What is T non-immigrant status?
Trafficking in persons—also known as “human trafficking”—is a form of modern-day slavery. Traffickers prey on many types of people, often individuals who are poor, unemployed, underemployed, or who lack the safety and protection of strong social networks. Victims are often lured into trafficking under the false pretenses of good jobs and better lives, and then forced to work under brutal and inhumane conditions. Many believe that human trafficking is a problem that only occurs in other countries, but human trafficking also happens in the United States.
The T non-immigrant status (or T visa) provides immigration protection to victims of severe forms of trafficking in persons who assist law enforcement in the investigation and prosecution of human trafficking cases.
Victims are not required to be in legal immigration status, but they must establish that they:
- Are a victim of a severe form of trafficking in persons
- Are physically present in the United States due to the trafficking
- Comply with any reasonable requests for assistance in the investigation or prosecution (or are under the age of 18)
- Would suffer extreme hardship involving unusual and severe harm if removed from the United States
To apply for T non-immigrant status, applicants must file Form I-914, Application for T Non-immigrant Status. Qualifying family members may also be eligible to apply for benefits.
To learn more about how attorneys at Murad Immigration Law can help you as a crime victim , contact us today at 303-449-5535. We are ready to begin helping you immediately.
T Visas
T visas are available to persons who have been subject to severe trafficking – meaning the use of force, fraud or coercion for sex trafficking and/or involuntary servitude or slavery, and who are physically in the U.S. and who the Attorney General and the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security agree have complied with a request by Federal/State/Local Law enforcement authorities to assist in the investigation or prosecution of such trafficking cases. They need to also show that they will suffer extreme hardship upon removal from the U.S.
Applicants file Form I-914 along with 3 passport style photographs, evidence that you have been a trafficking victim, that you are physically present in the U.S., that you have complied with reasonable request for assistance in investigation or prosecution and that you would suffer extreme hardship upon removal from the U.S.