T-visa for trafficking victims (Form I-914)
T-visa for victims of severe trafficking in persons (sex or labor trafficking). Eligibility, application process, requirements, derivative family members, path to green card.
The T-visa (or T nonimmigrant status) was created in 2000 (Trafficking Victims Protection Act) for victims of severe forms of trafficking in persons. T-visa offers immigration relief PLUS access to benefits typically reserved for refugees.
Official USCIS Fee (effective 2024-04-01)
Verified source: Federal Register 2024-01427
Fee: FREE
FREE — T-visa has no fee. Fee waiver automatic for trafficking victims.
Verify current fee
⚠️ USCIS fees can change. Verify the current fee before filing at:
- USCIS Fee Calculator — official tool
- USCIS Form G-1055 — full schedule
Critical: T-visa is for trafficking victims
Severe forms of trafficking include:
- Sex trafficking — commercial sex through force, fraud, or coercion (OR any commercial sex with a minor)
- Labor trafficking — recruitment, harboring, transport, provision, or obtaining a person for labor or services through force, fraud, or coercion
NOT the same as smuggling. Trafficking = the trafficker exploits you AFTER you’re brought to a destination. Smuggling = trafficker just transports you.
Eligibility (4 requirements)
You must show:
- You are a victim of severe trafficking (sex or labor as defined above)
- You are physically present in the US, American Samoa, Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, or port of entry as a result of trafficking
- You comply with reasonable requests from law enforcement (interviewing, testifying) — UNLESS exempt due to age (under 18) or trauma
- You would suffer extreme hardship involving unusual and severe harm if removed from US
The process
1. Get help BEFORE filing
- Call National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888
- Contact a Tahirih Justice Center or other trafficking-experienced legal services
- They help with intake, evidence gathering, applications
2. File Form I-914
- Form I-914 (Application for T Nonimmigrant Status)
- Form I-914 Supplement A: for derivative family members
- Form I-914 Supplement B: declaration from law enforcement (if you have one — strengthens case but not required)
- Fee: FREE (fee waiver automatic for T-visa)
3. Wait for adjudication
- Current processing: 12-30 months
- 5,000 T-visas per year cap (rarely reached)
- Pre-decision protections: while pending, generally protected from deportation; EAD eligible
4. T-visa approval
- 4-year validity
- Employment authorization included
- Can travel internationally (with advance parole for returning)
5. After 3 years (or earlier if investigation/prosecution concluded)
- Apply for green card via Form I-485
- $1,225 fee
Derivative beneficiaries
If you’re the principal T-visa applicant, your family can also qualify:
If you’re 21 or older:
- Spouse
- Unmarried children under 21
If you’re under 21:
- Spouse
- Unmarried children under 21
- Parents
- Unmarried siblings under 18
Special protection: Can include family members in or outside US, and family members in foreseeable danger from the trafficker.
Evidence
- Personal statement of trafficking experience
- Identity documents
- Country conditions reports
- Medical records of injuries/abuse
- Reports to police or human trafficking hotline
- Letters/statements from caseworkers, social workers
- Evidence of trafficker’s control (locked rooms, withheld documents, threats)
Benefits for T-visa holders
T-visa holders are eligible for same benefits as refugees:
- Medicaid + SNAP
- Cash assistance
- Housing assistance
- Educational services
- ORR (Office of Refugee Resettlement) benefits
What to AVOID
- Discussing case with trafficker or anyone connected
- Trying to repay smuggling fees (entrapment)
- Returning to country of origin while case pending
- Communicating with trafficker on social media
Resources
- USCIS T-visa: uscis.gov/i-914
- National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888 (24/7, multilingual)
- Polaris Project: polarisproject.org — anti-trafficking org
- Tahirih Justice Center: tahirih.org — immigrant women victims of violence/trafficking
- CAST LA: castla.org — Coalition to Abolish Slavery & Trafficking
Last verified: 2026-05-25.
← See all paths to legal status
Related procedural information
- Consulate of your country in the US — passport renewal, consular ID, document apostille
- ITIN — file federal taxes without SSN — required regardless of immigration status
- USCIS form library — federal immigration forms (I-130, I-485, N-400, etc.)
- Find an immigration attorney — pro bono lists + AILA + BIA-recognized
- Know Your Rights — ICE encounters — constitutional protections
General procedural information based on official sources. Not personalized legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an attorney for this path?
How much does this path cost?
Can my family also benefit from this path?
How do I know if I really qualify for this path?
The rules change. Hear about it first.
Monthly digest of USCIS, IRS, and consulate fee, form, and deadline changes — no spam.
General information, not legal advice. MigrantUSA is an independent publisher and is not a law firm; using this site does not create an attorney-client relationship, and this content is not a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney about your specific situation. US federal, state, and local government procedures, fees, and forms change. Always verify current details directly with the relevant agency before acting. For immigration, tax, or other legal matters specific to your situation, consult a licensed attorney or BIA-accredited representative.