Administered by the Department of Homeland Security, a U-Visa allows immigration protection for victims of qualifying crimes and their qualifying family members (as appropriate), who are helpful to law enforcement in the detention, investigation or prosecution of criminal activity. This is a temporary visa that can be valid up to four years, and in some cases may be extended.
U-Visas are not automatic, and can only be granted if the appropriate paperwork is sent to Homeland Security via the law enforcement agency where the criminal activity occurred.
If the incident(s) occurred within the jurisdiction of the Edmonds Police Department, then applicants submit their completed I-918 documents for certification. The certifying official is Chief Michelle D. Bennett.
In order to certify a petition, the petitioner should submit evidence, attached to their petition, of their cooperation with law enforcement. The officers or detectives involved must concur that a U-Visa applicant has both cooperated with law enforcement and will cooperate in any subsequent prosecution before Chief Bennett certifies the application.
Requests should be forwarded to Administrative Commander Shane Hawley, for research and processing. Approved files will then be forwarded to Chief Bennett for final authorization/signature of certification.
The Edmonds Police Department is under no legal obligation to sign off on a declaration and may do so at its discretion. Certification does not automatically grant an immigration benefit. Without law enforcement certification, the U-Visa will be denied.
For more information on the process and forms required, please visit https://www.uscis.gov/i-918
Forward requests to the following address:
Edmonds Police Department
Attn: Cdr Shane Hawley
250 5th AVE N
Edmonds, WA 98020
For questions email [email protected] or telephone: (425) 771-0200.