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January 24, 2002
T Visas to be Issued to Protect Victims of Human Trafficking
The Department of Justice will soon issue T visas, created by the Trafficking
Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA) to protect women, children and men
who are the victims of human trafficking. The Attorney General signed the
T visa regulations on January 24, 2002. This new visa allows victims of
severe forms of trafficking in persons to remain in the United States and
assist federal authorities in the investigation and prosecution of human
trafficking cases. The U.S. government estimates that 45,000 to 50,000 women
and children are trafficked into the United States annually, and are trapped
in modern-day slavery-like situations. The regulations provide individuals
in T status with the ability to apply for permanent residence after three
years of holding the status. The regulation allows victims to apply for
non-immigrant status for spouses and children, and victims under the age
of 21 may apply for non-immigrant status for their parents as well. The
Department of Justice’s press release and Fact Sheet can be viewed below.
The new
I-914 form can be downloaded from the INS website at or by contacting
the INS Eastern Forms Center Forms Request Line at 1-800-870-3676.
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