T Visa Lawyer

If you’ve arrived in the United States through illegal means against your will, you have the right to apply for sanctuary and a visa that allows you to remain in the country to feel safely protected. To help you undergo the rigorous challenges of getting approved for a T visa, human trafficking attorneys at Kats Immigration Law are available via in-person meetings in New York City or online through a virtual consultation. Call the best T visa lawyer before you try to go through this process alone.

What Is a T Visa?

T visas are designed to benefit the victims of human trafficking who are present in the United States. The main objective of this visa is to protect the victims who were used in trafficking and permit them to stay in the U.S. for up to four years under the Act of Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection. Human trafficking refers to the forced movement of people lured by a fake commitment to a better job or quality life. Categorizations may include:

• Sex trafficking, when young men, women and children are forced into sex work, employment in strip clubs or adult movies
• Labor trafficking that occurs to people of all ages who are forced to work in fields, construction sites, factories, domestic servitude and other types of forced labor for little or no compensation
• Violence against women, as many who need T visa protection are women covered by the Violence Against Women Act passed by the U.S. Congress

T visas are not just about opening legal doors to immigration, but also aim to help you rebuild your life once again. The annual quota for T visas is decided annually and changes regularly. To ease the process of this complex type of compassionate status, Alina Kats at New York-based Kats Immigration Law offers her expertise, which also extends to a full range of immigration services, including:

• Employment-based immigration
• Political asylum
• Family immigration
• Non-immigrant visas
• Citizenship and naturalization

What Are Some of the T Visa Rules?

Under the T visa rules, you’re allowed to work in the country legally by obtaining an Employment Authorization Document. In certain cases, you may also apply for a green card when you’ve completed your case hearings under T-status after three years. T visas also assist your family members through what’s called derivative T visa, which grants your spouse, parents and children legal permission to stay in the country.

To be considered a victim of human trafficking, you don’t need to have prior knowledge of being trafficked, but you need to have proof of being in contact with law enforcement agencies responsible for the investigation. You must be able to prove one out of three elements:

• Process of trafficking. This refers to the means the traffickers used to transfer or transport you against your will.
• Means of trafficking. This should indicate how the crime happened, whether by force or by fraud.
• Goal of tracking. If you know it, you must be able to state the purpose it took place, which may for be sex, labor or other financial purposes.

What Does a Human Trafficking Attorney Do?

First and foremost, your NYC human trafficking lawyer explains the rules to you and your family, such as you must be physically present in the U.S. to apply for this visa. Other requirements you may not be aware of include:

• Being expected to assist law enforcement agencies in your case
• Helping to prosecute the perpetrators
• Providing evidence that you’re likely to suffer hardship due to the unusual circumstances
• Proving that you don’t have a criminal record that precludes you from entering the U.S.

Your lawyer may ask that special circumstances be considered when the case involves children under 18 or applicants who are unable to fully cooperate in the process because of trauma. A T visa can get you legal permission to work in the U.S., receive medical services and shelter.

What Are the Steps to Apply for a T Visa?

There is no cost for a T visa application. The application process and the procedure include several steps, which can be confusing for someone with no knowledge about visas and immigration. The steps include:

1. Documenting, which is the key element, by collecting all the evidence to prove your eligibility as the victim of human trafficking, such as medical records, police reports and affidavits
2. Filling out the T visa application form I-914 by adding personal details, supporting documentation and the history of trafficking of which you’re aware
3. Sending your application form with all the documents to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
4. Waiting for the decision from the USCIS as it can take 90 days or more to get an answer
5. Applying for work authorization after getting approval using form I-765
6. Cooperating with law enforcement fully

It’s possible that your T visa can get denied. In these cases, you need to rely on assistance from your lawyer to file an appeal. If your denial is based on incorrect information, then you may be able to file an appeal to the Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) within 33 days.

Why Should I Hire a T Visa Lawyer?

The law, policies and regulations regarding immigration change on a regular basis, creating hurdles in the application process for inexperienced people, especially after undergoing such horrendous situations that made you eligible for a T visa. Professional and experienced T visa lawyers from Kats Immigration Law assist you in many ways, including:

• Explaining immigration laws and policies to ensure your application preparation is accurate
• Guiding you step by step through the process so that deadlines are clear
• Gathering evidence and presenting it properly
• Reducing the chances of errors and delays as you address legal obstacles

Alina Kats is the best human trafficking lawyer near me in NYC and deals with immigration issues with compassion and experience. Contact Kats Immigration Law today for a hopeful tomorrow.