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T-1 — Trafficking Victim

Residency Pathway PR PathwayThis visa can lead to permanent residency, the right to live and work here indefinitely without renewing your visa. Dependents Allowed Remote Work

At a Glance

Processing Time

1.5–3 years

Estimated Cost

USD $185

Varies by filing options

Stay Duration

4 years

Renewable

Renewal

Renewable

Family

Dependents allowed

PR Pathway

Yes

Sponsor

No job offer needed

Work

Remote work OK

Official Information

Living in United States

Cost of Living

Baseline

Avg Salary$52,000

Quality of Life

185/200

Full Country Guide

Overview

Victims of severe forms of trafficking in persons who assist law enforcement. Provides protection and path to permanent residence.

The T-1 is a US nonimmigrant status for victims of severe human trafficking — sex trafficking or labor trafficking through force, fraud, or coercion — who are physically present in the US due to that exploitation. Up to 5,000 principal grants are issued per fiscal year; derivatives do not count toward the cap.

Applicants must cooperate with law enforcement, with an exception for minors or those unable to cooperate due to trauma. All forms are fee-exempt. Initial status is up to 4 years, renewable, with a green card available after 3 years. Derivatives join as T-2 through T-6 and are work-authorized.

This visa is ideal for trafficking survivors physically present in the US who are willing and able to assist law enforcement and need a fee-free, protected path to permanent residence.

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Cost Breakdown

Form I-914 filing feeUSD $0

Form I-765 filing fee (concurrent with I-914)USD $0

Form I-192 filing fee (if inadmissibility waiver needed)USD $0

Form I-485 filing fee (for adjustment of status)USD $0

MRV/DS-160 consular fee (derivative family members applying abroad only)USD $185

TotalUSD $185

Stay & Extensions

Initial grant

4 years

Annual Cap & Quota

5,000 (principal T-1 applicants only; derivative family members do not count toward cap)

Requirements

PUBLISHED REQUIREMENTS

Is or was a victim of a severe form of trafficking in persons (sex or labor trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion)

Is physically present in the U.S., American Samoa, CNMI, or at a port of entry due to trafficking

Complied with any reasonable law enforcement request to assist in detection, investigation, or prosecution of trafficking (exception: victims under 18 or those unable to cooperate due to physical or psychological trauma)

Would suffer extreme hardship involving unusual and severe harm if removed from the United States

Is admissible to the U.S. or qualifying for a waiver of inadmissibility grounds

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Completed Form I-914 with personal statement describing trafficking experience

Form I-914, Supplement B completed by a law enforcement certifying official (highly recommended)

Evidence of physical presence in the U.S. as a result of trafficking

Evidence of compliance with law enforcement (or documentation of exception: age under 18, or physical/psychological trauma)

Evidence of extreme hardship if removed (medical records, court records, expert declarations)

Evidence of admissibility or grounds for a waiver

Corroborating documentation: police reports, court records, medical records, social worker statements, affidavits from individuals with direct knowledge

Two passport-style photographs

Copies of prior immigration documents (if any)

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

No filing fee for any USCIS forms in the T status process
Automatic Employment Authorization Document (EAD) issued upon approval — unrestricted work authorization
Clear Green Card pathway: qualifying to apply after 3 years of continuous physical presence in T-1 status
Annual cap of 5,000 principal applicants has historically not been reached, so no waitlisting due to cap
Law enforcement certification (Supplement B) is strongly recommended but not strictly required
Trafficking victims under 18 are exempt from the law enforcement cooperation requirement
Derivative T status available for qualifying family members (spouse, children, parents, unmarried siblings under 18)

Worth Knowing

Processing times are very long: currently 17.5–36.5 months at the Vermont Service Center
Applicant must establish physical presence in the U.S. as a direct result of trafficking
If grounds of inadmissibility exist, Form I-192 must be filed and approved (separate process)
Work authorization EAD is not issued until I-914 is fully adjudicated — no interim EAD
Good moral character for the 3-year period is required for Green Card adjustment
Continuous physical presence for Green Card requires no single absence of more than 90 days and no total absence exceeding 180 days
Extensions beyond the 4-year initial period are limited: only for law enforcement need or exceptional circumstances
Derivative family members in the U.S. must file separate I-765 for work authorization; those abroad apply at a U.S. consulate and pay the $185 MRV fee

Application Process

Complete Form I-914 (Application for T Nonimmigrant Status) with a detailed personal statement describing the trafficking victimization

Obtain Form I-914, Supplement B (Law Enforcement Declaration) from a qualifying certifying official, if available — strongly recommended

Include Form I-914, Supplement A for each qualifying derivative family member in the U.S.

