Can Teachers Qualify for a U Visa in the U.S.
If you’re an international teacher working in the U.S., you’re likely focused on teaching, growing, and figuring out your long-term visa options. But what happens if you’re a victim of a serious crime during your stay?
There’s a lesser-known but powerful immigration option called the U visa—created to protect non-citizens who’ve experienced specific crimes and are willing to cooperate with law enforcement.
What Is a U Visa?
The U visa is a humanitarian visa offered to victims of certain qualifying crimes who:
- Suffered substantial physical or mental abuse
- Possess information about the crime
- Are willing to assist law enforcement in the investigation or prosecution
If granted, the U visa provides:
- Lawful stay in the U.S. for up to 4 years
- A work permit
- A path to a green card after 3 years
Importantly, U visa eligibility is not dependent on your current immigration status. You may qualify even if you’re out of status, and the 212(e) rule does not apply to U visa cases.
Qualifying Crimes Teachers Could Realistically Face
Here are the most relevant U visa qualifying crimes that may apply in a teacher’s context:
1. Domestic Violence
If you are in an abusive relationship while in the U.S.—even if the abuse is from your J-2 dependent spouse—you may qualify for a U visa. The abuse must be reported to law enforcement, and you must cooperate in the investigation or prosecution.
2. Sexual Assault or Harassment
If you experience sexual assault or serious sexual harassment in your school, housing, or community, and report it to the authorities, this may qualify. Substantial emotional or psychological harm, even without physical injury, can support your case.
3. Stalking (Including Online Harassment)
If someone repeatedly follows, contacts, or threatens you—in person or online—and it causes ongoing fear for your safety, this may qualify as stalking. The harassment must be reported, and you must cooperate with any law enforcement investigation.
4. Felonious Assault
If you are physically attacked—by a student, parent, or stranger—and it results in significant physical or emotional harm, you may qualify.
Examples may include:
- Being punched, hit, or attacked and needing medical attention
- Being threatened with a weapon
- Suffering trauma that is later diagnosed by a mental health professional
To qualify, the assault must be considered a felony under U.S. law and be reported to police.
5. Witness Tampering or Obstruction of Justice
If you report a crime or misconduct and are later threatened, harassed, or intimidated in an attempt to silence you, you may be eligible under these categories—especially if it interferes with a legal investigation.
What Crimes Do Not Usually Qualify?
- Car accidents (unless they involved intentional harm or were part of a larger crime)
- Theft or robbery (unless combined with assault or serious harm)
- General job-related stress, contract issues, or poor housing conditions
- Verbal abuse without physical threat or trauma
What Makes a Case Eligible?
To qualify for a U visa, all of the following must apply:
- You were a victim of a qualifying crime in the U.S.
- You suffered substantial physical or emotional harm
- You reported the crime to law enforcement
- You are (or were) helpful in the investigation or prosecution
- A law enforcement agency is willing to sign a U visa certification form (Form I-918B)
How Long Does It Take?
U visa applications can take several years to be approved due to the annual cap. However, you may receive deferred action and a work permit while your case is pending, once placed on the waitlist.
What Should You Do Next
If you believe you might qualify for a U visa:
- Contact a licensed immigration attorney with U visa experience
- Gather police reports, medical records, or other documentation of the harm
- Reach out to the law enforcement agency to request Form I-918B certification
If you’d like to be connected with legal help or learn more, you can also email us at apply@teach-usa.net with the subject: U Visa Help
No one expects to need protection. But if you do, the U visa might be the safety net you didn’t know existed. And you don’t have to face it alone.