Immigrant Visas for Battered Family Members
If you are the victim of abuse, it is difficult to break away from that person to protect yourself. If you are under the abuser’s green card or U.S. citizenship, it can be even more difficult to escape the abuse. Thankfully, the U.S. government recognizes this problem and allows for special visas for battered spouses, children, and parents.
Sometimes, you must leave a person without his or her consent in order to escape abuse. If you are an abused spouse, child, or parent, you can petition for an immigrant visa without your abuser’s knowledge. To help you break the cycle of abuse and gain independence, contact a qualified Orange County immigration attorney from Garg & Associates, P.C. today at 949-540-6704.
Who is Eligible?
The Violence Against Women act, or VAWA, allows close relatives of U.S. citizens and permanent residents to file for an immigration visa on their own so that they no longer must depend on the abuser. VAWA can help both men and women, and it applies to spouses, parents, and children. Battered parents and spouses can also file for their children, or the abused children can file for themselves and their children if they are under 21 and unmarried.
Although the requirements differ from spouse to parent to child, there are some general qualifications that must be met in order to apply for an immigration visa under VAWA:
- Residence with the abuser
- Good moral character (over the age of 14)
- Proof of abuse from U.S. citizen/permanent resident parent, spouse, or child
If you have been abused, it is for your own safety that you should file for an immigration visa. To learn more, consult an immigration attorney today.
Contact Us
As a parent or spouse, you should protect your own health and safety by escaping your abuser. If you have children who are subject to abuse, you must take responsibility to protect your precious loved ones. For more information regarding the ways you can escape abuse through an immigration visa, contact an Orange County immigration lawyer from Garg & Associates, P.C. at 949-540-6704 today.
