T Visas and Trafficking

This article answers common questions about human trafficking and T Visas.

Composed by TexasLawHelp.org • Last Updated on March 22, 2025 | Special thanks to American Gateways for its contribution to this article.

What is a T Visa?

A T visa is a special type of visa for people who have been victims of severe human trafficking. Severe human trafficking means when people are forced into things like sex or labor work against their will. The law calls these two types "sex trafficking" and "labor trafficking."

Is a T Visa the same as a U Visa?

No, a T visa is not the same as a U visa. A T visa is for people who have been victims of serious human trafficking. A U visa is for people who have been victims of a crime in the U.S. and helped law enforcement with the investigation or trial of that crime.

Unlike the U visa, the T visa doesn't always need a certificate from the police. For a U visa, the police must say that the victim is helping with the investigation. But for a T visa, the person just needs to have helped law enforcement with the investigation of human trafficking. If the person was under 18 when the trafficking happened, or if they can't help because of physical or emotional harm, they don’t need to cooperate with the police.

Who is eligible for a T Visa?

A person who meets each of the following general requirements may be eligible for a T visa:

1. Survivor of “severe trafficking” (use of force, fraud, or coercion for sex trafficking and/or involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery); and
2. Who is physically present in the U.S. on account of trafficking; and
3. Who has complied with any reasonable request by federal, state, or local law enforcement to assist in the investigation or prosecution of such trafficking; and
4. Who would suffer extreme hardship involving severe and unusual harm upon removal.

Talk to an immigration attorney about how your experience meets these requirements. Specific factors such as the age of the victim; location of the trafficking experience; level of trauma; and evidence available affect how each applicant must meet these requirements.

If I wasn't a victim of human trafficking until after I crossed into the U.S. illegally, can I still get a T visa?

It depends on the details of each case. You need to show that you are in the U.S. or at a border because of the trafficking. It's a good idea to talk to an immigration lawyer for