Under VAWA, certain spouses, children, and parents abused by U.S. citizens or permanent residents can self-petition for a green card without the abuser’s knowledge or involvement. Castel & Hall LLP provides discreet, multilingual representation throughout Massachusetts, coordinating safety planning and immigration filings while aligning with broader family immigration goals that support long-term stability.
Helpful but not required. Medical notes, photos, messages, shelter letters, therapist or clergy affidavits, and your detailed declaration can prove “battery or extreme cruelty.”
You can still self-petition within 2 years of a divorce if the abuse was a central reason for the breakup. Evidence of the timeline is important.
No. VAWA confidentiality rules prohibit contacting the abuser or relying on their input.
Many VAWA applicants qualify for work authorization when they file adjustment or upon I-360 approval/prima facie determination in certain contexts.
VAWA is independent of the abuser. A withdrawn I-130 does not block a VAWA self-petition.
USCIS reviews the statutory period but also considers abuse-related circumstances that may mitigate conduct (e.g., coerced offenses). Provide context with documentation.
No. Safety comes first. You only need evidence that you lived with the abuser at some point and that the relationship was bona fide.
We file the I-360 self-petition, track prima facie determinations, and—when eligible—prepare adjustment of status. After obtaining permanent residence, we plan for citizenship and naturalization when the time is right, so survivors can secure full rights and stability in the U.S.