I-854 Inter-Agency Alien Witness and Informant Record

The S visa request. A federal or state law enforcement agency, not the individual, files it to bring in or keep a witness or informant who is helping a criminal or terrorism investigation, and later to move them to permanent residence.

USCISEdition 01/20/25Paper only

Fee: $0
Fee waiver: Not available
Who files: A federal or state law enforcement agency.
Where to file: Filed by the law enforcement agency through the Department of Justice to USCIS.

Part of these processes

Temporary work visasEmployment

What changed in 2025 and 2026

S classification is capped at 200 witnesses and 50 informants a year and is entirely in the hands of the agency; an individual cannot apply.

Official page. https://www.uscis.gov/i-854. Download the form there, never from a third-party site; check the edition date and fee before filing.