Knudson and Associates is excited to announce that on April 30, 2021, the Colorado Senate passed the U Visa Certification Requirements Bill (HB21-1060) that will improve immigrant victims’ access to critical immigration status when they assist law enforcement. The bill was first approved by the Colorado House and is now headed for signature by Governor Polis.
U visa applicants, having been victims of crimes, must request and receive a certification form from a certifying agency involved in their case in order to apply for lawful immigration status. The new law, when signed by Governor Polis, will provide a timeframe in which the certifying law enforcement agency must consider the request for certification. It also aligns the factors that may be considered with the U visa requirements. This will make the U certification process much more consistent across all Colorado jurisdictions. The law will go into effect on September 1, 2021.
If you or someone you know does not have lawful status in the United States and has been a victim of crime, we encourage you to reach out to our office to discuss whether a U visa may be an option.