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Policy Manual
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INA
8 CFR
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Book outline for Policy Manual
  • Policy Manual
    • Search
    • Updates
    • Table of Contents
    • Volume 1 - General Policies and Procedures
    • Volume 2 - Nonimmigrants
    • Volume 3 - Humanitarian Protection and Parole
    • Volume 4 - Refugees and Asylees
    • Volume 5 - Adoptions
    • Volume 6 - Immigrants
    • Volume 7 - Adjustment of Status
    • Volume 8 - Admissibility
    • Volume 9 - Waivers and Other Forms of Relief
      • Part A - Waiver Policies and Procedures
      • Part B - Extreme Hardship
      • Part C - Family Unity, Humanitarian Purposes, or Public or National Interest
      • Part D - Health-Related Grounds of Inadmissibility
      • Part E - Criminal and Related Grounds of Inadmissibility
      • Part F - Fraud and Willful Misrepresentation
      • Part G - Unlawful Presence
      • Part H - Provisional Unlawful Presence
      • Part I - Immigrant Membership in Totalitarian Party
      • Part J - Alien Smuggling
      • Part K - Aliens Subject to Civil Penalty
      • Part L - Refugees and Asylees
      • Part M - Temporary Protected Status Applicants
      • Part N - Special Immigrant Juvenile Adjustment Applicants
      • Part O - Victims of Trafficking
        • Chapter 1 - Purpose and Background [Reserved]
        • Chapter 2 - Waivers for Victims of Trafficking
        • Chapter 3 - INA 212(d)(13) Waivers
        • Chapter 4 - INA 212(d)(3) Waivers
        • Chapter 5 - Waivers for T Nonimmigrants Applying for Adjustment of Status
        • Chapter 6 - Adjudication and Post-Adjudication Matters
      • Part P - Crime Victims
      • Part Q - Violence Against Women Act Applicants
      • Part R - Other Waivers and Provisions Overcoming Inadmissibility
      • Part S - Consent to Reapply
    • Volume 10 - Employment Authorization
    • Volume 11 - Travel and Identity Documents
    • Volume 12 - Citizenship and Naturalization
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  2. Policy Manual
  3. Volume 9 - Waivers and Other Forms of Relief
  4. Part O - Victims of Trafficking
  5. Chapter 2 - Waivers for Victims of Trafficking

Chapter 2 - Waivers for Victims of Trafficking

Content navigation tabs
  • Guidance
  • Resources (12)
  • Appendices (0)
  • Updates (6)

A. Inadmissibility

Victims of a severe form of trafficking in persons applying for T nonimmigrant status[1] must demonstrate that they are admissible to the United States.[2] This is also true for applicants for derivative T nonimmigrant status.[3]

Applicants for T nonimmigrant status are not subject to the public charge ground of inadmissibility.[4]

If an applicant is subject to one or more grounds of inadmissibility, the applicant may apply for a discretionary waiver of the ground(s) by filing an Application for Advance Permission to Enter as a Nonimmigrant (Form I-192).[5] If the applicable standard is met and a favorable exercise of discretion is warranted, USCIS may waive all inadmissibility grounds for applicants for T nonimmigrant status under either INA 212(d)(3)(A)(ii)or INA 212(d)(13), except:

  • Espionage or sabotage - INA 212(a)(3)(A)(i)(I);
  • Any other security-related unlawful activity - INA 212(a)(3)(A)(ii);
  • Overthrow of the U.S. government - INA 212(a)(3)(A)(iii);
  • Adverse foreign policy impact - INA 212(a)(3)(C); and
  • Participants in Nazi persecution or genocide - INA 212(a)(3)(E)(i)-(ii).[6]

B. Waivers

1. Waiver Authority

For T nonimmigrant applicants, waivers are available under two sections of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA):

  • INA 212(d)(13), which provides USCIS with discretion to waive grounds of inadmissibility specific to T nonimmigrant status applications; and
  • INA 212(d)(3)(A)(ii), which provides USCIS discretion to waive certain grounds of inadmissibility for nonimmigrants based on a general balancing of positive and negative discretionary factors.

