U Visa Personal Statement Guide
This document is not intended as legal advice. It is merely a resource that may assist some survivors of domestic violence. Please seek a consultation with an experienced immigration attorney to explore your options and whether this applies to you.
Applicant Information:
o Emotional – ways and examples of how he has controlled you or abused you emotionally
o Financial – ways and examples of how he has controlled you or abused you financially
o Try to address both (1) how he intended to control you, and (2) how you were actually controlled by him.
Information about qualifying crime:
o When the criminal activity occurred
o Who was responsible for the criminal activity
o The events surrounding the criminal activity
o Did they come to your house to investigate? How long did it take for them to get there? How long did they stay?
o What did you say or do when you talked to them or when they came? Do you remember specific questions/answers?
o Did they conduct any further investigation?
o Did they decide to prosecute?
o Were you helpful in any other way?
o Did you ever tell them that you did not want to press charges or did not want to pursue the case?
o Have you sought counseling?
o Have you talked to friends, family members, someone at church, neighbors, etc. about what happened to you?
o How has it affected your children?
Information about your good moral character:
Information about the hardship you would suffer if you had to leave the United States:
Applicant Information:
- Who are you? How did you come to be in the United States?
- When did you meet your husband? When did you get married?
- Do you have any children?
- When did the abuse begin?
- Describe the abuse:
o Emotional – ways and examples of how he has controlled you or abused you emotionally
o Financial – ways and examples of how he has controlled you or abused you financially
o Try to address both (1) how he intended to control you, and (2) how you were actually controlled by him.
Information about qualifying crime:
- Information about the crime that you reported to the police:
o When the criminal activity occurred
o Who was responsible for the criminal activity
o The events surrounding the criminal activity
- Information about how you assisted the police:
o Did they come to your house to investigate? How long did it take for them to get there? How long did they stay?
o What did you say or do when you talked to them or when they came? Do you remember specific questions/answers?
o Did they conduct any further investigation?
o Did they decide to prosecute?
o Were you helpful in any other way?
o Did you ever tell them that you did not want to press charges or did not want to pursue the case?
- Information about how it affected you:
o Have you sought counseling?
o Have you talked to friends, family members, someone at church, neighbors, etc. about what happened to you?
o How has it affected your children?
Information about your good moral character:
- Parenting
- Employment
- Religious institution involvement
- Community organization involvement, volunteering
- Taking care of extended family members
- Criminal history (or lack of it)
Information about the hardship you would suffer if you had to leave the United States:
- Would children come with you or stay in the United States?
- Fear of abuser
- Fear of abuser’s family
- Living conditions
- Education/employment
- Ability to support self and family
- Ability to obtain services for counseling,
recovery, etc.