A Violence Against Women (VAWA) visa allows victims of abuse by a United States citizen to seek safety. Mendoza Law and our VAWA lawyers in Hialeah can help victims determine whether or not they qualify for a visa. Then, we’ll stand with them as they apply for residency.
Attorney Maria and our team of Hialeah humanitarian visa lawyers have helped clients file VAWA self-petitions, as well as adjustments of status. We make it easier to pursue work permits and waivers related to VAWA visas, all while prioritizing the safety of our clients.
You can book a confidential case consultation with us today without alerting your abuser. We’ve helped 100,000 clients since opening our doors in 2016. You can trust us with your future.
How Do VAWA Visas Work?
Our Hialeah immigration lawyers know that the Violence Against Women Act in the United States (VAWA) allows qualifying victims of abuse to apply for residency in the United States without the assistance of a marital partner. You don’t even need to report your abuse to move forward with an application for a VAWA visa, especially if doing so would put you in harm’s way.
You can instead reach out to a Hialeah VAWA attorney to discuss what the process of filing for residency might look like. While we can’t issue criminal consequences against your abuser, we can help protect you from future abuse and fight for your right to benefit from the protections afforded to United States residents.
We offer our support to victims of battery and abuse while protecting your privacy, per the confidentiality rules established on the federal level. We can also help you apply for a green card or push for deferred action on any removal orders leveled against you. You can also ask us for help applying for a work permit.
Who Qualifies for a VAWA Visa?
If you want to apply for a VAWA visa, you need to bring forward evidence indicating that you meet the qualifying criteria, including evidence that your partner or spouse is a United States citizen with whom you engaged in a good-faith relationship.
You can also pursue a VAWA visa if you can prove that you’re the victim of abuse from a United States citizen parent or adult child.
Our legal team can help you make your case by bringing forward evidence of your good moral character and prolonged relationship with an abuser. We can also submit evidence of your mistreatment, including text messages, phone records, witness statements, police reports, and medical reports depicting the physical abuse you endured.
What If You Divorced Your Abuser?
You may still have the right to move forward with a VAWA visa application if you divorced or separated from your abuser. Likewise, if you’re not in the age group of individuals protected by the Violence Against Women Act, we can discuss whether or not you might qualify for an exemption to your filing timeline.
What’s more, you may have the right to move forward with a VAWA visa application if you suffered any kind of abuse, including emotional, physical, financial, or intimidation. We can discuss your specific circumstances during your initial interview.
How Long Does it Take to Apply for a VAWA Visa?
The amount of time it takes to process a VAWA visa application will vary depending on your circumstances. We can help you compile the evidence necessary to move your application forward in a reasonable amount of time without putting you in more danger, and then request receipts from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) after filing.
You may receive a “prima facie” decision within a few weeks of completing your petition. Alternatively, your case may take several months to move forward. You can trust our VAWA attorneys in Hialeah to keep you up to date on your petition’s progress.
We Do Not Have to Use Police Reports to Prove Your Right to a VAWA Visa
You do not have to report your abuse to police officers or open a criminal investigation into your mistreatment if you want to apply for a VAWA visa. Other forms of evidence, including witness statements, therapy notes, medical records, and electronic data, can all supplement a police report and prove your right to legal protections.
You need enough evidence to prove that a United States citizen or permanent resident engaged in controlling behaviors and put you in harm’s way. You have an obligation to prove extreme cruelty if you want your case to move forward. While a police report can make that position easier to argue, these reports aren’t essential to your petition.
You Can Connect With a Hialeah VAWA Lawyer Today
We understand that abusers can make you feel small and alone. In reality, you have allies who are ready to go to bat for you as you carve out a brighter future for yourself, including our VAWA attorneys in Hialeah.
You can explore your right to pursue residency in the United States in an effort to protect yourself from continued mistreatment. A VAWA visa can help you secure your place.
Contact Attorney Maria and the team at Mendoza Law today to confidentially discuss how you want to move forward with your quest for residency. Our team can take active steps to ensure your safety while highlighting your right not only to a VAWA visa but also to work authorization and permanent residency. Let us start advocating for you today.