Sterne Kessler Secures U Visa for Pro Bono Client

Washington, D.C. (April 18, 2026) – Director Salvador Bezos and Counsel Jaume Canaves recently secured a U visa for a client and her family, marking a significant milestone in the firm’s immigration pro bono practice.

In the United States, a U visa is a special type of nonimmigrant visa granted to victims of certain crimes who are willing to assist law enforcement or government officials in the investigation or prosecution of criminal activity. The team originally obtained two U visa cases from a previous pro bono partnership, but the second case was not able to proceed due to unforeseen circumstances for the client.

In this case, the client initially entered the United States from El Salvador in 2011 with her daughter and applied for asylum. She then qualified for a U visa and pursued that application instead. With her daughter as a derivative applicant, the Sterne Kessler team submitted her U visa application in 2017. The client then received a Bonafide letter in 2022, certifying that she was on the path to obtaining the U visa and granting her a work permit. Earlier this year, the U visa was issued, with her work permit renewed concurrently, giving her daughter the opportunity to obtain the same status. The U visa has now given the client a direct pathway to apply for permanent residence and eventually citizenship, providing her family with stability and hope for the future.

Sterne Kessler’s pro bono practice focuses on assisting underserved communities—both locally and internationally—on issues including immigration, veterans assistance, and more. Each year, the firm’s lawyers donate time towards pro bono legal services, collaborating with clients and organizations that demonstrate Sterne Kessler’s shared values and commitment to ensuring everyone has access to justice, regardless of financial circumstances.