There is a form of relief in immigration court that survivors of abuse keep missing because nobody tells them it exists. It is not the VAWA self-petition that gets all the attention. It is the version designed specifically for people who are already in removal proceedings, sitting in front of an immigration judge, with deportation […]

A woman came to my office last fall with a manila folder in her lap and her hand shaking as she opened it. Inside were three years of text messages, two hospital records, a copy of her marriage certificate, and a single photograph she did not want to look at. Her husband, a U.S citizen,

A client sat across from me last month and asked the question I get more than any other: “How long is this actually going to take?” She’d filed her VAWA self-petition almost three years ago. She had a prima facie letter. She had a work permit. But she didn’t have an approval, and she was

Receiving an approved VAWA self-petition is a major turning point. For many survivors, it is the first step toward stability after long periods of fear and uncertainty. However, this approval does not automatically grant permanent resident status. Instead, it opens the door to the next phase of your immigration journey. From filing for a green

For many VAWA self-petitioners, the interview feels like the most intimidating part of the immigration process. Sitting in front of a USCIS officer and being asked to answer questions truthfully, especially when the topic is trauma, is no small thing. You might feel nervous, unsure of what to say, or worry that you’ll forget details.