There is currently a backlog of roughly 160,000 U visa cases pending with USCIS. Unfortunately, due to the 10,000 per year visa cap, there are countless individuals who are otherwise eligible for U visas, but are simply waiting in line for their case to be reviewed and ultimately approved. Earlier this year, the Biden Administration created the U Visa Bona Fide Determination ("BFD") process as a means to alleviate some of the current constraints on timely reviewing and adjudicating these cases. For those that qualify under this new process, they will receive work authorization and deferred action for a period of 4 years, which also can be renewed.
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