Starting with petitions filed on or before August 31, 2017, oldest first |
Bona fide determination. For petitioners living in the US, USCIS reviews whether the petition is bona fide: Form I-918 properly filed, a properly completed Supplement B, a personal statement, and background check results based on biometrics. If granted, you get a work permit and deferred action valid for 4 years. USCIS recommends filing Form I-765 together with Form I-918.
Filing from Guatemala
The USCIS U visa page says you may petition from outside the United States. You must file all the forms according to the instructions, follow USCIS instructions that include having your fingerprints taken at the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate, and, if approved, go through consular processing, which includes an interview with a consular officer. Two limits apply to people in Guatemala:
- The interim work permit is US-only. The I-918 page says: “We do not consider principal petitioners and qualifying family members living outside of the United States for a bona fide determination”, because USCIS cannot provide deferred action or work authorization to people outside the US.
- The Form I-918 instructions say derivative family members living outside the United States are not eligible for work authorization until they lawfully enter the United States.
Your Supplement B still has to come from a certifying agency as defined above. Your Guatemalan documents (birth certificates for Supplement A family members, for example) need a full English translation with the translator’s certification that it is complete and accurate and that the translator is competent; see our RENAP certificate translation template for USCIS. If you need a lawyer in Guatemala for local documents, see hiring a lawyer in Guatemala from the USA.
Family members
Family members can get a derivative U visa only after the principal’s petition is approved. File Form I-918, Supplement A, with your petition or later.
| Principal’s age on the date USCIS receives Form I-918 | You may petition for |
|---|---|
| Under 21 | Spouse, unmarried children under 21, parents and unmarried siblings under 18 |
| 21 or older | Spouse and unmarried children under 21 |
After approval
- Validity: U status is valid for four years. Extensions are possible if law enforcement requests one, for exceptional circumstances, for consular processing delays, or automatically while a Green Card application is pending.
- Work: principals get a work permit automatically on approval without filing Form I-765; derivatives in the US must file Form I-765 to get the card.
- Green Card: you may be eligible after at least three years of continuous physical presence in the US in U status, if you have not unreasonably refused to assist law enforcement since receiving the U visa. Family members who never had U status may still qualify through Form I-929; those outside the US must first get an immigrant visa at a US embassy or consulate.
Safety and confidentiality
If receiving USCIS mail at home is unsafe, you can give a safe address in the mailing address field; you do not have to live there. USCIS says information about a U petition is strictly confidential and protected by law, and DHS may not deny a petition based on evidence provided solely by your abuser or other prohibited sources, unless a statutory exception applies. If a relative is detained or hospitalized in the US, see consular assistance if detained or hospitalized; for consulate contacts see our consulates hub.
Sources
- USCIS, Victims of Criminal Activity: U Nonimmigrant Status (last reviewed 12/22/2025): https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/victims-of-criminal-activity-u-nonimmigrant-status
- USCIS, Form I-918 page (last reviewed 10/09/2026): https://www.uscis.gov/i-918
- USCIS, Instructions for Form I-918, Supplement B (edition 01/20/25): https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/i-918supbinstr.pdf
- USCIS, Instructions for Form I-918 and Supplement A (edition 01/20/25): https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/i-918instr.pdf
All sources checked October 15, 2026. This page explains official rules; it is not legal advice. More US immigration guides for Guatemalans are in our diaspora section.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who qualifies for a U visa?
Per the USCIS U visa page (last reviewed December 22, 2025): you were the victim of a qualifying crime, you suffered substantial physical or mental abuse as a result, you have information about the crime, you were, are or are likely to be helpful to law enforcement in the investigation or prosecution, the crime occurred in the United States or violated U.S. laws, and you are admissible to the United States or apply for a waiver on Form I-192.
Who signs the U visa certification (Form I-918 Supplement B)?
A certifying official of a certifying agency. The Supplement B instructions define the agency as a federal, state, local or tribal law enforcement agency, prosecutor, authority, or federal, state or local judge responsible for the detection, investigation, prosecution, conviction or sentencing of the crime, including agencies such as Child Protective Services, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Department of Labor. The signer is the head of the agency, a supervisor specifically designated in writing by the head, or a federal, state or local judge.
Can I file a U visa without the police certification?
No. The Supplement B instructions say completing it is at the certifying agency’s discretion, but without a completed Supplement B the petitioner is ineligible for U nonimmigrant status. The certification is valid for six months from the date the official signs it, so Form I-918 has to be filed inside that window or you need a new Supplement B.
How much does a U visa cost?
$0. The USCIS U visa page says U petitions are fee exempt, and that U petitioners and U nonimmigrants are fee exempt for all forms through adjustment of status. The I-918 page adds that USCIS does not charge a fee for Form I-918 or for the initial Form I-765 work permit application associated with it.
How long is the U visa wait?
Only 10,000 principal U visas can be granted each year. The I-918 page (last reviewed October 9, 2026) says USCIS met the fiscal year 2026 cap on September 5, 2026, and that from October 1, 2026 it resumed approvals starting with petitions filed on or before August 31, 2017. Petitioners in the US can receive a work permit and deferred action earlier through the bona fide determination or the waiting list.
I was a crime victim in the US but now live in Guatemala. Can I still apply?
Yes. The USCIS U visa page says you may petition from outside the United States: you file the forms, have your fingerprints taken at the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate when USCIS instructs you, and if approved you go through consular processing with an interview. The I-918 page sends mail filings from outside the United States to the USCIS Phoenix Lockbox. The bona fide work permit and deferred action are only for petitioners living in the US.
Does a crime I suffered in Guatemala qualify?
Only if it fits the USCIS rule: the crime must have occurred in the United States or violated U.S. laws. The Form I-918 instructions say that for criminal activity outside the United States, evidence may include the statutory provisions giving extraterritorial jurisdiction and documentation that the crime violated federal law and is prosecutable in a federal court.
