Many foreign nationals working in the U.S. often find themselves silently enduring unfair or unreasonable treatment—whether it be due to an employer’s abuse of power, the hope of eventually securing permanent residency, or the uncertainty of their current immigration status. While such practices would be unthinkable in Korea, the reality is that they remain all too common in the U.S. immigration journey.
But you no longer have to tolerate mistreatment in exchange for the promise of a green card. There is a safer and faster path.
We’re here to share this important, often overlooked route to permanent residency—empowering you with the information and legal strategy you need to protect your rights.
If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance one or more of the following situations resonate with you:
- “Because my visa or green card sponsorship is tied to my employer, I’m being underpaid—or I’m working in a position far below my qualifications.”
- “Due to visa issues, I’ve fallen out of status or overstayed. Now I’m being paid late (or unfairly low wages), and doing odd jobs completely unrelated to my field.”
- “I feel like I’m on call at all hours—doing anything and everything my employer demands, like a personal assistant with no boundaries.”
- “There’s no overtime pay, no paid time off. Even after extending my H-1B twice post-OPT, they never followed through with a green card—and then I was let go.”
- “When I joined, the company said they’d sponsor me, but it turned out they weren’t even eligible—or they backed out after I had already put in so much effort.”
- “If I were in Korea, I’d report this to the Labor Ministry without hesitation. But here, with my uncertain immigration status, I feel like I have no choice but to endure it—and it’s taking a toll on me mentally and emotionally.”
- “I’ve heard it took someone nine years just to find a legitimate sponsor and finally get their green card. I’m starting to worry my case might turn out the same—and it’s incredibly discouraging.”
Before coming to the U.S., many of you may have thought, “That won’t happen to me,” as you prepared for an exciting new chapter abroad. Naturally, when we plan for the future, we tend to envision positive outcomes rather than anticipate potential hardships. Each of us carries our own goals, and choosing to travel all the way to America often comes from a desire to build a better life and grow beyond who we were.
Of course, it would be ideal if everything went smoothly from the start—but the reality is often more complicated. For many, the journey has been filled with unexpected challenges. Some people even say that, despite living in the U.S. for seven or ten years, obtaining permanent residency still feels out of reach. It’s not uncommon to hear that getting a green card in the U.S. starts to feel like a matter of fate rather than process.
But does that mean we must continue to tolerate unfair treatment and uncertainty indefinitely?
Absolutely not.
Many individuals who’ve worked with us are now living free from the burdens they once endured—from workplace exploitation to unresolved immigration status. By addressing their situations with the right tools and guidance, they’ve not only stood up to mistreatment but have also taken real, effective steps toward securing their lawful status and long-term future in the U.S.
Even individuals who have fallen out of status or are currently undocumented may be eligible to regain lawful presence through this pathway. Once granted, you may also receive a Social Security number, access to food assistance programs, financial aid, healthcare support, vocational training, and English education.
For those who have long felt they had no choice but to tolerate mistreatment in the hopes of eventually obtaining permanent residency, this alternative path is offering not only relief—but real transformation.
So what is this path that’s helping so many reclaim their dignity and rebuild their lives in the U.S.?
T Visas
While many may be hearing about the T visa for the first time, it was established by the U.S. Congress in 2000 as a form of immigration relief to protect victims of human trafficking.
At first, the term “human trafficking” may seem unfamiliar or unrelated—many individuals often think, “But I’m not a victim of human trafficking.” However, it is important to understand that under U.S. immigration law, “human trafficking” is a legal definition, which may be broader and more inclusive than how the term is commonly understood in everyday language.
출처: https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/victims-of-human-trafficking-t-nonimmigrant-status
According to U.S. immigration law, the T visa is primarily intended for individuals who have experienced sex trafficking or labor trafficking. If you are currently enduring ongoing abuse or exploitation in connection with your immigration status—particularly when tied to an employer who claims to sponsor your permanent residency—you may be eligible to apply for a T visa. This visa not only allows you to work legally in a safe and stable environment, but also provides a path to lawful permanent residency (green card) in the United States.
As noted by U.S. immigration authorities, many individuals face coercive or abusive practices that no lawful worker in the United States should be subjected to. If you are being forced to accept unfair treatment because of your immigration status or sponsorship dependency, you may qualify for protection under the T visa program.
Additionally, if your employer initially promised green card sponsorship but later revealed they were not eligible to sponsor you, such misrepresentation may be considered fraud, which could also make you eligible for a T visa. The T visa is also available to individuals who have experienced sexual misconduct or violence in the workplace.
In short, any unfair treatment or exploitation by your employer under the guise of “green card sponsorship” may qualify you for a T visa—and you no longer need to endure such mistreatment.
While the T visa is classified as a non-immigrant visa, it is uniquely structured to allow recipients to apply for lawful permanent residency (a green card) after three years. Many individuals who have come to our firm in the U.S. are often surprised to learn how clearly this path is built into the T visa process.
One of the most appreciated aspects of the T visa, as shared by many of our clients, is the ability to apply for a green card independently—without relying on a family sponsor or an employer. This sense of autonomy and control over their future has been incredibly empowering for those who have felt trapped or dependent in the past.
Despite the many benefits of the T visa, most Korean nationals remain unaware of this option and continue to endure difficult circumstances. This lack of awareness is truly unfortunate.
There has been a noticeable absence of proactive outreach and education surrounding this visa category, particularly within the Korean community. In some cases, even immigration professionals and attorneys may not be fully familiar with the T visa, or for various reasons, it has not been actively introduced to Korean-speaking individuals.
After graduating from law school, Attorney Hayoon Kane has dedicated her legal career to U.S. immigration law and has become a trusted advocate for international students and immigrants. Through extensive legal research and practical casework, she has delivered outstanding results—not only in well-known visa and green card categories, but also in complex and overlooked cases that many others have deemed impossible.
A recent client who came to us had previously experienced difficulty obtaining positive outcomes from other law firms regarding their marriage-based status. However, after meeting with our attorney, they successfully obtained permanent residency through the T-visa program.
This individual had intended to marry a permanent resident spouse in the United States, but due to personal circumstances, that was not feasible, and they were living as an undocumented immigrant.
Our law firm has been proactively promoting the T-visa program through targeted local advertising across the United States, assisting many individuals in need of relief. While a significant number of our clients are Korean, we have also helped many individuals from diverse backgrounds.
Our goal is to help more people break free from unjust circumstances and enable them to obtain permanent residency both quickly and securely.
For those reading this far, we understand that this information may come as a revelation, offering hope to those who have endured prolonged hardship and challenges. Many envision a future where acquiring permanent residency is safer and faster, allowing them to live freely and happily in the United States.
If you are currently facing abuse or unfair treatment at your workplace in the U.S., we invite you to schedule a one-on-one consultation with one of our attorneys to see if you qualify.
We look forward to meeting you soon and helping you on your journey. Thank you for your trust.
Important: When applying for the T-visa, you can proceed confidently knowing that there is no need to contact your employer during the process.