The table below outlines common grounds of inadmissibility USCIS encounters for which a waiver is requested under these two legal authorities. If an applicant meets the requirements of the legal standard, the officer must also determine whether to approve the waiver as a matter of discretion.[7]

T Nonimmigrants: Common Grounds of Inadmissibility and Corresponding Waivers
Inadmissibility Ground  Waiver Available?Legal Authority and Standard
  • Health-related (INA 212(a)(1))
Yes

In the national interest (INA 212(d)(13)(B)(i))

General balancing of positive and negative discretionary factors (INA 212(d)(3)(A)(ii))

  • Unlawful presence bars (INA 212(a)(9)(A) and INA 212(a)(9)(C)(i)(II))
  • Illegal entrants and immigration violators (INA 212(a)(6))
  • Documentation requirements (INA 212(a)(7))
Yes

In the national interest and connection to victimization (INA 212(d)(13)(B)(ii))

General balancing of positive and negative discretionary factors (INA 212(d)(3)(A)(ii))

  • Criminal grounds (INA 212(a)(2))
Yes

In the national interest and connection to victimization (INA 212(d)(13)(B)(ii))

General balancing of positive and negative discretionary factors (INA 212(d)(3)(A)(ii))

  • Terrorist activities (INA 212(a)(3)(B))
  • Terrorist organization membership (INA 212(a)(3)(F))
YesGeneral balancing of positive and negative discretionary factors (INA 212(d)(3)(A)(ii))
  • Other security-related unlawful activity (INA 212(a)(3)(A)(ii))
NoGrounds of inadmissibility (INA 212(a))

Footnotes


[^ 1] For more information about T nonimmigrant status, see Volume 3, Humanitarian Protection and Parole, Part B, Victims of Trafficking [3 USCIS-PM B].

[^ 2] See INA 212(a). See 8 CFR 214.1(a)(3)(i).

[^ 3] See 8 CFR 214.211(a).

[^ 4] See INA 212(d)(13)(A). See 8 CFR 212.16(b).

[^ 5] See INA 212(d)(13)(B). See 8 CFR 212.16.

[^ 6] See INA 212(d)(13)(B) and INA 212(d)(3)(A)(ii).

[^ 7] See Part A, Waiver Policies and Procedures, Chapter 5, Discretion [9 USCIS-PM A.5].

Resources

Legal Authorities

8 CFR 212.16 - Applications for exercise of discretion relating to T nonimmigrant status

8 CFR 212.7 - Waiver of certain grounds of inadmissibility

8 U.S.C. 1367 - Penalties for disclosure of information

INA 212(a)(3) - Security and related grounds of inadmissibility

INA 212(d)(13); 8 CFR 212.18 - Waivers of inadmissibility

INA 212(d)(3)(A)(ii); 8 CFR 212.18 - Waivers of inadmissibility

Forms

G-1055, Fee Schedule

G-28, Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Accredited Representative

I-192, Application for Advance Permission to Enter as a Nonimmigrant

I-601A, Application for Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver

I-914, Application for T Nonimmigrant Status

Other Materials

How to Use the USCIS Policy Manual Website

Appendices

No appendices available at this time.

Updates

Technical Update - Replacing the Term "Noncitizen"

February 26, 2025

This technical update replaces all instances of the term “noncitizen” with “alien” or other appropriate terms throughout the Policy Manual where possible, as used to refer to a person who meets the definition provided in INA 101(a)(3) [“any person not a citizen or national of the United States”], and makes other technical and conforming changes.

Affected Sections

1 USCIS-PM - Volume 1 - General Policies and Procedures

2 USCIS-PM - Volume 2 - Nonimmigrants

3 USCIS-PM - Volume 3 - Humanitarian Protection and Parole

4 USCIS-PM - Volume 4 - Refugees and Asylees

5 USCIS-PM - Volume 5 - Adoptions

6 USCIS-PM - Volume 6 - Immigrants

7 USCIS-PM - Volume 7 - Adjustment of Status

8 USCIS-PM - Volume 8 - Admissibility

9 USCIS-PM - Volume 9 - Waivers and Other Forms of Relief

10 USCIS-PM - Volume 10 - Employment Authorization

11 USCIS-PM - Volume 11 - Travel and Identity Documents

12 USCIS-PM - Volume 12 - Citizenship and Naturalization

POLICY ALERT - T Nonimmigrant Status for Victims of Severe Forms of Trafficking in Persons

October 23, 2024

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is issuing policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to incorporate changes from the Classification for Victims of Severe Forms of Trafficking in Persons; Eligibility for “T” Nonimmigrant Status Final Rule (T Final Rule), including updated citations, new definitions, and clarifications.

