Overview
The U Visa and T Visa programs provide humanitarian protection to noncitizens who have been victims of severe crimes or human trafficking in the United States. Designed to strengthen law enforcement efforts while protecting vulnerable individuals, these visas grant legal status, work authorization, and eventual green card eligibility.
Requirements
U Visa — substantial abuse from a qualifying crime
An applicant must have suffered substantial physical or mental abuse as a victim of a qualifying crime — such as domestic violence, felony assault, or extortion — occurring in the U.S.
U Visa — helpfulness and certification
The applicant must possess reliable information about the crime and obtain a formal law enforcement certification (Form I-918 Supplement B) confirming their helpfulness in investigating or prosecuting the offense.
T Visa — victim of severe trafficking
An applicant must be a victim of severe human trafficking (labor or commercial sex trafficking) and be physically present in the U.S. on account of trafficking.
T Visa — cooperation and extreme hardship
The applicant must comply with reasonable law enforcement requests and demonstrate extreme hardship involving severe harm upon removal.
Key benefits
- Stops deportation proceedings and grants official employment authorization (EAD).
- Provides derivative status and protection for qualifying family members.
- Waives various grounds of inadmissibility through broad humanitarian waivers (Form I-192).
- Leads directly to Green Card eligibility after three years of continuous physical presence under U or T status.