Official Site of The State of New JerseyRelief for Immigrant Workers
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NJDOL can issue a certification in support of a U/T visa application. U/T visas are for victims of certain crimes and human trafficking.
A U visa provides legal immigration status to immigrants who are victims of certain crimes.
To qualify, victims must meet certain elements:
- Victims must have suffered physical or mental harm.
- Victims must have information related to the crime suffered, or
- Victims have been helpful to law enforcement, or
- Victims are being helpful to law enforcement, or
- Victims are likely to be helpful to law enforcement.
An applicant must submit a signed certification (I-918 Supplement B Form). NJDOL can sign this form.
If you are granted a U visa you may stay in the United States for up to four years. You may also be eligible for permanent residency.
- Abduction
- Abusive sexual contact
- Blackmail
- Domestic violence
- Extortion
- False imprisonment
- Felonious assault
- FGM
- Being held hostage
- Incest
- Involuntary servitude
- Kidnapping
- Manslaughter
- Murder
- Obstruction of justice
- Peonage
- Perjury
- Prostitution
- Rape
- Sexual assault
- Sexual exploitation
- Slave trade
- Torture
- Trafficking
- Witness tampering
- Unlawful criminal restraint
- Other related crimes
If you plan to request a certification from NJDOL, you should know the following:
- The U visa request must relate to a law NJDOL enforces. The alleged criminal activity must have occurred in an employment context.
- Based on the facts you present, NJDOL will make a prima facie (this means based on first impression) determination if you may be a victim of one of the qualifying crimes.
- NJDOL will evaluate if you are being helpful or will likely be helpful in detecting, investigating, or prosecuting the crime.
- Certification from NJDOL does not guarantee approval of a U Visa. US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is responsible for this decision.
Please note that NJDOL will not:
- Ask about your immigration status during this process.
- Discuss the probability or possibility of obtaining a U Visa.
Lastly, NJDOL is not required to certify a U Visa.
- Complete the following sections of the I-918 Supplement B form and send it to immigration-relief@dol.nj.gov:
- Part 1. Victim Information
- Part 3. Criminal Acts
- Part 5. Family Members Culpable in Criminal Activity
- We encourage you to write a short summary of facts, but this is not required.
Please note that NJDOL is not directly involved with the USCIS process.
To apply for a U visa, you must submit required forms, evidence, and a personal statement. The complete process for requesting a U visa from USCIS can be found on USCIS’s website.
- NJDOL cannot provide legal advice or help you determine if applying for a U visa is right for you.
- NJDOL encourages you to seek legal advice to decide whether to apply for a U visa.
- Free legal service providers are available here: https://www.justice.gov/eoir/list-pro-bono-legal-service-providers (select New Jersey on the map).
Visit the USCIS website.
The T visa provides legal immigration status to immigrants who are victims of human trafficking.
To qualify, the victims must meet certain criteria:
- Victims must have been helpful to law enforcement, or
- Victims are being helpful to law enforcement, or
- Victims will be helpful to law enforcement.
You may submit a I-914 Supplement B form from NJDOL with your T Visa application. It’s not required, but it is helpful.
If you are granted a T visa, you may stay in the United States for up to four years. You may also be eligible for permanent residency.
If you plan on requesting a certification from NJDOL, please note:
- The U visa request must relate to a law NJDOL enforces and the crime of human trafficking must have occurred in an employment context.
- Based on the facts you will present, NJDOL will make a prima facie (this means based on first impression) determination that you may be a victim of human trafficking and thus could be eligible for a T visa.
- NJDOL will evaluate if you are being helpful or will likely be helpful in detecting, investigating, or prosecuting the crime.
- Certification from NJDOL does not guarantee approval of a U Visa. USCIS is responsible for this decision.
Please note that NJDOL will not:
- Ask about your immigration status.
- Discuss the probability or possibility of obtaining a T visa.
Lastly, NJDOL is not required to certify a U Visa.
- Complete the following sections of the I-914 Supplement B form and send it to immigration-relief@dol.nj.gov:
- Part 1. Victim Information
- Part 3. Statement of Claim
- Part 5. Family Members Implicated in Trafficking
- We encourage you to write a short summary of facts, but this is not required.
Please note that NJDOL is not directly involved with the USCIS process.
To apply for a T visa, you must submit required forms, evidence, and a personal statement. The complete process for requesting a T visa from USCIS can be found on USCIS’s website.
- NJDOL cannot provide legal advice or help you determine if applying for a T visa is right for you.
- NJDOL encourages you to seek legal advice to decide whether to apply for a T visa.
- Free legal service providers are available here: https://www.justice.gov/eoir/list-pro-bono-legal-service-providers (select New Jersey on the map).
Visit the USCIS website.