Read More
Affected Sections

3 USCIS-PM B.1 - Chapter 1 - Purpose and Background

3 USCIS-PM B.2 - Chapter 2 - Eligibility Requirements

3 USCIS-PM B.3 - Chapter 3 - Documentation and Evidence for Principal Applicants

3 USCIS-PM B.4 - Chapter 4 - Family Members

3 USCIS-PM B.5 - Chapter 5 - Documentation and Evidence for Family Members

3 USCIS-PM B.6 - Chapter 6 - Bona Fide Determinations

3 USCIS-PM B.7 - Chapter 7 - Adjudication

3 USCIS-PM B.8 - Chapter 8 - Annual Cap and Waiting List

3 USCIS-PM B.9 - Chapter 9 - Applicants in Removal Proceedings

3 USCIS-PM B.10 - Chapter 10 - Duration and Extensions of Status

3 USCIS-PM B.11 - Chapter 11 - Federal Benefits and Work Authorization

3 USCIS-PM B.12 - Chapter 12 - Travel Outside the United States

3 USCIS-PM B.13 - Chapter 13 - Revocation of Status

9 USCIS-PM O.2 - Chapter 2 - Waivers for Victims of Trafficking

9 USCIS-PM O.3 - Chapter 3 - INA 212(d)(13) Waivers

9 USCIS-PM O.5 - Chapter 5 - Waivers for T Nonimmigrants Applying for Adjustment of Status

9 USCIS-PM O.6 - Chapter 6 - Adjudication and Post-Adjudication Matters

POLICY ALERT - T Nonimmigrant Status for Victims of Severe Forms of Trafficking in Persons

October 20, 2021

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is issuing policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual regarding the adjudication of applications for T nonimmigrant status for victims of severe forms of trafficking in persons.

Read More
Affected Sections

3 USCIS-PM B - Part B - Victims of Trafficking

9 USCIS-PM O - Part O - Victims of Trafficking

Technical Update - Replacing the Term “Alien”

May 11, 2021

This technical update replaces all instances of the term “alien” with “noncitizen” or other appropriate terms throughout the Policy Manual where possible, as used to refer to a person who meets the definition provided in INA 101(a)(3) [“any person not a citizen or national of the United States”].

Affected Sections

1 USCIS-PM - Volume 1 - General Policies and Procedures

2 USCIS-PM - Volume 2 - Nonimmigrants

6 USCIS-PM - Volume 6 - Immigrants

7 USCIS-PM - Volume 7 - Adjustment of Status

8 USCIS-PM - Volume 8 - Admissibility

9 USCIS-PM - Volume 9 - Waivers and Other Forms of Relief

10 USCIS-PM - Volume 10 - Employment Authorization

11 USCIS-PM - Volume 11 - Travel and Identity Documents

12 USCIS-PM - Volume 12 - Citizenship and Naturalization

Technical Update - Moving the Adjudicator’s Field Manual Content into the USCIS Policy Manual

May 21, 2020

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is updating and incorporating relevant Adjudicator’s Field Manual (AFM) content into the USCIS Policy Manual. As that process is ongoing, USCIS has moved any remaining AFM content to its corresponding USCIS Policy Manual Part, in PDF format, until relevant AFM content has been properly incorporated into the USCIS Policy Manual. To the extent that a provision in the USCIS Policy Manual conflicts with remaining AFM content or Policy Memoranda, the updated information in the USCIS Policy Manual prevails. To find remaining AFM content, see the crosswalk between the AFM and the Policy Manual.

Affected Sections

1 USCIS-PM - Volume 1 - General Policies and Procedures

2 USCIS-PM - Volume 2 - Nonimmigrants

3 USCIS-PM - Volume 3 - Humanitarian Protection and Parole

4 USCIS-PM - Volume 4 - Refugees and Asylees

5 USCIS-PM - Volume 5 - Adoptions

6 USCIS-PM - Volume 6 - Immigrants

7 USCIS-PM - Volume 7 - Adjustment of Status

8 USCIS-PM - Volume 8 - Admissibility

9 USCIS-PM - Volume 9 - Waivers and Other Forms of Relief

11 USCIS-PM - Volume 11 - Travel and Identity Documents

12 USCIS-PM - Volume 12 - Citizenship and Naturalization

Technical Update - Replacing the Term “Foreign National”

October 08, 2019

This technical update replaces all instances of the term “foreign national” with “alien” throughout the Policy Manual as used to refer to a person who meets the definition provided in INA 101(a)(3) [“any person not a citizen or national of the United States”].

Affected Sections

1 USCIS-PM - Volume 1 - General Policies and Procedures

2 USCIS-PM - Volume 2 - Nonimmigrants

6 USCIS-PM - Volume 6 - Immigrants

7 USCIS-PM - Volume 7 - Adjustment of Status

8 USCIS-PM - Volume 8 - Admissibility

9 USCIS-PM - Volume 9 - Waivers and Other Forms of Relief

10 USCIS-PM - Volume 10 - Employment Authorization

11 USCIS-PM - Volume 11 - Travel and Identity Documents

12 USCIS-PM - Volume 12 - Citizenship and Naturalization

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