Quick Answer
A U-visa certification request should usually go to the agency that handled the qualifying criminal activity, not simply to the agency closest to where the victim lives now. In Los Angeles, an LAPD case should be routed through the LAPD investigating division; LAPD says applicants who do not know the division can contact its U Visa coordinator. Los Angeles County District Attorney procedures apply to cases within the DA’s certification authority, including cases the office prosecuted.
Form I-918 Supplement B is required initial evidence for a principal U-visa petition, but a signed certification is not a U-visa approval. The certifying agency addresses the qualifying criminal activity and helpfulness; USCIS decides the Form I-918 petition and the other eligibility requirements.
First Identify the Agency That Actually Handled the Case
Start with the police report, incident card, detective business card, court papers, prosecutor correspondence or victim-services records. Look for the agency name, report or DR number, detective or unit, and criminal case number. These identifiers determine where a certification request belongs and help the agency retrieve the file.
For LAPD cases, the department states that the matter must have been handled by LAPD and that requests should be submitted to the investigating division. If you do not know which division handled the investigation, LAPD currently directs questions to UVisa@lapd.online.
When the Los Angeles County District Attorney May Be the Certifying Agency
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office states that crime victims or their representatives may submit Form I-918 Supplement B to the office for consideration. Its published policy ties certification authority to cases within the office’s prosecution role; older/current policy materials state that requests for cases the office declined generally should be returned to the investigating law-enforcement agency, subject to limited exceptions.
That means ‘the DA was involved somewhere’ is not enough to select the office. Confirm whether the case was filed or prosecuted by LADA and whether the current DA procedure applies. If the matter was investigated by a city police department or sheriff and was never a LADA case, the investigating agency may be the more appropriate starting point.
Build the Request Packet Before You Send It
LAPD currently asks for the victim’s name and other names used, date of birth, government-issued identification, LAPD DR or incident number if known, suspect name and date of birth if known, and an indication of whether the applicant is in removal proceedings. A police report is strongly encouraged when available, but LAPD states that other documentation may support the fact that a police report was made when a copy is unavailable.
Also keep records showing cooperation or helpfulness: detective communications, interview dates, subpoenas or court appearances, prosecutor or victim-advocate communications, and any written requests for information. Do not create a narrative that goes beyond what happened; the agency can compare the request with its own reports and notes.
What “Helpfulness” Means in the Certification Process
USCIS Supplement B asks the certifying official whether the person was, is or is likely to be helpful in the investigation or prosecution of qualifying criminal activity. LAPD similarly describes helpfulness as cooperation during the investigation or prosecution and notes California’s statutory presumption when the victim has not refused reasonably requested information.
The outcome of the criminal case is not the same as helpfulness. LAPD states that the outcome or status of the investigation does not itself determine certification. Preserve evidence of the victim’s cooperation even if no arrest, filing or conviction occurred.
If the Applicant Is in Removal Proceedings, Say So Clearly
LAPD currently states that California Penal Code section 679.10 requires certification requests to be processed within 30 days, or within 7 days if the applicant is in removal proceedings, and instructs applicants to identify removal proceedings in the request. Because statutory procedures and agency implementation can change, verify the current timeframe when the request is made.
Do not assume the certification request itself stops an immigration-court deadline or removal process. Coordinate the U-visa strategy with the immigration-court case and comply with all separate court or DHS deadlines.
Track the Signature Date and Certification Validity
LAPD states that a certification is valid for six months after signature and provides a recertification process when needed. Treat the signature date as a case-management deadline. Ideally, the rest of the U-visa filing package should be substantially prepared so the certification does not expire while other documents are being assembled.
If the certification expires, follow the certifying agency’s current recertification procedure. Do not alter or re-date a signed Supplement B yourself.
A Signed Supplement B Is Not the U-Visa Decision
The current Form I-918 asks the petitioner to confirm that they are a victim of qualifying criminal activity, suffered substantial physical or mental abuse, possess information about the criminal activity, are submitting Supplement B, and satisfy other statutory elements. It also requires explanations, supporting evidence and a personal narrative for the principal petition.
The certifying agency does not grant U nonimmigrant status. USCIS adjudicates the petition. A certification is therefore necessary initial evidence, not a guarantee of approval.
Keep the Local Request and the USCIS Petition Organized Separately
Maintain one folder for the certification request: agency routing, report identifiers, correspondence, helpfulness records, submission proof, appeal or recertification records. Maintain a second folder for the USCIS petition: forms, identity/civil documents, personal narrative, abuse evidence, admissibility analysis and any other immigration filings.
This separation makes it easier to see which agency is waiting on what and prevents a local certification request from being mistaken for a complete U-visa petition.
Bottom Line
For a Los Angeles U-visa certification request, routing is the first practical problem. Identify the agency that investigated or prosecuted the case, gather the report and victim identifiers, document helpfulness, flag removal proceedings, and track the certification date. Then keep the signed Supplement B in its proper role: required evidence for the USCIS petition, not the final immigration decision.