I want help on an issue involving human trafficking.
Human Trafficking
Overview
Guide Overview
Warning: The information and forms in this guide are not legal advice and are not a substitute for the help of a lawyer.
This guide is designed to help you understand what you can do when dealing with human trafficking issues—and what help is available. This guide was written by American Gateways (and contains information from other organizations, too).
Common questions about Human Trafficking
Sometimes referred to as modern-day slavery, human trafficking occurs when there is forced labor, indentured servitude, or commercial sex exploitation, by means of force, fraud, or coercion.
The most targeted populations for trafficking are homeless and runaway youths. This includes immigrants smuggled into the U.S., or currently residing in the U.S., who are vulnerable to exploitation due to their undocumented status. Some survivors of human trafficking in the U.S. may be eligible for a type of humanitarian relief called a “T visa” if they meet certain requirements.
The United States upholds a humanitarian standard when weighing an immigrant’s reasons for fleeing her country for the U.S. The U.S. generally will not return a person to their home country or another country if doing so will bring immediate harm, torture, or death upon the person.
The government will consider factors such as:
- Serious physical or mental illness of the applicant that necessitates medical or psychological attention not reasonably available in the foreign country;
- The nature and extent of the physical and psychological consequences of severe forms of trafficking; and
- The likelihood that the trafficker or another acting on behalf of the trafficker in a foreign country to which the applicant may be removed would severely harm the Applicant.
Additionally, if a person came to the U.S. escaping any form of persecution that could otherwise qualify the applicant for asylum, the applicant needs only cite the past harm to show extreme hardship.
Typical timeline for getting a T Visa:
- Report trafficking experience to LEA (Law Enforcement Agency)
- Gather evidence
- Application
- Decision
The USCIS estimates that the processing time for adjudication of a T visa is approximately 8–12 months.
This time is separate from the time that it may take to report the trafficking experience, gather evidence, and prepare the application.
Talk to an experienced immigration attorney who understands this process in order to move the application along faster.
Instructions & Forms
Instructions & Forms
Warning: The information and forms in this guide are not legal advice and are not a substitute for the help of a lawyer.
Gather the following evidence, if possible, before applying for a T Visa.
Checklist Steps
Examples of documentary evidence are police reports, emails confirming interviews, business cards, etc., that show you reported the trafficking experience to the law enforcement agency in the jurisdiction where the trafficking event occurred.
Examples include your birth certificate, ID, passport, marriage and divorce certificates, and any identity documents for your children and spouse.
This is a certification from law enforcement that you were the victim of human trafficking. It is not required, but it is recommended. Talk to an immigration attorney for help.
You will want to produce a sworn declaration about your experience. Talk to an immigration attorney for help.
Gather:
- Medical reports: Hospital records, rape examinations, etc.
- Mental assessments for trauma. This can include proof that you are receiving treatment/counseling or have received treatment from a mental health professional for any harm that you have suffered.
Gather secondhand evidence of your experience, such as news articles, letters from witnesses, etc.
Evidence of Extreme Hardship can be medical reports of mental or physical illness; evidence that U.S. citizen immediate relatives would not be able to seamlessly move to another country; or reports of the condition of the country you would be required to return to.
Forms Required
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I-914 - Application for T Nonimmigrant Status - Forms and Instructions
PVA-HT-100
This forms page contains links to forms and instructions to apply for a T-Visa in the United States.The forms were developed by U.S. Citizenship an... -
I-192, Application for Advanced Permission to Enter as a Nonimmigrant - Forms and Instructions
PVA-HT-101
This forms page contains links to forms and instructions to apply for advance permission to enter the United States as a Nonimmigrant.The forms wer...
Articles
Articles in this guide
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T Visas and Trafficking
This article answers common questions about human trafficking and T Visas. -
Human Trafficking
This article provides general information about human trafficking.