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U-4 — Parent of U-1 (if U-1 under 21)

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

1.5–10 years

Bona 1.5–3 yr · Full 5–10 yr

Application Fee

Free

Stay Duration

4 years

Not renewable

No dependents

PR pathway

No job offer needed

Remote work OK

Apply Now Official Information

Living in United States

Cost of Living

Baseline

Avg Salary$51,000

Quality of Life

186/200

Full Country Guide

Overview

Parent of a U-1 visa holder who was under 21 at time of application.

The U-4 is a US derivative nonimmigrant status for parents of U-1 crime-victim visa holders, available only when the U-1 principal was under 21 at the time of filing. It was created under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 to keep families intact while victims cooperate with law enforcement.

Status is granted for up to 4 years with work authorization via Form I-765. All fees are waived — no cost for I-918 Supplement A, I-765, I-485, or I-192. After 3 years of continuous presence in U status, the parent may file I-485 for a green card. No cap applies to derivatives.

This visa is ideal for parents of minor U-1 crime-victim holders who need legal status in the US while supporting their child's recovery and law enforcement cooperation.

Fee Breakdown

Form I-918 Supplement A (U-4 derivative petition)0 USD

Form I-765 (Employment Authorization)0 USD

Form I-192 (Inadmissibility waiver)0 USD

optional

Form I-485 (Adjustment of Status / Green Card)0 USD

optional

Processing Tracks

Bona Fide Determination (interim deferred action + EAD)	1.5–3 years
Full cap approval (U-4 status granted)	5–10 years

Stay & Extensions

Initial grant

4 years

Annual Cap & Quota

No cap for derivatives; U-1 principal capped at 10,000 per fiscal year (cap met every year since FY2010)

Requirements

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

U-1 principal must have been under 21 years old at the time the I-918 petition was filed

Must be biological, adoptive, or step-parent of the U-1 principal applicant

U-1 principal must have an approved or pending bona fide U-1 petition

Must be admissible to the United States, or obtain an I-192 inadmissibility waiver

Cannot have committed certain disqualifying crimes

Parent does not need to be a crime victim themselves

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Completed and signed Form I-918 Supplement A

Evidence of qualifying family relationship (birth certificate, adoption decree, or step-parent legal documentation)

Evidence the U-1 principal was under 21 at time of petition filing

Form I-192 and supporting documentation if parent has inadmissibility grounds

Biometrics (USCIS will schedule appointment)

For overseas parents: additional consular processing documents via US embassy

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

Completely fee-exempt — no filing fees for any form including I-485 (green card)
No annual cap for derivative U-4 petitioners
Direct green card pathway after 3 years of continuous presence in U status
Bona Fide Determination grants 4-year deferred action and work authorization while waiting for cap approval
Unrestricted open-market EAD — no employer sponsorship required
Most grounds of inadmissibility can be waived via Form I-192
Dual intent explicitly contemplated by statute — no preconceived intent bar
Parent does not need to be a crime victim to qualify

Worth Knowing

Extreme backlog — currently processing petitions filed before April 2017; effective wait is 8–9+ years
Eligibility is strictly tied to the U-1 principal being under 21 at the time the petition was filed
Status expires after 4 years; extensions are rare and require law enforcement certification or exceptional circumstances
Work authorization requires separately filing Form I-765 — it is not automatic upon approval
Status is entirely dependent on the U-1 principal maintaining their status
Adjustment of status rules for U nonimmigrants fall under INA 245(m), not 245(a) — requires careful filing approach
If parent is outside the US, consular processing timelines apply and may differ

Application Process

U-1 principal (crime victim) files Form I-918 with Form I-918 Supplement B (law enforcement certification)

Principal petitioner files Form I-918 Supplement A for the qualifying parent (U-4)

File Form I-192 alongside Supplement A if the parent has any admissibility issues

USCIS adjudicates the principal petition; if the annual cap is reached, petition enters the waiting list

USCIS issues a Bona Fide Determination — if approved, parent may receive 4-year deferred action and EAD

When the annual cap opens, USCIS approves petitions in date-of-receipt order; derivative U-4 status approved with U-1

File Form I-765 to receive physical Employment Authorization Document (EAD)

If parent is outside the US, pursue consular processing at a US embassy/consulate

After 3 years of continuous physical presence in U status, file Form I-485 to adjust to lawful permanent residence

