The T-Visa program was created in 2000 through the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act. Law enforcement officials know that traffickers often take advantage of vulnerable individuals who may be afraid to report their abusers because they do not have lawful immigration status.
The T-Visa program provides hope, protection, and stability to trafficking survivors while helping to bring traffickers to justice. A T-Visa lawyer could help someone in Mesa, AZ understand your options if you are a victim of trafficking. Our compassionate visa attorneys can listen to your story and help determine whether you are eligible for a T-Visa.
The T-Visa grants temporary nonimmigrant status to survivors of severe forms of human trafficking, such as sex trafficking or forced labor trafficking. You must be physically present in the United States or its territories, or have been trafficked to a port of entry. Unfortunately, this means that Eligibility often requires that you be physically present in the United States because of trafficking, although specific circumstances may affect how this requirement is evaluated. To qualify, you must be physically present in the United States or at a U.S. port of entry because of trafficking.
If you meet the initial eligibility requirements, the next stage may be to show that you complied with reasonable requests from law enforcement to detect, investigate, or prosecute human traffickers. If you were not a legal adult at the time your trafficking occurred, or if you are unable to assist law enforcement because of physical or psychological trauma, you may be exempt from this requirement.
You must also demonstrate that your removal from the United States would cause you to suffer extreme hardship involving unusual and severe harm and that you are otherwise admissible to the U.S. One of our attorneys with experience in T-Visa applications could assist in demonstrating your eligibility for temporary nonimmigrant status in Mesa.
Applying for a T-Visa requires submitting several documents First, you will need to fill out Form I-914, the Application for T Nonimmigrant Status, which includes a personal statement to describe the trafficking.
You may also need to submit a Law Enforcement Declaration confirming that you complied with reasonable requests for assistance from law enforcement or that you were unable to comply because of an exception or exemption as outlined above. You can complete Form I-914 Supplement B to do this, or the same information can be demonstrated with evidence such as communication records, police reports, affidavits, court documents, or other relevant documentation.
Fortunately, you do not have to pay fees, thanks to a special exemption. However, in general, you will need to show that you meet other eligibility and admissibility requirements for legal status in the U.S. or submit a request for a waiver of inadmissibility if applicable. Our Mesa attorneys could assist you with preparing your T-Visa application and advise you on additional information necessary to help ensure your application is complete and well prepared.
If you are a survivor of human trafficking, you have already been through serious hardships and have demonstrated remarkable resilience. With a Mesa T-Visa lawyer, you could help bring your abusers to justice while remaining in the U.S. for a period of time. With the right legal assistance, you may also be able to bring family members to the U.S., obtain certain federal and state benefits, or become eligible for employment authorization.
At New Frontier Immigration Law, our immigration attorneys advise human trafficking survivors about how to start a new life. Contact us today to learn more about how we could help.
