VAWA Petitions in New York City
New York City Immigration Lawyer
The Violence Against Women Act, or VAWA, was passed in 1994 in order to protect immigrants from abusive spouses. Under this act, a woman (or man) who is being abused by a spouse who is a lawful permanent resident or U.S. citizen will be able to obtain his or her own permanent residence or green card independently of the spouse. This method of seeking permanent residency in the United States is referred to as "VAWA self-petitioning." The abusive spouse does not play a part in the petitioning process, and does not even need to know that the abuse victim is filing for the petition in the first place. If you are an immigrant who is being abused by your spouse, a New York City immigration lawyer can help you in petitioning for residency under VAWA. If you have children, they may also be granted permanent residency if your petition is approved.
Feiner & Lavy, Attorney at Law provides legal help to individuals in immigration matters of all types. Our firm is dedicated to helping clients achieve their immigration goals swiftly and at a reasonable cost. We are prepared to file a VAWA self-petition on your behalf, so that you can lawfully remain in the United States while protecting yourself from physical or mental abuse. Our legal team speaks four languages, and can serve you in English, Arabic, Hebrew, or Spanish.
VAWA Requirements
To obtain benefits under VAWA, you must meet a number of requirements. These include:
- You must have been residing in the United States when the abuse occurred, or married to a person who is a member of the uniformed services of the U.S., or an employee of the U.S. government
- You must have been abused or subjected to significant cruelty during your marriage, or be the parent of a child who has been abused or subjected to cruelty
If you or your child has been abused by your lawful permanent resident or U.S. citizen spouse, contact a New York City immigration attorney who can help you petition for a green card or permanent residency.