What are U visas and T visas?

A U visa is a temporary immigration classification that was created by Congress in 2000 through the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) in recognition that many non-citizen persons who are victims of crimes may hesitate to contact or cooperate with law enforcement or child and adult welfare investigations, out of fear that their immigration status makes them vulnerable.

A T visa is also a temporary immigration classification created through the TVPA in order to protect victims of human trafficking and to strengthen the ability to investigate and prosecute human trafficking crimes.

What are U visa certifications and T visa endorsements?

U visa certifications: Crime victims who wish to apply for a U visa must include a certification completed by a certifying agency, along with their full application, to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)—a federal agency within the United States Department of Homeland Security.

T visa endorsements: For trafficking victims who wish to apply for a T visa, submission of an endorsement is not required, but USCIS gives great weight to the T visa endorsement when reviewing the victim’s application.

How can I obtain a U visa certification or T visa endorsement in Philadelphia?

There are three investigating agencies that qualify as U visa certifying and T visa endorsing agencies in Philadelphia. Below are the contact information for these agencies. Send requests to the agency that is or was involved in a case.

District Attorney’s Office (DAO)

U visa certification or T visa endorsement requests should be mailed to the DAO with a cover letter, draft of USCIS Form I-914, Supplement B (T visas) or I-918, Supplement B (U visas) and supporting evidence:

Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office 
Immigration Counsel
3 S. Penn Square
Philadelphia, PA 19107

Philadelphia Police Department (PPD)

U visa certification or T visa endorsement requests should be emailed to the PPD with a draft of Form I-914, Supplement B (T visas) or I-918, Supplement B (U visas). Supplement B should be filled in as completely as possible. Email requests to:

Inspector Francis Healy
Francis.healy@phila.gov 

Department of Human Services (DHS)

As the investigating agency of child welfare matters, DHS qualifies as a U visa certifying agency and a T visa endorsing agency.  If appropriate in a specific case, DHS can make a statement that the U or T visa petitioner was the victim of a qualifying crime, has information about it, and is being helpful, has been helpful or is likely to be helpful to DHS in the investigation of the qualifying crime.  This can be submitted as one piece of evidence in support of the visa application but does not automatically grant the non-citizen crime victim U or T visa status. Requests should be sent to:

Law Department 
Chief Deputy City Solicitor, Child Welfare Unit
1515 Arch Street, 16th floor
Philadelphia, PA 19102

or

Karen Fortune, Esq. 
Karen.Fortune@Phila.gov

Resources

Learn more about the process of applying for a U or T visa.
Additional information about the application process and other resources is available through United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.