Amending Title 21 of the Philadelphia Code, entitled "Miscellaneous" to add a Chapter entitled "U-Visa and T-Visa Certifications," providing for a process for Certifying Agencies, including timely responses to requests, confidentiality of requests, guidelines for the grant or denial of a request, and other procedures, all under certain terms and conditions.

Amending Title 21 of the Philadelphia Code, entitled “Miscellaneous” to add a Chapter entitled “U-Visa and T-Visa Certifications,” providing for a process for Certifying Agencies, including timely responses to requests, confidentiality of requests, guidelines for the grant or denial of a request, and other procedures, all under certain terms and conditions. THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA HEREBY ORDAINS: SECTION 1. Title 21 of The Philadelphia Code is hereby amended to read as follows: * * * CHAPTER 21-3***. U-VISA AND T-VISA CERTIFICATIONS § 21-3***. Definitions. Applicant. A person applying for a U-Visa or a T-Visa. Certifying Agency. Any City agency authorized to complete U-Visa or T-Visa Certifications. Qualifying Criminal Activity. Criminal activity as defined in 8 C.F.R. § 214.14(a)(14). U-Visa or T-Visa Certification: A Certification from a City agency in support of an application for a U Visa or T Visa under the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act (2000), or for the Deferred Action Program under 6 U.S.C. § 202(5) and 8 U.S.C. § 1103. § 21-3***. Duties of Certifying Agencies. (1) Certifying Agencies have the following duties: (a) Respond to an Applicant’s request for a U-Visa or T-Visa Certification within ninety (90) days. (b) Develop a protocol for responding to requests for U-Visa or T-Visa Certifications. The protocol must be publicly accessible on the Certifying Agency’s website. The protocol should be developed in collaboration with a subje…