United States•North America

Open

U-2 — Spouse of U-1 Crime Victim

Residency Pathway PR PathwayThis visa can lead to permanent residency, the right to live and work here indefinitely without renewing your visa. Remote Work

At a Glance

Processing Time

5–10 years

Application Fee

435 USD

Stay Duration

49 months

Renewable

No dependents

PR pathway

No job offer needed

Remote work OK

Official Information

Living in United States

Cost of Living

Baseline

Avg Salary$51,000

Quality of Life

186/200

Full Country Guide

Overview

Spouse of a principal U-1 crime victim.

766 chars — 3 paragraphs P1=286 P2=317 P3=159; starts P3 with 'This visa is ideal for'

Fee Breakdown

I-918 Supplement A petition (USCIS)0 USD

I-192 waiver (if inadmissibility grounds apply)0 USD

I-765 Employment Authorization Document0 USD

optional

DS-160 MRV fee (consular processing abroad only)185 USD

Visa Integrity Fee (consular processing abroad only)250 USD

Stay & Extensions

Initial grant

4.0 years

Annual Cap & Quota

No cap on derivatives; U-1 principals subject to 10,000/year statutory cap

Requirements

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Principal U-1 petitioner must have an approved or pending I-918 petition

Must be the legal spouse of the U-1 principal petitioner

Must be admissible to the US or obtain Form I-192 waiver

Eligible regardless of principal petitioner's age (unlike some other derivative categories)

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Completed Form I-918, Supplement A

Evidence of qualifying relationship (e.g., marriage certificate)

Copy of principal's I-918 petition and any I-797 receipt/approval notices

Form I-192 waiver package (if inadmissible)

Valid passport (6+ months validity for consular processing)

DS-160 confirmation page (if consular processing)

Biometrics

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

No USCIS filing fees for any associated forms
Work authorized incident to status (EAD obtainable at no cost)
Clear pathway to green card after 3 years of continuous US presence
Derivatives are not subject to the 10,000/year U-1 cap
Deferred action and EAD available while on waiting list
Nearly all criminal inadmissibility grounds are waivable
No nonimmigrant intent requirement (dual intent effectively permitted)

Worth Knowing

Requires an approved or pending U-1 petition from the principal crime victim
Processing is currently very slow due to U-1 cap backlog (multi-year waits common)
Bona Fide Determination streamlined process was suspended February 4, 2025; all petitions now process in receipt-date order
Extensions beyond 4 years only available in limited circumstances
Absolute bars to inadmissibility waiver exist for murder and criminal acts involving torture

Application Process

Principal U-1 victim files Form I-918 with USCIS

Principal files Form I-918, Supplement A for each qualifying family member including spouse

File Form I-192 if any grounds of inadmissibility apply to the derivative

Submit biometrics at an Application Support Center

If cap is reached, applicant is placed on waiting list and may receive deferred action with EAD eligibility

Upon approval, file Form I-765 (no fee) to receive physical EAD card

If abroad after I-797 approval, file DS-160 and schedule consular interview for visa stamp

Application Forms

I-918 Petition for U Nonimmigrant Status	Fill online
I-192 Application for Advance Permission to Enter as a Nonimmigrant (Inadmissibility Waiver)	Fill online
I-765 Application for Employment Authorization	Fill online
DS-160 Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application	Fill online
I-539 Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status	Fill online

Verified Claims (38)

Last verified May 30, 2026

Annual Allocation

No cap on derivatives; U-1 principals subject to 10,000/year statutory cap

travel.state.gov

Application Steps

Principal U-1 victim files Form I-918 with USCIS; Principal files Form I-918, Supplement A for each …

uscis.gov

Blockers

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uscis.gov

Can Convert To

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uscis.gov

Living in United States

Cost of Living

Baseline

Avg Salary$51,000

Quality of Life

186/200

Full Country Guide

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Requirements

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Principal U-1 petitioner must have an approved or pending I-918 petition

Must be the legal spouse of the U-1 principal petitioner

Must be admissible to the US or obtain Form I-192 waiver

Eligible regardless of principal petitioner's age (unlike some other derivative categories)

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Completed Form I-918, Supplement A

Evidence of qualifying relationship (e.g., marriage certificate)

Copy of principal's I-918 petition and any I-797 receipt/approval notices

Form I-192 waiver package (if inadmissible)

Valid passport (6+ months validity for consular processing)

DS-160 confirmation page (if consular processing)

Biometrics

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

No USCIS filing fees for any associated forms
Work authorized incident to status (EAD obtainable at no cost)
Clear pathway to green card after 3 years of continuous US presence
Derivatives are not subject to the 10,000/year U-1 cap
Deferred action and EAD available while on waiting list
Nearly all criminal inadmissibility grounds are waivable
No nonimmigrant intent requirement (dual intent effectively permitted)

Worth Knowing

Requires an approved or pending U-1 petition from the principal crime victim
Processing is currently very slow due to U-1 cap backlog (multi-year waits common)
Bona Fide Determination streamlined process was suspended February 4, 2025; all petitions now process in receipt-date order
Extensions beyond 4 years only available in limited circumstances
Absolute bars to inadmissibility waiver exist for murder and criminal acts involving torture

Application Process

Principal U-1 victim files Form I-918 with USCIS

Principal files Form I-918, Supplement A for each qualifying family member including spouse

File Form I-192 if any grounds of inadmissibility apply to the derivative

Submit biometrics at an Application Support Center

If cap is reached, applicant is placed on waiting list and may receive deferred action with EAD eligibility

Upon approval, file Form I-765 (no fee) to receive physical EAD card

If abroad after I-797 approval, file DS-160 and schedule consular interview for visa stamp

Application Forms

I-918

Petition for U Nonimmigrant Status

Fill online

I-192

Application for Advance Permission to Enter as a Nonimmigrant (Inadmissibility Waiver)

Fill online

I-765

Application for Employment Authorization

Fill online

DS-160

Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application

Fill online

I-539

Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status

Fill online