Form I-914 · No police certification required · Work permit · Green card after 3 years
T Visa Lawyer Houston — Protection and a Green Card Path for Trafficking Victims
A T visa lawyer in Houston helps victims of labor or sex trafficking get legal status, a work permit and, in time, a green card. You do not need a police certification to apply, and you do not need to have left the trafficker to be safe from deportation while your case is reviewed. Adan G. Vega is a Board-Certified immigration attorney who has represented vulnerable immigrants in Houston since 1979. Consultations are confidential, in English and Spanish.
Call (713) 527-9606 or contact us online to speak with a T visa lawyer in Houston today.
Board-Certified45 Years4.8★ 442 ReviewsEnglish & Spanish
Book a consultation
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The four things a T visa case must prove
- 1VictimOf a severe form of trafficking: forced labor, debt bondage or commercial sex by force, fraud or coercion (any minor in commercial sex)
- 2PresentIn the United States on account of the trafficking, even if you escaped years ago
- 3CooperationComplied with reasonable law enforcement requests, or exempt: under 18 at the time, or trauma
- 4HardshipExtreme hardship involving unusual and severe harm if removed
Why it matters
Trafficking Victims Rarely Come Forward — A T Visa Lawyer in Houston Changes That
Most trafficking victims never report what happened to them. They were told that immigration would deport them, that the police would not believe them, or that their family back home would be hurt. Many do not even know that what happened to them is called trafficking. Being forced to work to pay off a debt, having your passport taken, being moved from job to job with no way to leave, or being made to do sex work under threat are all forms of trafficking under federal law.
Congress created T nonimmigrant status, the T visa, so that victims can come forward safely. It gives you lawful status for up to four years, a work permit, protection from removal while your application is pending, and a path to a green card. Your spouse and children, and in some cases your parents and siblings, can be protected with you.
A T visa lawyer in Houston makes the difference between an application that is denied for thin evidence and one that is approved. The rules changed in August 2024, and they now reward a complete, well-documented filing from the start. We prepare your personal statement, gather the credible evidence the regulations ask for, and handle every contact with law enforcement so you never have to face it alone.
How we help
How Our T Visa Lawyer in Houston Builds Your Case
Adan G. Vega is Board-Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and has practiced immigration law in Houston for more than 45 years. Our office has worked with abuse and crime victims for decades, and we know the difference a careful, patient case preparation makes for someone who has been through trauma.
Your T visa lawyer in Houston starts with your story. We listen first, in your language, at your pace. Then we match what happened to you against the four legal requirements and build the evidence for each one.
Here is what our T visa lawyer in Houston does for you:
- A confidential case review to confirm that what happened to you meets the legal definition of a severe form of trafficking
- Your detailed personal statement, written in your own words and prepared with your attorney
- Evidence that you are in the United States because of the trafficking, even if you escaped years ago
- A request for the optional law enforcement declaration when it helps, and a strong case without it when it does not
- The full Form I-914 application for you and Supplement A applications for eligible family members
- A work permit request and a request for deferred action under the bona fide determination process
- An inadmissibility waiver (Form I-192) if you have immigration or criminal history that needs to be forgiven
- Your adjustment of status to a green card after three years in T status, or sooner if the investigation is complete
What we handle
T Visa Lawyer Services in Houston
01
T Visa for Victims of Labor Trafficking
Labor trafficking includes forced work through threats, debt bondage, confiscated documents, physical confinement or psychological coercion. It happens in construction, restaurants, domestic work, agriculture, landscaping, nail salons and many other Houston industries. You may qualify even if you were paid something, and even if you first agreed to come to the United States for the job.
02
T Visa for Victims of Sex Trafficking
Sex trafficking is a commercial sex act induced by force, fraud or coercion, or involving anyone under 18. Minors never have to show force, fraud or coercion. We handle these cases with complete discretion and work with counselors and advocates when you want us to.
03
T Visas for Family Members
If you are 21 or older, your spouse (T-2) and your children (T-3) can apply with you. If you are under 21, your parents (T-4) and unmarried siblings under 18 (T-5) can apply too. Any family member who faces a present danger of retaliation because you escaped or cooperated with law enforcement may also qualify, including the children of a derivative (T-6). Family members can be inside or outside the United States.
