This article will help you understand how United States Citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents can petition for specific relatives to lawfully immigrate to the United States with the possibility of obtaining a green card.

Congress created the U-Visa as part of the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000, title V, Pub. L. No. 106-386, 114 Stat. 1464, 1218-37. The Congressional mission to be achieved was to "strengthen the ability of law enforcement agencies to detect, investigate, and prosecute cases of domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking of aliens, and other crimes. . . while offering protection to victims of such offenses. . . ."