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• Overview
• T Visas for Immediate Family Members - How to Apply
• Schedule an Interview
• Prepare for Your Interview
• Gather Required Documentation
• Attend Your Visa Interview
• Additional Information
• Visa Interviews for T-3 Child Applicants
• Visa Denial and Ineligibility
• Misrepresentation or Fraud
• Adjustment of Status
• Revocation of T Status
  
• Entering the U.S. - Port of Entry
  
• How Do I Extend My Stay?
• How can I find out how long I am authorized to stay in the U.S.?
• I did not turn in my I-94 when I left the United States, what should I do?
• How Do I Change My Status?
• Reference - U.S. Law
• Further Questions

Overview

Human trafficking, also known as trafficking in persons, is a form of modern-day slavery in which traffickers typically lure individuals with false promises of employment and a better life. Victims of severe forms of human trafficking are provided relief under U.S. immigration law by the Victims of Trafficking in Persons (T) nonimmigrant visa. This status allows victims of human trafficking to remain in the United States to assist in investigations or prosecutions of human trafficking violators.

Foreign citizens seeking T-1 nonimmigrant status must be physically present in the United States already, due to human trafficking. Therefore, U.S. embassies and consulates abroad (outside the U.S.) do not issue T-1 visas, but may issue qualifying family members T (derivative) visas. The purpose of this webpage is to explain the visa application process at U.S. embassies and consulates abroad for family members of trafficking victims.

T-1 Nonimmigrant Status

In order to receive T-1 nonimmigrant status, you must be eligible and you must comply with the application requirements set forth by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). To be eligible, applicants must be in the United States, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or at a U.S. port of entry due to trafficking, or they must have been allowed entry into the United States for participation in investigative or judicial processes associated with an act or perpetrator of trafficking. You may apply for T-1 nonimmigrant status by filing a Form I-914, Application for T Nonimmigrant Status, with USCIS. Applications for T-1 nonimmigrant status must be filed with the USCIS Vermont Service Center and will not be accepted at U.S. embassies or consulates overseas. For important detailed information on eligibility and how to apply for T-1 nonimmigrant status, visit the USCIS Victims of Human Trafficking webpage. USCIS provides applicant approval via Form I -797, Notice of Action.

T Visas for Immediate Family Members - File an Application with USCIS

As a T-1 nonimmigrant status applicant, you may apply for certain family members in conjunction with your own application, or at a later date, with USCIS. Depending on your age, you are able to apply for the following family members: 

If you are:	Then you may file for your:
under age 21,	Spouse (T-2) Children (T-3) Parents (T-4) Unmarried siblings under age 18 (T-5)
age 21 or older	Spouse (T-2) Children (T-3)
Any age, if your family member faces a present danger of retaliation as a result of your escape from trafficking or your cooperation with law enforcement,	Parents (T-4) Unmarried siblings under age 18 (T-5)

If you are a qualifying family member of a T-1 principal applicant or T-1 nonimmigrant status holder, he or she may file for derivative T nonimmigrant status for you. The T-1 principal applicant or T-1 nonimmigrant status holder must file Form I-914, Supplement A, Application for Immediate Family Member of T-1 Recipient, directly with the USCIS Vermont Service Center, regardless of where you are currently located. Before USCIS approves Form I-914, Supplement A, qualifying family members aged 14-79 will receive a Notice of Action instructing them to go to the nearest USCIS office for fingerprinting. If you are outside the United States, you must submit fingerprints at the nearest USCIS office. If there is no USCIS office in your country, you must go to a U.S. embassy or consulate to have your fingerprints taken. Check the embassy or consulate website for instructions on requesting a fingerprinting appointment for a Form I-914, Supplement A, Application for Immediate Family Member of T-1 Recipient. Contact the Nonimmigrant Visa section if you have questions, and be sure to specify that you need fingerprints collected as part of a Form I-914, Supplement A. There is no fee for this fingerprinting service. Do not wait for the U.S. embassy or consulate to contact you.

USCIS will inform you in writing when your Form I-914, Supplement A, is approved or denied. If approved, you will receive a notice of approval on Form I-797, Notice of Action, from USCIS stating your Form I-914, Supplement A, has been approved.

T Visas for Immediate Family Members - How to Apply

There are several steps to apply for a visa. The order of these steps and how you complete them may vary at the U.S. embassy or consulate where you apply. Please consult the instructions available on the embassy or consulate website where you will apply.

Complete the Online Visa Application

• Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-160 – Learn more about completing the DS-160. You must: 1) complete the online visa application and 2) print the application form confirmation page to bring to your interview.
• Photo – You will upload your photo while completing the online Form DS-160. Your photo must be in the format explained in the Photograph Requirements.

Schedule an Interview

If your Form I-914, Supplement A, Application for Immediate Family Member of T-1 Recipient, is approved by USCIS and you are outside of the United States, you must apply for a T visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate, generally in your country of permanent residence. You may schedule your visa appointment immediately upon receiving the Form I-797 from USCIS stating your Form I-914, Supplement A, has been approved. Do not wait for the U.S. embassy or consulate to contact you.

