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Human trafficking survivors seeking lawful status in the United States often need documentation controlled by law enforcement to support a T visa application. Form I-914 Supplement B, titled Declaration for Trafficking Victim, serves as primary supporting evidence for your case. This document strengthens your claim by proving you are a victim of severe trafficking and confirming a qualifying crime occurred. It also shows that you reasonably cooperated with an investigation or prosecution. Obtaining this completed document gives survivors in Plainview and across Nassau County the necessary proof to advance a T visa claim.
Attorney Rajat Shankar at Shankar & Associates PC represents survivors throughout New York in T visa and trafficking-related immigration matters. The federal government limits principal T visas to 5,000 per fiscal year, making an accurate and well-supported application essential for your case. Our New York T visa immigration attorney works closely with applicants in Plainview to communicate with local agencies and overcome administrative hurdles. We prepare applications that meet federal standards for humanitarian relief and protect your legal rights.
This guide explains what Supplement B is, which agencies can sign it, how to request certification, what to do if an agency refuses, when alternative evidence applies, what content the form must include, how long a certification stays useful, the privacy protections involved, and the mistakes to avoid. Call Shankar & Associates PC at (212) 461-1467 to speak with Rajat Shankar about your case.
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Form I-914 Supplement B is the Declaration for Trafficking Victim. This document serves as official law enforcement certification that you are a victim of severe trafficking. A qualifying federal, state, local, tribal, or authorized civil official signs the form to confirm the victimization and the victim’s cooperation.
The certification supports a T visa petition, but it does not guarantee approval. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reviews the full record, including the applicant’s own declaration and other evidence, before deciding a case under 8 U.S.C. Section 1101(a)(15)(T). Supplement B provides strong support for your case while serving as just one part of your complete application.
Unlike other immigration forms that you fill out yourself, a certifying official must complete and sign Supplement B. This requirement shapes the entire request process because you and your attorney must successfully ask an agency to take action on your behalf.
Key Takeaway: Form I-914 Supplement B is a law enforcement certification of trafficking victim status. It carries weight with USCIS but does not approve a T visa on its own.
A signed Supplement B gives USCIS direct corroboration from a law enforcement agency that the trafficking occurred and that the applicant helped authorities. This external confirmation can carry significant persuasive value, because it comes from an official with firsthand knowledge of the investigation.
The form proves two vital elements by confirming you suffered a severe form of trafficking and complied with reasonable requests for assistance. When an officer verifies both points, USCIS has less reason to question the core of your claim.
The certification does not replace the applicant’s personal statement or supporting records. Instead, it reinforces them. A strong T visa petition pairs Supplement B with the survivor’s own detailed declaration, medical or counseling records where available, and other credible documentation.
Attorney Rajat Shankar can review your evidence and explain how this certification fits into your overall petition. Contact our Plainview office to discuss your T visa case.
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Several categories of agencies in New York can certify Supplement B if they hold the authority to detect, investigate, or prosecute trafficking. Qualifying certifiers include the following entities.
The correct certifier for your form depends entirely on which body handled your case. Submitting a request to an agency with no connection to your investigation will result in a refusal.
Federal officials certify the form when the trafficking crosses state lines or involves multi-jurisdictional task forces. When federal agents investigate labor exploitation or interstate sex trafficking, their direct involvement gives them the authority to sign your declaration.
Local law enforcement bodies process these requests for crimes handled within Nassau County or nearby New York boroughs. The primary detective or assigned prosecutor completes your certification because they hold the direct case records showing your assistance.
A certification request in New York begins with a written submission to the agency that handled your case. This request must include supporting documentation and requires consistent contact until the agency responds. Certifying officials hold discretion over these signatures, making a clear and organized request vital to improve your chances of success.
Your request must identify the specific case, the investigating unit, and the official most familiar with your matter. The document must also explain the legal basis for the certification and outline exactly what you want the agency to confirm.
A well-prepared packet gives the certifying official everything needed to verify the claim without extensive searching. Strong requests include references to the police report or case number, a summary of the trafficking conduct, and a statement describing the survivor’s cooperation.
Your legal counsel will include a draft cover letter with the blank Supplement B form and a short memo tying your facts to the T visa requirements. Providing this material reduces the burden on the agency and shortens the response time.
