The US has granted 10,000 visas to victims of crime and human trafficking this year, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has said. This marks the first time that USCIS has reached the statutory maximum of 10,000 U visas per fiscal year since it began issuing this special category of visas in 2008. "Through the U visa, USCIS is able to provide crime victims with critical immigration protection, allowing law enforcement officials to protect victims and bring the perpetrators of crimes to justice," said USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas. USCIS will resume issuing U visas on October 1, the first day of fiscal year 2011. Until then, it will continue to accept new petitions for U visas and will place conditionally approved petitioners on a waiting list. Conditionally approved petitioners and qualifying family members will be able to legally remain in the United States and request work authorisation. This protection also applies to conditionally approved petitioners or any qualifying family members who are in removal proceedings or have a final order of removal, it said. The U visa was created in the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act, legislation intended to strengthen the ability of law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute cases of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and other crimes while, at the same time, offering protection to victims of such crimes. U visas are set aside for victims who have suffered substantial mental or physical abuse as a result of the criminal activity and are willing to help law enforcement authorities in the investigation or prosecution of the crime. In fiscal year 2009, USCIS approved approximately 6,000 U visa petitions for victims of crime.