T status is a humanitarian form of immigration relief available to victims of severe forms of trafficking in persons who provide assistance to law enforcement. When granted, T status allows individuals to live and work lawfully in the U.S. It also provides access to a wide range of government-funded benefits and services. It’s typically granted for an initial period of four years and provides a path to permanent residence (green card). You can get derivative T status for certain qualifying family members as well.
Trafficking can include entering illegally using a coyote if you were forced to work, provide any services, sexual or non-sexual, or forced to stay somewhere against your will, as well as labor and sex trafficking after you have entered the U.S. legally or illegally.