LOS ANGELES, June 4: The US Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) from this month has introduced a new visa category, called “T-visas” for the victims of trafficking under the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000 (VTPA).

To qualify for the status as a T-1 non-immigrant, a person must: be a victim of a severe form of trafficking; be physically present in the United States, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands or a US port of entry on account of such trafficking; If 15 years of age or older, then should have complied with any reasonable request for assistance to law enforcement in the investigation or prosecution of acts of trafficking in persons; and be likely to suffer extreme hardship involving unusual and severe harm upon removal.

The category is limited to 5,000 principal aliens per year.