04
Work Permits, Deferred Action and Stays of Removal
Since August 28, 2024, USCIS reviews new T applications for a bona fide determination. If your application is complete and passes background checks, you can receive deferred action and a work permit while the full decision is pending, and any removal order against you is automatically stayed.
05
Inadmissibility Waivers for T Applicants
Unlawful entry, prior removals, false documents or a criminal record do not end the case. T applicants can ask USCIS to waive most grounds of inadmissibility with Form I-192, and the unlawful presence bar does not apply when the trafficking was a central reason for the unlawful presence.
06
From T Status to a Green Card
After three years in T status, or earlier if the trafficking investigation or prosecution is complete, you can apply for a green card with Form I-485. We track the date, keep the evidence of continuous presence and good moral character, and file your family members with you.
What clients say
What Clients Say About Our Houston Immigration Lawyers
“I fully recommend this office and its entire team. I am 100% satisfied. Many friends have used this office and all have received successful results.”
Hubert Mura
Adan G. Vega & Associates holds a 4.8-star rating across 442 client reviews. Trafficking survivors come to us because they need someone who will believe them, protect their privacy and know the law well enough to use every protection it offers.
Congress limits T-1 approvals to 5,000 per fiscal year, and applicants over the limit wait in line by filing date. The sooner your complete application is filed, the sooner your protection and your green card clock start. Call (713) 527-9606 today.
Step by step
How a T Visa Lawyer in Houston Handles Your Case
Your T visa lawyer in Houston follows a clear, confidential process from the first conversation to your green card.
- 01Confidential Case Review
We meet in person or by video, in English or Spanish. You tell us what happened. We identify whether it meets the legal definition of a severe form of trafficking and whether a T visa, a U visa or another form of relief fits your facts best. - 02Your Personal Statement
The regulations require a detailed, signed statement in your own words. We prepare it with you over several sessions, covering the trafficking, why you are still in the United States, what you fear if removed, and any contact with law enforcement. - 03Evidence Under the Credible Evidence Standard
USCIS decides T cases on any credible evidence. We gather medical and counseling records, messages, pay records, witness statements, shelter and advocate letters, and records from any police or federal agency you spoke with. - 04Law Enforcement Contact
A law enforcement declaration (Form I-914 Supplement B) is optional. When an agency is willing to sign, we request it. When it is not, or when contacting them would put you at risk, we document your cooperation or your exemption another way. Victims who were under 18 at the time of the trafficking, and victims whose trauma prevents cooperation, are exempt from the cooperation requirement. - 05Filing Form I-914, Supplement A and Any Waiver
We file your application, your family members’ applications and any Form I-192 waiver together, with a request for a work permit. There is no USCIS filing fee for Form I-914. - 06Bona Fide Determination, Work Permit and Decision
USCIS first reviews the application for a bona fide determination, which can bring deferred action, a work permit and a stay of any removal order while the full decision is pending. We respond to any request for evidence and prepare you for an interview if one is scheduled. - 07Adjustment of Status to a Green Card
After three years in T status, or when the investigation is complete, we file your Form I-485 with proof of continuous presence and good moral character, and your family members adjust with you.
Before you file
What to Know Before You Hire a T Visa Lawyer in Houston
Who Qualifies for a T Visa?
You must show four things: you are or were a victim of a severe form of trafficking in persons; you are in the United States on account of the trafficking; you have complied with reasonable requests from law enforcement, or you are exempt because you were under 18 or because of physical or psychological trauma; and you would suffer extreme hardship involving unusual and severe harm if removed. Anyone who committed trafficking themselves is barred.
Do I Need a Police Certification?
No. Unlike the U visa, the T visa does not require a law enforcement certification. The Supplement B declaration is one form of evidence among many, and USCIS gives it no special weight. A strong personal statement and other credible evidence can carry the case.
What If I Escaped Years Ago?
You can still be eligible. Physical presence on account of trafficking includes people who escaped and never left the United States, people who were freed by law enforcement, and people who returned to participate in an investigation. We document why you stayed and why leaving was not a real option.
