Form I-914 Guide

USCIS evaluates whether the applicant is a victim of severe trafficking, their physical presence in the U.S., and compliance with law enforcement requests. A common mismatch occurs when applicants fail to provide sufficient evidence of their trafficking experience.

• Provide a personal narrative statement detailing the circumstances of your trafficking.
• Include any medical or psychological evaluations that support your claim.
• Submit police reports or court documents related to your case.
• Gather witness statements or affidavits that corroborate your experience.
• Collect any government agency findings that support your application.

• Missing required documents or evidence as outlined in the Initial Evidence section.
• Incomplete or unclear personal narrative statements that do not meet the specified requirements.
• Invalid signatures or missing signatures that do not comply with the signature requirement.
• Failure to provide translations for documents in a foreign language when required.

• You must be a victim of a severe form of trafficking.
• You must be physically present in the U.S. at the time of filing.
• You must comply with requests for assistance from law enforcement.
• You must demonstrate that removal would cause extreme hardship.
• Submit a personal narrative statement detailing your experience.
• Provide evidence of your eligibility, including any relevant documents.

• General Instructions

  This section outlines how to fill out the form and what documents to include.

• Initial Evidence

  Prepare to submit all required evidence to establish your eligibility.

• Personal Statement

  Include a detailed personal narrative about your trafficking experience.

• Vermont Service Center

  This section provides information on where to send your application.

• Address Change

  Notify USCIS of any address changes within 10 days.

• Processing Information

  Understand the processing steps and what to expect after filing.

• Your Full Legal Name
• Other Names Used
• U.S. Physical Address
• Safe U.S. Mailing Address
• Alien Registration Number (A-Number) (if any)
• U.S. Social Security Number (if any)
• Sex
• Marital Status
• Date of Birth
• Place of Birth
• Country of Citizenship or Nationality
• Passport
• Last Entry Into the United States
• Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record
• What Is the Purpose of This Form I-914?
• Who May File This Form I-914?
• with an act or a perpetrator of trafficking;
• (1) Spouse;
• (2) Unmarried child(ren) under 21 years of age;
• (3) Parent(s); and/or
• (1) Spouse; and/or
• (1) Parent(s);

• Evidence of identity (passport, government ID, or USCIS-issued document).
• Evidence of current immigration status or admission/parole.
• Evidence that supports the eligibility category selected.
• Evidence of any required family relationship or sponsorship.

• Submitting unsigned applications or invalid signatures.
• Failing to provide a personal narrative statement.
• Not including required evidence to establish eligibility.
• Using incorrect or outdated versions of the form.
• Omitting translations for documents in foreign languages.
• Providing original documents when not required.

• Situation: An applicant is preparing I-914 and must include all required evidence. Task: They submit a complete packet within a 30-day preparation window. Action: They compile identity records, eligibility evidence, and the filing fee before submitting. Result: The petition is accepted without a request for missing items.
• Situation: A filer is close to a deadline for I-914. Task: They submit within the required 90-day timeline. Action: They finalize the packet and file within the stated window. Result: The case proceeds without a late-filing issue.
• Situation: A petitioner must reference a receipt number. Task: They match the receipt number to the underlying petition. Action: They include the exact receipt number on I-914 and attach the notice copy. Result: USCIS can verify the underlying filing quickly.

• All documents must be originals; photocopies are acceptable unless specified otherwise in the instructions.
• You can submit a typed signature; only handwritten signatures are valid as per the signature requirement.
• You do not need to provide a personal narrative; it is a required part of the application as stated in the instructions.
• You can file for family members at any time; however, they must be eligible as defined in the instructions.
• The application can be submitted without evidence; all required evidence must be included at the time of filing.

This guide is built from official instructions and current editions of Form I-914. It provides non-legal advice to help applicants navigate the process effectively.

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