Certification timelines vary widely between agencies because some offices lack a formal certification unit. You must hold realistic expectations since a response can take weeks or several months depending on the workload and internal procedures of the specific agency.
Attorney Rajat Shankar manages this communication directly, tracking the request, contacting the appropriate liaison, and escalating politely when a case stalls. Consistent, professional follow-up keeps a request from being forgotten.
Key Takeaway: A certification request works when it is written clearly, supported by documents, and directed to the agency that handled the trafficking investigation. Persistent and professional follow-up often makes the difference.
Contact Shankar & Associates PC in Plainview to prepare a certification request that gives the agency what it needs to act.
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Rajat Shankar is an immigration attorney whose work is shaped by his own experience as an immigrant. He came to the United States at eight years old, obtained his green card, and later became a U.S. citizen. He earned his J.D., Magna Cum Laude, from the Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center in 2012 and holds a B.A. in Mathematics from East Stroudsburg University. He was admitted to the New York bar in 2013.
Rajat Shankar has handled cases across immigration law, including Cancellation of Removal, Asylum, and Deportation Defense, along with humanitarian relief such as T visa matters. He prioritizes clear communication and thorough case preparation, keeping clients informed at each step while building the documentary record a strong petition requires.
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A law enforcement refusal to sign Supplement B does not end your T visa case. You can ask the agency to reconsider the decision or escalate your request to a supervising officer or agency liaison. You must also document this refusal to protect your overall application.
Your request for reconsideration should directly address the specific reason for the denial. The refusal might stem from a records issue, a lack of jurisdiction, or a restrictive internal policy, or your initial request might have simply reached the wrong official within the department.
If the agency still refuses to sign the form, you must carefully document your efforts. A clear record showing that you requested certification, followed up, and received a denial proves you pursued the document in good faith. This documentation allows you to submit alternative evidence to establish your cooperation with authorities.
Key Takeaway: A refusal to sign Supplement B is not the end of a T visa case. Reconsideration requests, escalation to a supervisor, and careful documentation of the refusal can preserve the application.
You can qualify for a T visa without Form I-914 Supplement B. This certification helps your application but remains entirely optional. USCIS accepts other credible evidence to approve a petition when a signed law enforcement form is unavailable.
Alternative evidence includes trial transcripts, court records, police reports, and detailed affidavits describing the trafficking and the survivor’s cooperation. Records from service providers, medical professionals, and counselors can also support your claim alongside your own thorough personal declaration.
The goal is to build a complete record that independently proves the mandatory legal standards. You must show that you suffered qualifying exploitation and fulfilled your duty to assist authorities. A well-organized secondary evidence package provides the necessary proof to advance a case that lacks a signed certification.
Attorney Rajat Shankar can evaluate your existing records to see if they support a petition without a certification. Reach out to our Plainview office to review your options.
Form I-914 Supplement B must include your identifying details along with a description of the trafficking crime and a statement of your cooperation. The certifying official confirms all of this information on the document. Missing or inconsistent details weaken the value of your certification.
| Section | What It Covers | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Victim Identifying Information | Legal name, aliases, date of birth, and contact details | Ties the certification to the correct applicant and matches the T visa filing |
| Description of the Trafficking Crime | Statutes cited, specific dates, and the nature of the victimization | Establishes that a qualifying severe form of trafficking occurred |
| Statement of Cooperation | Official’s confirmation of the victim’s assistance | Shows compliance with reasonable requests from law enforcement |
The form asks for the victim’s legal name, any other names used since birth, including aliases, maiden names, and nicknames, the date of birth, and contact details. These entries must match the rest of the T visa filing to avoid confusion during the review process.
The certifying official must reference specific legal statutes and exact date ranges for the crime. Detailing the elements of force, fraud, or coercion in this section links the crime directly to federal trafficking standards.
This section details how the applicant assisted officers during detection or investigation. Officials must outline specific actions taken, confirming that the survivor met all reasonable law enforcement requests.
Form I-914 Supplement B does not carry the fixed six-month expiration that applies to the U visa’s Form I-918 Supplement B. Your T visa certification does not automatically lapse on a set date, but USCIS gives more weight to a document that reflects current information.
