Many immigrants are fearful of admitting that they have been a victim of a crime in part because they believe they will be removed (deported) from Visit the “Humanitarian” section of the United States the USCIS website if they report the www.uscis.gov crime. Officials such as police of- ficers, healthcare Law Enforcement Officials and providers, judges, Representatives of Record and prosecutors contact USCIS at 1 802 527 4888 are often the first All others should call 1 800 375 5283 to see the signs of violence and are therefore in a unique position to provide information and assistance to those who have been victims. This brochure is designed to assist front-line workers in this endeavor. Victims are not required to be in legal immigration U.S. law provides several status, but they must: protections for legal and undocumented immi- Immigration Options • Be a victim of a severe form of trafficking in persons, grants who have been • Be physically present in the United States on account victims of a crime. Often for Victims of Crimes of the trafficking, victims are unaware of • Comply with any reasonable requests for assistance such protections, thus Information for Law Enforcement, in the investigation or prosecution (or be under the frontline workers serve as age of 18), and a critical link for immi- Healthcare Providers, and Others grant victims. There are specific protections for victims • Suffer extreme hardship involving unusual and Violence Against Women Act severe harm if removed from the United States. of domestic violence, victims of certain crimes, and victims of human trafficking. U Nonimmigrant Status T Nonimmigrant Status To apply for a T nonimmigrant status, applicants must All agencies within the Department of Homeland file Form I-914, Application for T Nonimmigrant Security (DHS), including USCIS, are legally prohibited Status. Qualifying family members may also be eligible from disclosing that a victim has applied for VAWA, T, or to apply for benefits. U immigration benefits.

M-779 (02/10) Violence Against Women Act VAWA provisions apply equally to men and women. Victims of the following crimes may be eligible for a (VAWA) Self-Petitioners Victims of domestic violence, whether a spouse, child, U nonimmigrant visa: or parent of the abuser, may self-petition by filing Form Abduction Manslaughter I-360, Petition for Widow(er)s, Amerasians, and Special Abusive Sexual Contact Rape Immigrants. This form is available on USCIS’ website, www.uscis.gov. Blackmail Murder Domestic Violence Obstruction of Justice U Nonimmigrant Status Extortion Witness Tampering U nonimmigrant status (or U visa) offers immigration False Imprisonment protection for victims and is also a tool for law enforce- Prostitution ment. To obtain U status, the victim must obtain a cer- Female Genital Mutilation Sexual Assault tification from law enforcement, however, law enforce- Perjury Slave Trade ment officials should note that providing a certification Felonious Assault Torture does not grant a benefit—only USCIS has the authority to grant or deny this benefit. Hostage Taken Trafficking Victims are not required to be in legal immigration Incest Sexual Exploitation status, but they must: Peonage Unlawful Criminal Restraint Some immigrants may be afraid to report acts of • Be a victim of qualifying criminal activity and have domestic violence to the police or to seek other forms Involuntary Servitude Other Related Crimes suffered substantial physical or mental abuse as a of assistance. Such fear causes many immigrants to Kidnapping result of the crime, remain in abusive relationships. T Nonimmigrant Status • Possess credible and reliable information about the Victims of domestic violence who are the child, parent, qualifying criminal activity, Trafficking in persons—also known as “human or current/former spouse of a United States citizen To apply for U nonimmigrant status, the victim must trafficking”—is a form of modern-day slavery. • Be, have been, or are likely to be helpful to the investi- or a permanent resident (green card holder) and are file Form I-918, Petition for U Nonimmigrant Status. Traffickers prey on many types of people, often includ- gation and/or prosecution of that qualifying criminal abused by the citizen or permanent resident may be Law enforcement official must certify Form I-918, ing individuals who are poor, unemployed, underem- activity, and eligible to apply for a green card themselves without Supplement B. Qualifying family members may also be ployed, or who lack the safety and protection of strong needing the abuser to file for immigration benefits • Be a victim of criminal activity that violated a U.S. law. eligible to apply for benefits. social networks. Victims are often lured under the false on their behalf. This provision of the law was created pretenses of good jobs and better lives, and then forced under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). to work under brutal and inhumane conditions. Many believe that human trafficking is a problem that only Victims must establish that they: Visit the “Humanitarian” section of occurs in other countries—but human trafficking also • Have or had a qualifying relationship with the the USCIS website happens in the United States. abuser spouse, or, are the parent or child of the www.uscis.gov abuser, The T nonimmigrant status (or T visa) provides im- migration protection to victims of severe forms of • Reside or resided with the abuser, Law Enforcement Officials and Representatives of Record trafficking in persons who assist law enforcement in • Have good moral character, and contact USCIS at 1 802 527 4888 the investigation and prosecution of human trafficking • Have been victims of battery or extreme cruelty. All others should call 1 800 375 5283 cases.