us-uscis-policy-manual-volume-9-part-o-chapter-2•Chapter 2 - Waivers for Victims of Trafficking
Chapter 2 - Waivers for Victims of Trafficking
us-uscis-policy-manual-volume-9-part-o-chapter-2Chapter 2 - Waivers for Victims of TraffickingGuidance
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]
| Inadmissibility Ground | Waiver Available? | Legal Authority and Standard |
|---|---|---|
| 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)) |
| 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)) |
| 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)) |
| Yes | General balancing of positive and negative discretionary factors (INA 212(d)(3)(A)(ii)) |
| No | Grounds 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
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
Appendices
No appendices available at this time.
Updates
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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”].
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
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.
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
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”].
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
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