U Visa and T Visa Certification Requests FAQ

• The U visa is an opportunity for victims of certain crimes who are assisting or have previously assisted law enforcement in the investigation or prosecution of a crime or who are likely to be helpful in the investigation or prosecution of criminal activity.

   

• The T visa provides immigration protection to victims of severe forms of trafficking for persons who comply with reasonable requests for assistance from law enforcement in the investigation or prosecution of human trafficking cases.

U visa and T visa applicants will need to process the respected certification form (Form I-918B for U Visas and Form I-914B for T visas) with a Certifying Agency. A Certifying Agency is responsible for detecting, investigating, or prosecuting the qualifying crime at issue confirms the victim’s helpfulness or willingness to comply with reasonable requests for assistance in the investigation or prosecution of the crime.

The Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) is a Certifying Agency because it investigates and enforces violations of the Illinois Human Rights Act. IDHR will timely respond to U and T visa certification requests from victims of qualifying criminal activity that was detected, investigated, or enforced by IDHR.

USCIS (not the certifying agency) is responsible for determining U and T visa eligibility and issuing U and T visas to qualified applicants. Obtaining a signed certification form from a certifying agency does not guarantee eligibility for a U or T visa.

Please include as much detail as possible with your request, including: 

• Requester’s name and contact information (including address)

• A copy of the certification form (Form I-918B for U visas or Form I-914B for T visas) filled out with:  
  

       - Victim information (Part 1 of the form)
       - Jim Bennett, Director, listed as the certifying official

• The IDHR charge number and, if possible, a copy of the charge filed with IDHR

• A separate letter or statement with:
  

       - A detailed explanation of the facts and circumstances of the crime;
       - For U visas, an explanation of what qualifying criminal offense(s) the applicant is claiming he or she was subjected to or the state crime equivalent; 
       - How the victim cooperated, is cooperating, or is likely to cooperate with IDHR in its investigation.   

• Request to expedite if applicable under the VOICES Act (5 ILCS 825/10(d))

Please submit your request by email to IDHR at:

       IDHR.Legal@illinois.gov

OR mail to

       Illinois Department of Human Rights
       Attn: Legal/Chief Litigation Attorney for Employment  
       555 West Monroe Street, 7th Floor 
       Chicago, Illinois 60661

If you have submitted a certification request to IDHR and it was denied, you may submit an appeal of that denial to IDHR.Legal@illinois.gov. Make sure the subject line of the email clearly indicates you are submitting an appeal and include a scanned copy of your original certification request to IDHR as well as the denial letter.

Applicants are also entitled to file a mandamus action (legal remedy) or seek other equitable relief (which aims to achieve fairness and justice in legal matters) in circuit court without exhausting administrative appeals. Applicants may have additional remedies under federal law.

Once the Director of IDHR completes and signs a certification form, the original will be sent back to the victim or the victim’s legal representative or victim advocate, so that they can add the certification to the original U or T visa petition packet before submission to USCIS. More information about the U or T visa petition process can be found on USCIS’s webpage, “Resources for victims of Human Trafficking and Other Crimes.” 

No. There are many additional eligibility requirements that USCIS evaluates in addition to the certification form. Obtaining a signed certification form from IDHR does not guarantee eligibility.

No. IDHR cannot provide any advice. Individuals should seek immigration law advice before deciding whether to request a U or T visa. The Illinois Immigration Information Hub has information about free and low-cost immigration legal services across Illinois at https://www.illinoisimmigrationinfo.org/legal.