T Visa or U Visa?
The U visa covers victims of many crimes but requires a signed law enforcement certification, and the annual cap of 10,000 creates a long waiting list. The T visa covers trafficking only, does not require certification, has a 5,000 cap that has never been reached, and leads to a green card after three years. Many clients qualify for both, and we choose the stronger path.
Pro TipKeep every message, pay stub, work schedule, rental record and photo from the time of the trafficking. Evidence that looks small, such as a text telling you that you cannot leave, often proves the coercion that the law requires.
Common MistakeWaiting for a police investigation before applying. You can file now with the evidence you have. A pending or closed investigation does not disqualify you, and an application filed today starts your protection sooner.
Questions clients ask
T Visa Lawyer Houston FAQ
How long does a T visa last?
T-1 status is granted for up to four years. You should apply for a green card during that period, after three years in T status or once the investigation or prosecution is complete. Extensions are available in limited situations.
Can I work while my T visa application is pending?
Yes, if USCIS makes a bona fide determination on your application, which has been part of the process for applications filed on or after August 28, 2024. Deferred action and a work permit can be granted while the final decision is pending.
Does the T visa have a filing fee?
No. There is no USCIS filing fee for Form I-914 or Supplement A. Biometrics are required.
Can my family get T visas too?
If you are 21 or older: your spouse and children. If you are under 21: your spouse, children, parents and unmarried siblings under 18. Family members in present danger of retaliation may qualify at any age, and family members abroad can be approved and receive visas at the consulate.
I have a deportation order. Can I still apply?
Yes. T applications from people in removal proceedings or with final orders are filed directly with USCIS. A bona fide determination automatically stays a final order of removal while the application is pending.
What is extreme hardship involving unusual and severe harm?
It is a higher standard than ordinary hardship. USCIS considers your age and health, the medical and psychological care you need, the danger of retaliation or re-trafficking in your home country, the laws and protection available there, and the impact of losing access to the U.S. legal system. We build this part of the case with records and expert letters.
Will my trafficker find out I applied?
USCIS does not notify the trafficker. Federal law protects information in T, U and VAWA cases from disclosure, and our office keeps every file confidential. You decide whether and when to involve law enforcement.
Where we serve
T Visa Lawyers Serving Greater Houston
Houston is one of the largest hubs for labor and sex trafficking in the country, and victims are found in every part of the metro area: Gulfton and Sharpstown, the Ship Channel and Pasadena, Katy, Sugar Land, Pearland, The Woodlands, Baytown and Galveston. Many clients first reach us through a shelter, a church, a counselor or a family member. We work with the advocates you already trust.
Our office serves clients throughout Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery, Brazoria and Galveston counties, and because T status is federal, we represent victims anywhere in Texas and across the United States. Consultations are available in person, by phone or by video, in English and Spanish.
Quick reference
Quick Reference: What Is a T Visa Lawyer in Houston?
In short
A T visa lawyer in Houston represents victims of labor and sex trafficking in applications for T nonimmigrant status under 8 CFR 214.201 to 214.213. The lawyer proves the four eligibility requirements, prepares the personal statement and credible evidence, files Form I-914 and family applications, requests waivers and work permits, and later files for a green card under 8 CFR 245.23. Adan G. Vega has handled humanitarian immigration cases in Houston since 1979 and is Board-Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law.
Next step
Ready to Speak With a T Visa Lawyer in Houston?
You do not have to decide anything today. A confidential consultation tells you whether what happened to you qualifies, what evidence you already have, and what protection you can receive while your case is pending. Bring any documents you kept, any contact you had with police or an agency, and the names of anyone who helped you. You will leave knowing your options in plain language, in English or Spanish.
Call (713) 527-9606 or book a consultation online with a T visa lawyer in Houston.
Start with a consultation
Board-Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law. 45 years of experience. English and Spanish.
Book a consultationOr call(713) 527-9606
Talk to a T Visa Lawyer in Houston in Confidence
Bring any documents you kept and the names of anyone who helped you. You will leave knowing whether what happened to you qualifies and what protection you can receive while your case is pending. English and Spanish.
Book a consultation
Or call(713) 527-9606