How much is the initial consultation?

The initial strategy session is a paid consultation of $200 for 20 minutes, and that amount is credited toward your fee if you decide to hire the firm. In that confidential session we listen to what happened, assess whether your experience fits the legal definition of a severe form of trafficking, evaluate the law-enforcement cooperation requirement and any exception, and outline the evidence your T visa case will need. To schedule, call (305) 315-3425 or email fitenkolaw@gmail.com. Paying for focused, private attorney time means you leave with a real plan rather than general information.

Do I have to report to the police or testify to get a T visa?

You must comply with any reasonable request from law enforcement to help investigate or prosecute the trafficking — but there is no requirement that anyone be arrested, charged, or convicted, and there are two important exceptions. If you were under 18 when you were victimized, you do not have to cooperate at all. If you are unable to cooperate because of physical or psychological trauma, you may be excused from the requirement with proper documentation. Many valid T cases are built without formal police involvement, which is why speaking with a lawyer before assuming you are disqualified is so important.

Can I get a T visa if I am undocumented or entered illegally?

Yes. The T visa is available regardless of how you entered the United States and regardless of whether you currently have any lawful status. Congress designed it this way because traffickers so often use a victim's immigration status as a threat. Being undocumented, having overstayed a visa, or having crossed the border without inspection does not, by itself, disqualify you. Even certain removal orders and some criminal issues connected to your trafficking can be addressed or waived within the T application.

Can my family come with me or join me?

Often, yes. As a principal T-1 applicant you can petition for qualifying family members as derivatives. If you are 21 or older, that generally includes your spouse (T-2) and unmarried children under 21 (T-3). If you are under 21, you may also petition for your parents (T-4) and unmarried siblings under 18 (T-5). A separate T-6 category protects certain family members who face present danger of retaliation because you escaped or cooperated with law enforcement. Age-out protections help ensure a child or sibling is not excluded simply because they get older during the process.

Can I work legally with a T visa?

Yes. Approved T-1 principals receive employment authorization with their status, so you can work lawfully in the United States without a separate lottery or an employer sponsor. T status also opens the door to certain federal and state benefits and victim-services programs to the same extent as refugees, which can include help with housing, counseling, and medical care. For many survivors, legal income and access to support services are the most immediately life-changing benefits of the visa.

Does a T visa lead to a green card?

Yes. A T nonimmigrant may apply for lawful permanent residence — a green card — generally after three years in T status, or earlier if the trafficking investigation or prosecution is certified complete, whichever comes first. You apply on Form I-485 and must show continuous physical presence, good moral character, and either continued cooperation with reasonable law-enforcement requests or extreme hardship if removed. Once you are a permanent resident, you are on the standard path to U.S. citizenship, typically eligible to naturalize after five years.

How much does it cost to file a T visa?

There is no filing fee for Form I-914, the application for T nonimmigrant status, and fee waivers are available for many related applications. Congress deliberately kept the cost of applying low so that survivors, who frequently have no money after years of exploitation, can still access this protection. Our firm charges a fee for the legal work of building and presenting your case; that is separate from government filing fees and is something we discuss transparently at your paid strategy session.

How long does the T visa process take?

Processing times vary and change over time, so any estimate is only that — an estimate. USCIS reviews T cases through units trained in trauma-sensitive adjudication, and complex cases or those requiring additional evidence take longer. Because timelines can be long and the evidence is detailed, filing a thorough, well-organized application from the start is the best way to avoid delays. Always confirm current processing information on the official USCIS Form I-914 page, and treat any figure you see as an estimate rather than a promise.

T Visa for Human-Trafficking Survivors in Miami | Fitenko Law

A Miami immigration attorney explains the T visa for trafficking survivors: eligibility, the law-enforcement cooperation rule and its exceptions, benefits, family, and the green-card path. Call (305) 315-3425.

Fitenko Law PLLC, 600 Three Islands Blvd, Hallandale Beach, FL 33009. Phone: (305) 315-3425. Email: fitenkolaw@gmail.com