Recertification becomes appropriate when significant time passes before you file your petition or when the underlying facts of your case change. You might also need a new signature if USCIS requests updated confirmation during processing. Keeping your certification current avoids questions about whether the information remains accurate.
The application process can stretch across many months, and timing your certification close to your filing helps strengthen your petition. Coordinating the request with your overall timeline reduces the chance that a certification appears stale by the time an adjudicator reviews your case.
Key Takeaway: A T visa Supplement B has no automatic expiration date, unlike the U visa version, but recent certifications carry more weight. You might need recertification if your case facts change or the processing timeline runs long.
Federal law under 8 U.S.C. 1367 strictly limits how the government can disclose information about trafficking victims. These confidentiality rules restrict the release of your personal information connected to a T visa case and the related law enforcement certification. This statute guards against improper disclosure to third parties and explicitly prevents USCIS from sharing your records with your trafficker.
Local agencies that certify Supplement B must also treat your information with care. These privacy protections exist because many survivors fear retaliation for coming forward, and knowing how authorities store and share your records can make your participation in a certification request feel safer.
Attorney Rajat Shankar can explain how these legal safeguards apply to your specific circumstances. Contact Shankar & Associates PC in Plainview to discuss how confidentiality protections support your T visa case.
Common errors in certification requests include submitting disorganized documentation and contacting the wrong agency. You also want to avoid processing delays that disrupt your broader T visa timeline. You can prevent each of these mistakes with careful preparation and attention to detail.
Mismatched dates and missing cooperation statements create immediate doubt in your case. You must also prevent any factual gaps between the certification and the rest of your petition. Every detail on Supplement B must completely align with your personal declaration and all supporting records.
Requesting certification from an agency with no jurisdiction over the reported crime produces a quick refusal and wastes valuable time. You must send your request directly to the specific law enforcement office that detected, investigated, or prosecuted the trafficking.
A delayed certification can hold up your entire T visa application. Agency response times vary widely across different departments and jurisdictions. Starting your request early and tracking the progress closely helps keep your overall petition on schedule.
Shankar & Associates PC represents T visa and trafficking-related immigration clients throughout New York, including Nassau, Suffolk, Queens, Kings, Bronx, New York, Richmond, Westchester, Rockland, and the surrounding counties. Our Plainview office serves survivors across Long Island and the greater New York region.
Pursuing lawful status after trafficking involves detailed paperwork and direct coordination with law enforcement agencies. Working with an attorney who handles these certification requests directly helps keep your application moving forward without unnecessary delays.
Attorney Rajat Shankar at Shankar & Associates PC prepares certification packets, communicates with certifying officials, and builds T visa petitions supported by clear evidence. Our practice serves survivors in Plainview, Nassau County, and across Long Island, helping you evaluate your legal options and submit a complete petition.
Call Shankar & Associates PC at (212) 461-1467 to schedule a consultation. Our office at 518 Plainview Rd, Plainview, NY 11803 serves clients throughout New York and stands ready to assist you with your case.
No. A law enforcement certification provides helpful corroboration, but USCIS allows applicants to prove their claims through alternative documentation. You can submit records like personal affidavits, police reports, or medical evaluations if an agency declines to certify your request.
A victim can request certification directly, but many survivors work with counsel to prepare and manage the request. An attorney can assemble supporting documents, identify the correct certifying official, and follow up with the agency, which often improves the outcome.
You may still qualify for a T visa even if no prosecution occurred. The T visa requires cooperation with reasonable requests from law enforcement, not a conviction. An agency may still certify cooperation, and secondary evidence can support the claim when certification is unavailable.
Turnaround times vary depending on the local law enforcement agency’s internal review procedures. While certain departments complete certifications within a few weeks, others may take significantly longer depending on their active caseloads and administrative capacity.
Signing the certification confirms your cooperation but does not change your obligations as a witness. Your continued participation depends on the criminal case itself. An attorney can explain how the immigration and criminal processes interact in your situation.
Yes. A certifying agency can issue a revised declaration or sign an updated copy if new facts come to light or if USCIS requests current confirmation during adjudication.
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