T Visa Lawyer for Trafficking Survivors
If someone brought you to or kept you in the United States through force, fraud or coercion to make you work or perform commercial sex, you may qualify for a T visa. It gives protection, a work permit and a path to a green card, and you do not need legal status today to apply. We help survivors prepare careful, confidential applications.
Massachusetts Bar since 2014 · AILA member · Consultations in English, Gujarati, Hindi, Punjabi and Spanish · Cases handled nationwide
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Key Facts
- Labor and sex trafficking survivors
- No USCIS fee for Form I-914
- Work permit after bona fide determination
- Family members can be included
- Green card after 3 years in T status
What Is a T Visa?
The T visa is a temporary immigration status for victims of a severe form of human trafficking who are in the United States because of that trafficking. It lasts up to four years, includes work authorization, can cover close family members, and can lead to permanent residence. Information in your application is protected by federal confidentiality law (8 U.S.C. § 1367).
Protection and work. After USCIS finds your application bona fide, you can receive deferred action and a work permit while the case is pending.
Family members. Your spouse and children, and in some cases parents and siblings, can apply with you.
Path to a green card. After three years in T status, or sooner once the investigation or prosecution ends, you can apply for permanent residence.
Do I Need a Lawyer for a T Visa?
The law does not require one, but trafficking cases are complex. You must show the trafficking met the federal definition, that you are in the U.S. because of it, and that you cooperated with reasonable requests from law enforcement unless an exception applies.
We help you tell your story safely, gather supporting evidence, address any criminal or immigration history (many grounds can be waived for trafficking survivors), and request a work permit as early as possible.
Who Qualifies for a T Visa?
- You are or were a victim of a severe form of trafficking — labor or sex trafficking as defined by federal law.
- You are physically present in the U.S. (or a U.S. port of entry) on account of the trafficking.
- You complied with reasonable requests from law enforcement to help investigate or prosecute, unless you were under 18 or trauma prevented you.
- You would suffer extreme hardship involving unusual and severe harm if removed from the United States.
- You are admissible or qualify for a waiver; many grounds can be waived, including some caused by the trafficking itself.
What Counts as Human Trafficking?
Labor trafficking: recruiting, transporting, harboring or obtaining a person for labor or services through force, fraud or coercion, for example to keep someone in debt bondage, involuntary servitude or peonage. Common signs include taken passports, unpayable “recruitment debts”, threats to report you to immigration, and not being free to leave.
Sex trafficking: causing a person to perform a commercial sex act through force, fraud or coercion, or any commercial sex act involving someone under 18.
You do not have to have been moved across a border, and the trafficker does not have to have been arrested or convicted.
The T Visa Process, Step by Step
- Confidential consultation — we review what happened, your safety, and your immigration and criminal history.
- Evidence and declaration — your personal statement, any law-enforcement records (Form I-914 Supplement B is helpful but not required), and supporting documents.
- Application filed — Form I-914, Form I-765 for a work permit, waivers on Form I-192 if needed, and Supplement A for each family member.
- Bona fide determination — if USCIS finds the case bona fide, it considers deferred action and a work permit while the application is pending.
- T visa approval — status for up to four years.
- Green card — after three years in T status, or earlier when the investigation or prosecution is complete.
The T Visa in 2026: What to Expect
- No cap pressure. Congress set an annual cap of 5,000 principal T visas, but USCIS has never reached it, so there is no waitlist like the U visa.
- 2024 rule still governs. The final rule effective August 2024 clarified physical presence, reporting to law enforcement, and bona fide determinations with work permits.
- No USCIS filing fee for Form I-914 or the related work permit.
- Processing varies. Check current times on the USCIS processing times tool.
- Removal risk. A pending application does not by itself stop removal; tell us right away if you are detained or in immigration court.
Can My Family Get T Visa Status Too?
Yes. If you are 21 or older, you can include your spouse and unmarried children under 21. If you are under 21, you can also include your parents and unmarried siblings under 18. In some cases, other relatives who face present danger of retaliation because of your escape or cooperation can be included as well.
Documents We Will Ask For
- Your personal statement about the trafficking (we help you write it)
- Any police reports, case numbers, or Form I-914 Supplement B
- Evidence such as pay records, messages, recruitment contracts or witness statements
- Passport, birth certificate and any immigration documents
- Records of any arrests or court cases, even if dismissed
How much does a T visa cost?
USCIS charges no fee for Form I-914 or the related work permit application. The legal fee depends on the case, including waivers and family members. We explain our fees clearly during your consultation, before you decide to hire us.
T Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a police report for a T visa?
No. Reporting the trafficking to law enforcement is generally required, but a signed law-enforcement form (Supplement B) or police report is helpful evidence, not a requirement.
Do I have to testify against my trafficker?
You must comply with reasonable requests from law enforcement, unless you were under 18 at the time or trauma prevents you. Saying no to an unreasonable request does not automatically disqualify you.
Can I get a work permit while my T visa is pending?
Yes. Once USCIS finds your application bona fide, it considers deferred action and a work permit. File Form I-765 with your I-914 so it can be processed as early as possible.
Can a T visa lead to a green card?
Yes. After three years of continuous presence in T status, or sooner once the investigation or prosecution is complete, you can apply for permanent residence.
Does a T visa cost anything?
USCIS charges no filing fee for Form I-914 or the related work permit application.
Will my trafficker find out?
Federal law (8 U.S.C. § 1367) protects your information, and DHS may not use information from the trafficker against you.
Why Clients Choose Us?
Simple, guided process designed to make your immigration journey clear and manageable.
Strategy Calls
We Set Realistic Timelines
We File Carefully and Thoroughly
Ongoing Updates
Remote Capability
T Visa Lawyer – Ready to take the next step?
Every case starts with a careful review of your history and evidence. Book a consultation and we will explain your options, the risks and the realistic timeline before you decide anything.
Consultations are available in English, Gujarati, Hindi, Punjabi and Spanish, by phone, video or in person in Woburn.
