§ 9.1-1500. Definitions

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Code of Virginia
Title 9.1. Commonwealth Public Safety
Chapter 15. Certifications for Victims of Qualifying Criminal Activity

4/21/2025

§ 9.1-1500. Definitions.

As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:

"Certification form" means a certification form or declaration completed by a certifying agency that is required by federal immigration law certifying that a person is a victim of qualifying criminal activity. Such form or declaration may include any information required (i) by 8 U.S.C. § 1184(p), including the current United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Form I-918, Supplement B, or any successor form for purposes of obtaining a U visa, or (ii) by 8 U.S.C. § 1184(o), including the current United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Form I-914, Supplement B, or any successor form for purposes of obtaining a T visa.

"Certifying agency" means a state or local law-enforcement agency, an attorney for the Commonwealth, the Attorney General, or any other agency or department employing law-enforcement officers as defined in § 9.1-101 that has responsibility for the investigation or prosecution of a qualifying criminal activity.

"Certifying official" means the head of the certifying agency, a law-enforcement officer as defined in § 9.1-101, or any person employed by a certifying agency in a supervisory role who has been specifically designated by the head of the certifying agency to issue U nonimmigrant status certifications on behalf of that agency. A certifying official may act on behalf of his employing certifying agency or on behalf of another certifying agency through an agreement with the other certifying agency. Each certifying agency shall designate at least one certifying official for its agency.

"Qualifying criminal activity" means any activity, regardless of the stage of detection, investigation, or prosecution, designated in 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(15)(U)(iii), or in any implementing federal regulations, supplementary information, guidance, and instructions.

"Victim of qualifying criminal activity" means a person described in 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(15)(U)(i)(III), in the definition of "victim of a severe form of trafficking" in 22 U.S.C. § 7102(11), or in any implementing federal regulations, supplementary information, guidance, and instructions.

2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 468.