ASISTA Virtual CLE Conference

March 12-13, 2025 ~ 12:00-5:00 pm ET

Strategizing for Complex U Visa Petitions: The Quagmire of Qualifying Criminal Activity

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This two-day virtual conference is intended for intermediate to advanced attorneys and DOJ Accredited Representatives who have experience or interest in working with immigrant survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and other serious crimes that may qualify them for U nonimmigrant status. Registrants will receive a recording of the conference.

Take a deep dive into the qualifying criminal activity element of the U visa with ASISTA experts and other national field leaders. Of all the elements, this is one of the most difficult to get right, and one that commonly causes applications to fail. Yet, it is also one where grasping a handful of principles can transform your success rate, and broaden the range of survivors whose cases you can take on, get certified, and win. On day one, we will focus on principles applicable to qualifying criminal activity of all types, and obtaining law enforcement certifications that bolster, rather than frustrate, the claim. On day two, we will turn specifically to some of the most frequently-asserted qualifying activities, to detail useful framings and pitfalls to avoid. Along the way, we will share helpful AAO cases on which to model your arguments, practical tips to employ, and reminders of ways to get creative to overcome hurdles that may first appear impossibly high. 

Intermediate Training: 8 CLE credits

Day ONE, Mar. 12: Generally Applicable Principles (12:00-5:00 pm ET)

Session One: (2 hrs.) 12-2 pm ET

Qualifying Criminal Activities: The Lay of the Land: In Session One, we set the stage for the rest of the conference by reviewing the legal authorities on qualifying criminal activity (QCA). Drawing on adjudication patterns and materials produced through FOIA requests, we will examine how USCIS fleshes out this requirement and employs two primary analyses to QCA claims – often leading to two different results in similar situations. This session will emphasize the importance of strategizing to determine the most effective framing for your QCA claim.

Speakers: Alison Kamhi, ILRC; Rebecca Eissenova, ASISTA.

Session Two: (2 hrs.) 3-5 pm ET

Certifications and Some Sticky Scenarios: Building on Session One, this session will focus on the areas of the U certification Form I-918 Supplement B that are essential to get right. We’ll discuss nuances in completing the form for atypical applicants (like indirect and bystander victims), as well as how to turn to atypical entities for the certification (like judges or child protective services). Speakers will share tips on procuring certifications from reluctant certifiers and, where they exist, harnessing state statutes on certifications.

Speakers: Blair Craddock, Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid; Gabriela Parra, Layde & Parra S.C.; Izumi Miyake, Central California Legal Services; Klara Ng, Her Justice; Lia Ocasio, ASISTA.

Day TWO, Mar. 13: Specific QCAs (12:00-5:00 pm ET)

Session Three: (1.5 hrs.) 12-1:30 pm ET

All About Felonious Assault: Session Four will focus on one of the most-used and most troublesome QCAs: felonious assault. What does it take to succeed with this claim? What are the trends in cases that are approved and those that are not? What are some state-level crimes that USCIS has acknowledged can count? Speakers will walk through examples to bring clarity to this QCA that has long required guesswork for certifiers and representatives alike.

Speakers: Jessica Farb, ICWC; Kelly Byrne, ASISTA

Session Four: (1 hr.) 2-3 pm ET

All About Domestic Violence: Session Five brings you another deep dive into a single QCA: domestic violence. This is perhaps the most flexible of the QCAs and seems to enjoy unique adjudication patterns, which speakers will describe. Not only is the analysis slightly more favorable but there are often more certifiers available than with other types of criminal activity. Learn what you need to know to harness this flexibility and find survivors the protections they deserve.

Speakers: Keighly Rector, Volunteers of Legal Services (VOLS); Rebecca Eissenova, ASISTA

Session Five: (1.5 hrs.) 3:30-5:00 pm ET

All About Imperfect Fits: In the final session, we turn to events that do not fit squarely into any of the QCAs on the statutory list and are not great candidates for the felonious assault or domestic violence claims discussed earlier in the conference. Among other things we will examine creative options for robberies and incidents of notario fraud. We will review other lesser-used QCAs in the statute. Speakers will share examples of difficult cases, to illuminate where they went wrong and how they could have gone right.

Speakers: Schuyler Pisha, Greater Boston Legal Services; Cristina Velez, ASISTA.

Prices for full training (5 sessions = 8 CLE credit hrs.)

• $82.80 SPECIAL Rate Law Students
• $362.25 Legal Staff/Advocates/Non-Profit 
• $467.75 ASISTA Member Private Attorney
• $621 Non-member  

Note: Early bird pricing ends on March 4th. Prices for this training will increase $51.75 on Wednesday, March 5th. Registration will close the day before the training on Tuesday, March 11th, 2025 at the end of the day.

Please note that effective June 29, 2024, training fees include all credit card processing costs. There will be no separate charges when paying by credit card. If you choose to pay by check, you will receive a 3.5% discount (please contact manager@asistahelp.org to confirm the correct amount). Please mail checks to: ASISTA, PO Box 12, Suffield, CT 06078.

Note: 8 hrs. of Texas MCLE credits will be applied for this conference. Certificates of attendance will be available upon request and completion of training.

Questions: Contact Maria Lazzarino at manager@asistahelp.org with any questions.

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ASISTA mailing address: PO Box 12, Suffield, CT, 06078