USCIS Form 9182: Bona Fide Job Offer Certification
Understand Form 9182's role as an employer's certification of a job offer, providing critical evidence for a T-1 Nonimmigrant Status applicant.
A bona fide job offer letter is a document that can be used to support an application for T-1 Nonimmigrant Status, designated for victims of a severe form of human trafficking. The letter is provided by a prospective employer and serves as evidence that the applicant has a legitimate offer of employment. While not a required document, this letter can be a piece of evidence for the application.
T-1 visa applicants must show that they would suffer “extreme hardship involving unusual and severe harm” if they were removed from the United States. A job offer can help demonstrate this by showing a path to stability and integration, which supports the applicant’s case for remaining in the country.
Creating a Bona Fide Job Offer Letter
To create this certification, the employer drafts a formal letter on company letterhead. The letter must contain specific details about the employer, the T-1 applicant, and the job offer itself, including the employer’s name, address, and contact information. The letter must clearly identify the T-1 applicant by their full legal name.
The core of the document is the detailed description of the job offer. This section needs to specify the job title, a list of duties and responsibilities, and the physical address of the work location. It must also state the offered wage as an hourly or salaried amount and confirm that the wage meets or exceeds federal and local minimum wage requirements. The letter should also state the number of hours the applicant is expected to work per week.
The employer must affirm that the position is a genuine, good-faith offer of employment. The language used should be direct and unambiguous. All information presented must be accurate and verifiable, as USCIS may attempt to confirm the details provided.
Finalizing and Submitting the Letter
Once the job offer letter is complete, the individual with hiring authority at the company must sign and date it. This signature attests to the truthfulness and accuracy of the information provided. After signing, the employer gives the original letter to the T-1 visa applicant or their legal representative.
The T-1 applicant is responsible for submitting the job offer letter to USCIS. It is not filed independently by the employer. Instead, the applicant includes the letter as supporting evidence within their complete T-1 visa application package, which is centered around Form I-914. There is no separate filing fee or mailing address for the letter itself; it is submitted with all other forms and evidence to the address specified in the Form I-914 instructions.