Form I-918, Petition for U Nonimmigrant Status

What is Form I-918?

Who needs to file Form I-918?

When to file Form I-918

Documents you need

• Supplement B, U Nonimmigrant Status Certification: the original, properly and timely executed certification signed by a certifying official; not required from petitioners who requested and received U interim relief.
• Evidence that you are a victim of qualifying criminal activity, such as trial transcripts, court documents, police reports, news articles, affidavits or orders of protection.
• Credible evidence of substantial physical or mental abuse, such as reports or affidavits from judges, court officials, medical personnel, school officials, clergy or social workers, orders of protection, photos of visible injuries with affidavits, or witness affidavits.
• Evidence that you possess information about the criminal activity, which may include reports and affidavits from police, judges and other court officials.
• Evidence of helpfulness to a certifying official, such as trial transcripts, court documents, police reports, news articles, copies of court-travel reimbursement forms or affidavits of other witnesses or officials.
• Evidence that the crime is on the INA section 101(a)(15)(U)(iii) list and violated U.S. law or occurred in the United States; for a crime abroad, the statute giving extraterritorial jurisdiction and proof it is prosecutable in federal court.
• A personal narrative statement covering the nature of the crime, when it occurred, who was responsible, the surrounding events, how it came to be investigated or prosecuted, and the abuse you suffered.
• If you are under 16, incapacitated or incompetent: documents establishing age, incapacity or incompetence, such as a birth certificate, court documents recognizing a next friend, medical records or reports of licensed medical professionals.
• Form I-192, Application for Advance Permission to Enter as a Nonimmigrant, only if you or a family member is inadmissible and you seek a waiver; you may file it with Form I-918.
• A completed Supplement A for each qualifying family member you want included, if you are filing for family members.
• Credible proof of each claimed relationship, such as a civil marriage certificate, birth certificates or adoption decrees, plus documents showing prior marriages were legally terminated where applicable.
• If required relationship documents are unavailable: a statement of why, with secondary evidence such as church records, census records, school records or affidavits from two people with personal knowledge.
• Legal document authorizing a name change (marriage certificate, adoption decree or court order) when a name differs from the one on a supporting document.
• A full English translation of any foreign-language document, with the translator's signed certification of completeness, accuracy and competence, printed name, date and contact information.
• Form G-28, Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Accredited Representative, only if the preparer's representation extends beyond preparing the petition and the form is required.

How to fill out Form I-918

1. 1

   Complete the attorney box and header

   If an attorney or accredited representative represents you, select the box if Form G-28 is attached and enter the State Bar Number and USCIS Online Account Number at the top of page 1, as applicable. Leave the USCIS-only blocks alone.

2. 2

   Enter your names and addresses

   Part 1, items 1.a.-1.c.: your full legal name, no nickname. Items 2.a.-2.c.: all other names used. Items 3.a.-3.h.: physical home address, no P.O. box. Items 4.a.-4.i.: a safe mailing address if you do not feel secure receiving mail at home.

3. 3

   Enter your identification details

   Part 1, items 5-12: A-Number, U.S. Social Security Number and USCIS Online Account Number if any, entering "N/A" where none; then marital status, sex, date of birth (mm/dd/yyyy), country of birth and country of citizenship or nationality. Enter "stateless" if you have none and explain in Part 8.

4. 4

   Provide I-94, passport and entry data

   Part 1, items 13-18: Form I-94 number and passport or travel document details, even if expired. Items 19.a.-22: place and date of last entry, date authorized stay expired and current immigration status.

5. 5

   Answer the eligibility questions

   Part 2, items 1-7.a.: select Yes or No for every question. For any "Yes," explain in Part 8; if you answer Yes to 7.a., select the proceeding types in 7.b.-7.f. and enter "Current" in the date field for current proceedings.

6. 6

   List entries and a notification address

   Part 2, items 8.a.-10.d.: date, place and status of each entry in the five years before filing; write "N/A" or "none" if your last entry was longer ago. If you are outside the United States, complete items 11.a.-12.f. with the consulate, inspection facility or safe foreign address.

7. 7

   Answer the processing questions

   Part 3, items 1.a.-29.c.: answer every question, including Yes where records were sealed or cleared. Explain any "Yes" in Part 8 and use items 2.a.-3.f. for arrest, citation, detention or charge details.

8. 8

   Add spouse and children

   Part 4: enter name, date of birth, country of birth, relationship and current location for each family member included. At item 26, answer Yes or No about petitioning for qualifying family members; Yes requires a Supplement A for each.

9. 9

   Complete your statement and sign

   Part 5: select box 1.a. or 1.b., and box 2 if a preparer helped; give daytime phone, mobile phone and email (a safe number is allowed). Sign in item 6.a. and date in 6.b.; a parent or legal guardian signs for a petitioner under 14.

10. 10

    Complete interpreter and preparer sections

    Part 6 is for an interpreter who read the petition to you; Part 7 is for anyone other than you who prepared it. Each person completes the name, address, contact details and certification, then signs and dates. An attorney or accredited representative also selects 7.a. or 7.b. in Part 7.

11. 11

    Use Part 8 for extra explanations

    Enter your name and A-Number, then the page, part and item number each answer refers to. Attach separate sheets if needed, each with your name, A-Number, references, signature and date.

12. 12

    Review, print, sign and download

    Check every item, confirm that "Yes" answers are explained and that "N/A" or "None" fills inapplicable items. Download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF, sign it in ink, and assemble the package with Supplement B and evidence as described under How to submit.

How to submit Form I-918

Common mistakes to avoid

• Filing without the original Supplement B certification; USCIS will deny the petition if it is not attached, unless interim relief was received.
• Submitting the petition unsigned or with a stamped or typewritten name; USCIS rejects unsigned petitions and does not accept a typed name in place of a signature.
• Entering a P.O. box as your home address in Part 1, items 3.a.-3.h.; a P.O. box belongs only in the safe mailing address, items 4.a.-4.i.
• Skipping Part 3 questions or answering "No" because a record was sealed or cleared; the form requires "Yes" in that case, with an explanation in Part 8.
• Leaving out the personal narrative statement or the evidence for each eligibility element, which can lead USCIS to reject or deny the petition.
• Mailing original documents when none were requested; USCIS may destroy originals it did not ask for.
• Sending foreign-language documents without a full English translation and the translator's signed certification.
• Mailing pages from different form editions, or pages without the edition date and page numbers visible, which can cause rejection.
• Answering "Yes" to Part 4, item 26 without completing and attaching a Supplement A for each family member you are petitioning for.
• Having an interpreter or preparer help but not completing and signing Part 6 or Part 7; anyone who helped must sign and date.