While interviews are generally not required for applicants of certain ages outlined above, consular officers have the discretion to require an interview of any applicant, regardless of age.

You must schedule an appointment for your visa interview, generally, at the U.S. embassy or consulate in the country where you live. You may schedule your interview at any U.S. embassy or consulate, but be aware that it may be difficult to qualify for a visa outside of your place of permanent residence.

If you are age:	Than an interview is:
13 and younger	Generally not required
14-79	Required (some exceptions for renewals)
80 and older	Generally not required

Wait times for interview appointments vary by location, season, and visa category, so you should apply for your visa early. Review the interview wait time for the location where you will apply.

Prepare for Your Interview

• Fees - Pay the non-refundable visa application fee, if you are required to pay it before your interview. For current fees for Department of State government services select Fees. When your visa is approved, you may also pay a visa issuance reciprocity fee, if applicable to your nationality. Please review the Visa Reciprocity Tables to find out if you must pay a visa issuance fee.
• Review the instructions available on the website of the embassy or consulate where you will apply to learn more about fee payment.

Gather Required Documentation

Each applicant for a T-2, T-3, T-4, or T-5 nonimmigrant visa must gather and prepare the following required documents before the visa interview:

• Passport valid for travel to the United States - Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your period of stay in the United States (unless exempt by country-specific agreements). If more than one person is included in your passport, each person who needs a visa must submit a separate application.
• Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-160 confirmation page
• Application fee payment receipt, if you are required to pay before your interview
• Photo – You will upload your photo while completing the online Form DS-160. If the photo upload fails, you must bring one printed photo in the format explained in the Photograph Requirements.
• Form I-797, Notice of Action, from USCIS indicating approval of Form I-914, Supplement A.

Additional Documentation May Be Required

Review the instructions for how to apply for a visa on the website of the embassy or consulate where you will apply. Additional documents may be requested to establish if you are qualified.

Attend Your Visa Interview

During your visa interview, a consular officer will determine whether you are qualified to receive a visa, and if so, which visa category is appropriate based on your purpose of travel. You will need to establish that you meet the requirements under U.S. law to receive the category of visa for which you are applying.

Ink-free, digital fingerprint scans will be taken as part of your application process. They are usually taken during your interview, but this varies based on location.

After your visa interview, your application may require further administrative processing. You will be informed by the consular officer if further processing is necessary for your application.

When the visa is approved, you may pay a visa issuance fee if applicable to your nationality, and will be informed how your passport with visa will be returned to you. Review the visa processing time, to learn how soon your passport with visa will generally be ready for pick-up or delivery by the courier.

Additional Information

• We cannot guarantee that you will be issued a visa. Do not make final travel plans or buy tickets until you have a visa.
• Unless canceled or revoked, a visa is valid until its expiration date. Therefore, a valid U.S. visa in an expired passport is still valid. If you have a valid visa in your expired passport, do not remove it from your expired passport. You may use your valid visa in your expired passport along with a new valid passport for travel and admission to the United States.
• Information for T-2, T-3, T-4, and T-5 visa holders about permission to work in the United States is available on the USCIS website under Work Authorization. T-2, T-3, T-4, and T-5 visa holders are permitted to study in the United States.

Visa Interviews for T-3 Child Applicants

T-1 parents do not have to be present at visa interviews for T-3 children or other qualifying family members. If only one parent is present at the visa interview, a letter from the other parent expressing consent to visa issuance may be necessary.

Visa Denial and Ineligibility

Review Visa Denials for detailed information about visa ineligibilities, denials, and waivers.

If you are ineligible for a T visa, you must file Form I-192, Application for Advance Permission to Enter as a Nonimmigrant, directly with the USCIS Vermont Service Center. The U.S. embassy or consulate cannot issue a visa until USCIS has made a determination on the Form I-192. If approved, USCIS will notify you and the U.S. embassy or consulate where you applied. If you receive notification that your waiver has been approved, follow the “221(g)” instructions on the embassy’s or consulate’s website for how to proceed with your application. Do not wait for the embassy or consulate to contact you.

Misrepresentation or Fraud

Attempting to obtain a visa by the willful misrepresentation of a material fact, or fraud, may result in the permanent refusal of a visa or denial of entry into the United States. Review Ineligibilities and Waivers: Laws.

Adjustment of Status

Information about adjustment of status to a lawful permanent resident is available on the USCIS website under Green Card for a Victim of Trafficking (T Nonimmigrant). T nonimmigrants eligible to adjust status must file Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, directly with the USCIS Vermont Service Center. See the special Supplement E Instructions to Form I-485 for further details.

Revocation of T Status

If the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) revokes a principal applicant’s T-1 nonimmigrant status, all family members deriving T nonimmigrant status from the revoked T-1 principal applicant will have their status revoked, as well. Also, family members residing abroad awaiting decisions on T-2, T-3, T-4, or T-5 applications will be denied.