VAWA

St. Cloud VAWA Lawyer

Protecting Immigrants Facing Domestic Abuse

Having family members who live in the United States can be beneficial when you want to immigrate to be with them. However, the family-based immigration process requires you to depend on your loved one to get you a green card to remain in the U.S. If your parent, spouse, or adult child has taken advantage of this arrangement by battering you, abusing you, and threatening deportation if you report them, contact SRR Law Group LLC for help applying for the VAWA visa.

This visa allows you to self-petition for a green card, so you don’t have to stay with an abusive spouse or other family member to gain lawful permanent resident status. When you call our St. Cloud law firm to discuss your VAWA case, you’ll get legal support from a caring immigration attorney who understands the urgency of your situation. Contact our Minnesota law office to get started.

What Is the VAWA Visa?

This visa is based on the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), a federal law that Congress passed in 1994 to ensure battered immigrants no longer had to stay with their abusive relatives due to their legal status in the U.S. After all, anyone who wants a green card must be sponsored by a family member who is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident. If that person becomes abusive, the victim is unlikely to report the abuse out of fear of deportation.

As a result, this act gives immigrants the power to leave an abusive situation without worrying about their legal status. With the VAWA petition, they can self-petition for a visa instead of relying on their abuser to do it for them.

If you’re unsure if you’re eligible for the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), call our Minnesota law office. Our skilled St. Cloud immigration lawyer can assist with the VAWA process to ensure you’re protected as you try to gain legal status in the U.S. and escape the extreme cruelty of your abuser.

What Are the Benefits of the VAWA Visa?

If you want to become a lawful permanent resident but don’t want to stay with an abusive spouse or other family member through the application process, you should talk to Minnesota VAWA lawyers about self-petitioning. This option can benefit abuse survivors – including men, women, and children – in a few ways.

First, VAWA self-petitioners can remain in the U.S. even if their citizen or lawful permanent resident spouse or other relative doesn’t sponsor them. This removes the pressure they might feel to stay in an abusive situation due to their immigration status. If they meet the eligibility requirements, domestic violence victims can self-petition for lawful permanent residence without their abuser’s knowledge, enabling them to live in the U.S., seek work authorization, and even access public benefits when necessary.

The Violence Against Women Act also qualifies victims for cancellation of removal. So, if your abusive family member used your immigration status against you in retaliation for reporting their abuse, rest assured that the VAWA self-petition can stop deportation proceedings.

If these benefits appeal to you, you should contact St. Cloud immigration lawyers to learn if you’re eligible for the VAWA self-petition process. If so, you can get legal assistance while filing your VAWA self-petition forms with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Are You Eligible for a VAWA Self-Petition?

To obtain a green card through the VAWA self-petition process, you only need to meet specific eligibility requirements. Importantly, the process is designed to be accessible for survivors, with a reduced burden of proof to make it easier for you to seek safety and independence.

You may qualify for a VAWA petition if you were abused by one of the following family members while living with them in the U.S.:

  • A spouse who is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident
  • A parent or stepparent who is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident
  • An adult child who is a U.S. citizen

To file your petition, you’ll need to provide some information about your relationship with your abuser and their immigration status. This can often be as simple as your own statement or other available documentation. If additional details about the abuse you endured are necessary, rest assured that the process is sensitive to your needs, and you only need to share what you are comfortable disclosing.

Our compassionate Minnesota immigration lawyers are here to guide you every step of the way, ensuring you feel heard, supported, and empowered throughout the process. Contact us today to learn how we can help you take the next step toward safety and stability.

Why Should You Call Our St. Cloud VAWA Lawyer?

At SRR Law Group LLC, we realize how daunting it is for victims to ask for help in a country where they’re not citizens or lawful permanent residents. But everyone deserves to seek safety from domestic violence, whether they have United States citizenship or not. So, if a family member is abusing you and you’re worried about being deported if you leave, call our St. Cloud immigration law firm for legal advice.

We’ve assisted many domestic abuse survivors with VAWA self-petitions, helping them become green card holders while escaping abusive households, and we’re confident we can do the same for you. If you have questions about your immigration options, call 507-580-7374 for a consultation with a compassionate St. Cloud VAWA attorney.