U and T Visa Certification

The City of Bremerton is committed to ensuring all victims of crimes, regardless of citizenship status, have access to full and equal protections under the law. 

To encourage immigrant crime victims to come forward and work with law enforcement, federal law permits survivors of certain crimes to apply for U Visa or T Visa nonimmigrant status based on their willingness to assist in the detection, investigation, or prosecution of those crimes. 

U Visa

The U Visa is a temporary visa available to survivors of qualifying crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse while in the U.S. and who are willing to assist law enforcement or government officials in the detection, investigation, or prosecution of criminal activity. A complete U Visa application must include a law enforcement certification (Form I-918B) signed by a law enforcement agency where the crime occurred. This certification verifies the victim’s cooperation with law enforcement.

T Visa

The T Visa is a temporary immigration benefit available to survivors of human trafficking who assist law enforcement in the detection, investigation, or prosecution of human trafficking. While T Visa applications do not require a law enforcement certification, applicants must submit a declaration (Form I-914) demonstrating that: 1) the applicant is or was a victim of a severe form of human trafficking, and 2) the victim complied with reasonable requests from law enforcement in the detection, investigation, or prosecution of human trafficking.

If the underlying offense was a felony, applicants should contact the Kitsap County District Attorney's Office. If the underlying offense was a misdemeanor and it occurred within the City of Bremerton, applicants may submit their certification requests to the Bremerton Police Department or the Bremerton Prosecutor's Office.

The City of Bremerton does not grant or guarantee a U Visa or any other immigration status by signing a law enforcement certification. Only U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (the federal component of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security responsible for approving and denying immigration benefits and status) may grant or deny a U Visa after full review of the petition.

Application Processing

In accordance with SHB 1022, the City of Bremerton Police Department (BPD) shall respond to victim requests for law enforcement certification forms for U and T Visas:    

  • Upon affirmative determination, BPD shall review the completed Supplemental B form and sign the law enforcement certification.
  • BPD shall process the certification within ninety days of request, unless the victim is in federal immigration removal proceedings, in which case BPD shall execute the certification no later than fourteen days after the request is received.
  • BPD shall not disclose personal identifying information, or information regarding the citizenship or immigration status of any victim of criminal activity or trafficking who is requesting a certification. 

Submit victim requests to:

Bremerton Police Department
1025 Burwell Street
Bremerton, WA 98337

Or

Bremerton City Attorney
Prosecutor’s Office
345 6th Street, Ste 100
Bremerton, WA 98337

For more information on the application process and forms required, please visit: https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/victims-of-human-trafficking-and-other-crimes

For assistance with the U Visa or T Visa application process, contact:

Northwest Immigration Rights Project: https://www.nwirp.org/get-help/

Kitsap Immigrant Assistance Center: https://kitsapiac.org/

This information page has been prepared for general information purposes only. This information should not be construed as constituting legal advice or representation and is subject to change without notice.