Application Forms

Go to application portal

I-918 Petition for U Nonimmigrant Status	Fill online
I-192 Application for Advance Permission to Enter as a Nonimmigrant	Fill online
I-765 Application for Employment Authorization	Fill online
I-539 Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status	Fill online
I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status	Fill online
I-918 Supplement A Petition for Qualifying Family Member of U-1 Recipient	—

Verified Claims (26)

Last verified May 30, 2026

Application Steps

U-1 principal (crime victim) files Form I-918 with Form I-918 Supplement B (law enforcement certific…

uscis.gov

Can Convert To

—

uscis.gov

Fee Breakdown

Form I-918 Supplement A (U-4 derivative petition): 0 USD; Form I-765 (Employment Authorization): 0 U…

uscis.gov

Fees

$0 (fully fee-exempt — no filing fee for I-918 Supplement A, I-765, I-485, or I-192)

uscis.gov

Forms

I-918 Supplement A (Petition for Qualifying Family Member of U-1 Recipient — primary U-4 form); I-91…

uscis.gov

Forms · I-192 · description

Application for Advance Permission to Enter as a Nonimmigrant

uscis.gov

Forms · I-485 · description

Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status

uscis.gov

Forms · I-539 · description

Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status

uscis.gov

Apply Now Official Information

Living in United States

Cost of Living

Baseline

Avg Salary$51,000

Quality of Life

186/200

Full Country Guide

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Overview

Parent of a U-1 visa holder who was under 21 at time of application.

This visa is ideal for parents of minor U-1 crime-victim holders who need legal status in the US while supporting their child's recovery and law enforcement cooperation.

Requirements

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

U-1 principal must have been under 21 years old at the time the I-918 petition was filed

Must be biological, adoptive, or step-parent of the U-1 principal applicant

U-1 principal must have an approved or pending bona fide U-1 petition

Must be admissible to the United States, or obtain an I-192 inadmissibility waiver

Cannot have committed certain disqualifying crimes

Parent does not need to be a crime victim themselves

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Completed and signed Form I-918 Supplement A

Evidence of qualifying family relationship (birth certificate, adoption decree, or step-parent legal documentation)

Evidence the U-1 principal was under 21 at time of petition filing

Form I-192 and supporting documentation if parent has inadmissibility grounds

Biometrics (USCIS will schedule appointment)

For overseas parents: additional consular processing documents via US embassy

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

Completely fee-exempt — no filing fees for any form including I-485 (green card)
No annual cap for derivative U-4 petitioners
Direct green card pathway after 3 years of continuous presence in U status
Bona Fide Determination grants 4-year deferred action and work authorization while waiting for cap approval
Unrestricted open-market EAD — no employer sponsorship required
Most grounds of inadmissibility can be waived via Form I-192
Dual intent explicitly contemplated by statute — no preconceived intent bar
Parent does not need to be a crime victim to qualify

Worth Knowing

Extreme backlog — currently processing petitions filed before April 2017; effective wait is 8–9+ years
Eligibility is strictly tied to the U-1 principal being under 21 at the time the petition was filed
Status expires after 4 years; extensions are rare and require law enforcement certification or exceptional circumstances
Work authorization requires separately filing Form I-765 — it is not automatic upon approval
Status is entirely dependent on the U-1 principal maintaining their status
Adjustment of status rules for U nonimmigrants fall under INA 245(m), not 245(a) — requires careful filing approach
If parent is outside the US, consular processing timelines apply and may differ

Application Process

U-1 principal (crime victim) files Form I-918 with Form I-918 Supplement B (law enforcement certification)

Principal petitioner files Form I-918 Supplement A for the qualifying parent (U-4)

File Form I-192 alongside Supplement A if the parent has any admissibility issues

USCIS adjudicates the principal petition; if the annual cap is reached, petition enters the waiting list

USCIS issues a Bona Fide Determination — if approved, parent may receive 4-year deferred action and EAD

When the annual cap opens, USCIS approves petitions in date-of-receipt order; derivative U-4 status approved with U-1

File Form I-765 to receive physical Employment Authorization Document (EAD)

If parent is outside the US, pursue consular processing at a US embassy/consulate

After 3 years of continuous physical presence in U status, file Form I-485 to adjust to lawful permanent residence

Application Forms

Go to application portal

I-918

Petition for U Nonimmigrant Status

Fill online

I-192

Application for Advance Permission to Enter as a Nonimmigrant

Fill online

I-765

Application for Employment Authorization

Fill online

I-539

Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status

Fill online

I-485

Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status

Fill online

I-918 Supplement A

Petition for Qualifying Family Member of U-1 Recipient

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