U Visa

T Visa nonimmigrant status is a temporary immigration benefit that allows some victims of a severe form of human trafficking to remain in the United States for up to 4 years if they have assisted law enforcement agencies in an investigation or prosecution of acts of human trafficking. T visas offer protection to victims and strengthen the ability of law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute acts of human trafficking.

T nonimmigrant status is also available to some eligible family members of victims of human trafficking. 

T Visa recipients are eligible for employment authorization and certain federal and state benefits and services.

Trafficking, also called human trafficking, is a modern form of slavery in which traffickers use force, fraud, or coercion to compel people to provide jobs or services, including commercial sex. 

A T Visa is a form of immigration relief available to an applicant who can show that he or she: 

1. Is a survivor of a severe form of trafficking or attempted trafficking. Trafficking includes both labor trafficking and sex trafficking; 
2. Is physically present in the United States or at a port of entry on account of the trafficking. The applicant must have remained in the United States since the most recent act of trafficking; 
3. Has complied with any reasonable request for assistance in investigating or prosecuting the trafficking (if eighteen years of age or older). It is important to know that minors do not have to cooperate with authorities. There is also an exception for applicants who have suffered psychological or physical trauma and are unable to cooperate with law enforcement because of that trauma. In this case, the applicant may qualify for the “trauma exception” to the assistance requirement. All other applicants must show that they at least tried to be helpful with any “reasonable requests” from law enforcement. Whether a request is “reasonable” depends on the particular situation. Things that will be considered include general law enforcement practices, the applicant’s experiences (what the applicant was subjected to by the trafficker), and the applicant’s circumstances regarding fear, physical and mental trauma, age, and maturity. For example, if law enforcement asks the applicant to do something that puts their lives in danger, this could be seen as an unreasonable request. However, it is ultimately up to USCIS to decide if what law enforcement asked you to do is reasonable or not.
4. Is at risk of suffering extreme hardship upon removal from the United States.

To apply for a T Visa you must submit:

• Form I-914, Application for T Nonimmigrant Status, including a personal statement explaining in your own words how you were a victim of human trafficking

• Form I-914, Supplement A, Application for Immediate Relative of a T-1 Recipient (PDF, 531.89 KB) (if applicable)
• Evidence showing that you complied with reasonable requests for assistance from law enforcement agencies, if applicable. You can file a Form I-914, Supplement B, Statement from a Law Enforcement Officer for Victims of Human Trafficking to show that you are a victim of human trafficking and have complied with reasonable requests for assistance from law enforcement agencies. However, you may choose to present other evidence in place of or in addition to Form I-914, Supplement B, such as trial transcripts, court documents, police reports, news articles, affidavits, or other relevant credible evidence

• Evidence showing that you meet all other eligibility requirements

• Form I-192, Application for Advance Permission to Enter as a Nonimmigrant (if inadmissible)