- T visa
A T visa is a type of visa allowing certain victims of
Human trafficking to remain in theUnited States if they agree to assist law enforcement in testifying against the perpetrators.Background
The United States government estimates that up to 50,000 people are trafficked illegally into the United States against their will, mostly women and children who are brought as sex slaves. [cite web | title=Department of Justice issues T visa to protect women, children and all victims of human trafficking | url=http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2002/January/02_crt_038.htm | date=Jaunary 24, 2002 | accessdate=2007-08-08 | publisher=United States Department of Justice ] As a response, it enacted the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000 (VTVPA), which, among other things, allows such people to apply for 3-year temporary visas that lead to
permanent resident status. Although 5,000 are available per year, only 1,000 had been issued as of October, 2006. [cite news | accessdate=2007-08-08|publisher=San Francisco Chronicle|title=Diary of a sex slave: free, but trapped | author=Meredith May | date=October 10, 2007 | url=http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/10/10/MNGN9LFHRO1.DTL ]Eligibility
T-1 visas are available to people who:
*came to the United States illegally to engage in commercial sex work, involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery
*committed commercial sex acts, or agreed to come to the US, as a result of force, fraud, or coercion
*would suffer extreme hardship if deported
*report their trafficking crime to federal authorities and, if at least 15 years old, help with investigations and prosecutionsRelated visas include:
*T-2 visas - spouses of T-1 applicants
*T-3 visas - children of T-1 applicants
*T-4 visas - parents of T-1 applicants who are childrenReferences
External links
* [http://straylight.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode22/usc_sup_01_22_10_78.html VTVPA] - text of statute
* [http://www.nilc.org/immlawpolicy/obtainlpr/oblpr071.htm DOJ issues regulations for T visas, available to victims of trafficking] - National Immigration Law Center article
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