Washington: U and T Visa Certification Law (2018) [pdf]

The state of Washington approved the Safety and Access for Immigrant Victims Act in 2018, which outlines the certification process in that state for immigrant victims of crime. This Washington state law requires law enforcement, prosecutors, judges, hearing officers, and other state and local agencies including the department of labor and industries and the department of social services and health to sign U and T visa certifications. Requires that certification requests be processed within 90 days or receipt unless the victim is in removal proceedings in which case the response is required within 14 days. For victim children the agency must respond to requests within 90 days but no later than 14 days before the date the child turns age 21. Requires that agencies designate certifiers, keep written records of the number of certifications received, denied, approved, and withdrawn, develop a language access plan, and nondisclosure of personally identifying information about victims requesting certification. The law requires that the state set up a crime victim certification steering committee.