File Form I-765 (Employment Authorization) concurrently with I-914 — fee-exempt, processed after I-914 is approved

If grounds of inadmissibility apply, include Form I-192 (Application for Advance Permission to Enter as Nonimmigrant)

Mail the complete package to the USCIS Vermont Service Center

Await USCIS decision (currently 17.5–36.5 months)

Upon approval, receive I-94 indicating T-1 status and an Employment Authorization Document (EAD)

Application Forms

I-914 Application for T Nonimmigrant Status	Fill online
I-765 Application for Employment Authorization	Fill online
I-192 Application for Advance Permission to Enter as a Nonimmigrant	Fill online
I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status	Fill online
I-914A Application for Derivative T Nonimmigrant Status	Fill online
I-914B Declaration of Law Enforcement Officer for Victim of Trafficking in Persons	Fill online

Verified Claims (31)

Last verified May 30, 2026

Application Steps

Complete Form I-914 (Application for T Nonimmigrant Status) with a detailed personal statement descr…

uscis.gov

Can Convert To

—

uscis.gov

Dependent Visa

T-2/T-3/T-4/T-5/T-6

uscis.gov

Fee Breakdown

Form I-914 filing fee: 0 USD; Form I-765 filing fee (concurrent with I-914): 0 USD; Form I-192 filin…

uscis.gov

Fees

No filing fee (fee-exempt). Form I-914, I-914A, I-914B, concurrent I-765, I-192 (if inadmissibility …

uscis.gov

Forms

I-914 (Application for T Nonimmigrant Status); I-914, Supplement A (for qualifying derivative family…

uscis.gov

Forms · I-192 · description

Application for Advance Permission to Enter as a Nonimmigrant

uscis.gov

Forms · I-485 · description

Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status

uscis.gov

Official Information

Living in United States

Cost of Living

Baseline

Avg Salary$52,000

Quality of Life

185/200

Full Country Guide

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Overview

Victims of severe forms of trafficking in persons who assist law enforcement. Provides protection and path to permanent residence.

This visa is ideal for trafficking survivors physically present in the US who are willing and able to assist law enforcement and need a fee-free, protected path to permanent residence.

Requirements

PUBLISHED REQUIREMENTS

Is or was a victim of a severe form of trafficking in persons (sex or labor trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion)

Is physically present in the U.S., American Samoa, CNMI, or at a port of entry due to trafficking

Would suffer extreme hardship involving unusual and severe harm if removed from the United States

Is admissible to the U.S. or qualifying for a waiver of inadmissibility grounds

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Completed Form I-914 with personal statement describing trafficking experience

Form I-914, Supplement B completed by a law enforcement certifying official (highly recommended)

Evidence of physical presence in the U.S. as a result of trafficking

Evidence of compliance with law enforcement (or documentation of exception: age under 18, or physical/psychological trauma)

Evidence of extreme hardship if removed (medical records, court records, expert declarations)

Evidence of admissibility or grounds for a waiver

Corroborating documentation: police reports, court records, medical records, social worker statements, affidavits from individuals with direct knowledge

Two passport-style photographs

Copies of prior immigration documents (if any)

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

No filing fee for any USCIS forms in the T status process
Automatic Employment Authorization Document (EAD) issued upon approval — unrestricted work authorization
Clear Green Card pathway: qualifying to apply after 3 years of continuous physical presence in T-1 status
Annual cap of 5,000 principal applicants has historically not been reached, so no waitlisting due to cap
Law enforcement certification (Supplement B) is strongly recommended but not strictly required
Trafficking victims under 18 are exempt from the law enforcement cooperation requirement
Derivative T status available for qualifying family members (spouse, children, parents, unmarried siblings under 18)

Worth Knowing

Processing times are very long: currently 17.5–36.5 months at the Vermont Service Center
Applicant must establish physical presence in the U.S. as a direct result of trafficking
If grounds of inadmissibility exist, Form I-192 must be filed and approved (separate process)
Work authorization EAD is not issued until I-914 is fully adjudicated — no interim EAD
Good moral character for the 3-year period is required for Green Card adjustment
Continuous physical presence for Green Card requires no single absence of more than 90 days and no total absence exceeding 180 days
Extensions beyond the 4-year initial period are limited: only for law enforcement need or exceptional circumstances
Derivative family members in the U.S. must file separate I-765 for work authorization; those abroad apply at a U.S. consulate and pay the $185 MRV fee

Application Process

Complete Form I-914 (Application for T Nonimmigrant Status) with a detailed personal statement describing the trafficking victimization

Obtain Form I-914, Supplement B (Law Enforcement Declaration) from a qualifying certifying official, if available — strongly recommended

Include Form I-914, Supplement A for each qualifying derivative family member in the U.S.

File Form I-765 (Employment Authorization) concurrently with I-914 — fee-exempt, processed after I-914 is approved

If grounds of inadmissibility apply, include Form I-192 (Application for Advance Permission to Enter as Nonimmigrant)

Mail the complete package to the USCIS Vermont Service Center

Await USCIS decision (currently 17.5–36.5 months)

Upon approval, receive I-94 indicating T-1 status and an Employment Authorization Document (EAD)

Application Forms

I-914

Application for T Nonimmigrant Status

Fill online

I-765

Application for Employment Authorization

Fill online

I-192

Application for Advance Permission to Enter as a Nonimmigrant

Fill online

I-485

Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status

Fill online

I-914A

Application for Derivative T Nonimmigrant Status

Fill online

I-914B

Declaration of Law Enforcement Officer for Victim of Trafficking in Persons

Fill online