Common Questions Asked in VAWA Cases
Looking for A Specific Post? Search Below
VAWA is an acronym for a law known as the Violence Against Women Act, which has been in the books since 1994 when Congress passed it, and the president signed it into law. The law, among other things, created a special pathway to lawful immigration status for victims of domestic abuse who otherwise had to rely on their abusers to sponsor them for a green card.
By removing the abusers from the green card application process for VAWA victims, the law made it easier for victims of abuse who are close relatives of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents to obtain a green card status on their own. At Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC, we routinely help victims covered under VAWA living in the Chicago area to apply for and obtain their green cards.
The following are some of the common questions asked about VAWA:
Who Qualifies for VAWA
To qualify for VAWA green card, you must demonstrate the following:
- You are the battered spouse of an abuser who is a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident (green card holder)
- You are a spouse of a U.S. citizen or green card holder, and your child or children are being abused by your spouse
- You are a child of a U.S. citizen or green card holder who is being abused or battered by that individual
What Evidence is Necessary to Prove Domestic Abuse?
Domestic abuse is generally associated with physical abuse, but physical abuse need not be proven in a VAWA case. This is because the definitions of abuse under VAWA are quite broad and encompass many different types of abuse. Physical abuse such as battery, punching, pushing, or shoving is often the easiest to prove, but the law recognizes other forms of abuse, such as the following:
- Intimidation of any kind designed to keep the spouse afraid of the abuser
- Threats intended to keep the victim silent from reporting the abuse or comply
- Harassment and degradation of the victim
- Social Isolation of the victim
- Economic abuse such as withholding money needed for basic living expenses)
- Controlling Behavior
- Sexual Abuse or Rape
What Forms Do I Need for VAWA Application?
Form I-360, the Self-Petition for Battered Spouse/Child, is typically all that is required for a VAWA case. However, if you also meet the requirements for adjustment of status, you may also need to also file the following forms:
- I-485 Application for Adjustment of Status
- G-325A, Biographic Information
- I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record
- I-765, Application for Employment Authorization
Do I Need a Lawyer to File My VAWA Case?
Having an experienced VAWA immigration lawyer can help you in making sure you are not wasting your time and money filing the incorrect forms for your individual case. The lawyer will guide you in what needs to be filed and make sure you have filed everything that makes it easy for an immigration officer to approve your case.
If you are a victim of domestic violence by a U.S. citizen or a green card holder relative, contact us today and schedule an appointment for a confidential consultation.
Co Mówią Nasi Klienci
Ocena 5 gwiazdek | Na podstawie 200+ pozytywnych opinii na Google
I would like to sincerely thank Attorney Justin Burton and PL Kamila Lada for support with my adjustment of status case. I have been working with the firm for over a year now, and I have received nothing short of exceptional services and support throughout various cases for myself and family members. Highly recommend consulting and retaining this firm.
We have been in the dark with our case for over 2 decades, while working with other big firms who just kept me in the dark and sat on our case without making any effort to move it forward until I met the wonderful team at Kriezelman & Burton. AO and JP are truly God-sent angels who with their knowledge, collaboration, sense of direction and outside the box thinking, managed…
Highly recommend attorney Kevin Raica and attorney Agata Bigdanowicz. They were super helpful, responded on time, and won my case in record time. It took about a month and half in total for me to get my approval after filing!
Brittni Rivera and her team (Carina Lopez) are fantastic! They are responsive, efficient and beyond compassionate. Brittni Rivera and her team treated me with dignity and respect as they patiently answered all of my questions. They didn't move on without making sure I understood each step. Their work ethic was impressive. It felt like they were an extension of my personal team. I can't say enough to convey my gratitude…
Huge thanks to Attorney Matthew for his incredible support on our immigration case! 🙏 He was professional, responsive, and his expertise led to a successful outcome. We truly appreciate his hard work and highly recommend his service.
I’m deeply grateful to God for leading us to this law firm; it is a true blessing to work with such professional and passionate individuals. Their dedication and commitment help make a difficult situation far less traumatic. In our case, we received 100% support from Attorney Andrea Ochoa and paralegal Rafael. May God bless them and allow them to continue this wonderful work. Thank you—a thousand thanks.
I give my total recommendation and trust in this great organization that has supported me and my family in very difficult times, especially the lawyer Andrea Ochoa and her paralegal Rafael who were little angels that God has sent us to be able to face all the obstacles that we have had along the way. Thank you very much with all my heart. ❤️
I have heard from several people that Brittni is a great attorney. When my friend was detained, I recommended Brittni to take his case. She did an amazing job putting together all the necessary information, especially given that we had only a couple of days to submit the habeas corpus application. She and her team worked very professionally and provided clear guidance throughout. She stayed in touch consistently and was…
Highly recommend Jennifer Peyton in federal litigations. She’s very polite and experienced.
I decided to use the services of Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC, and Kevin was nothing short of professional and amazing. From the consultation to the final approval, he gave us confidence and reassurance throughout the entire process. When I first told him about my wife’s wish to change her status, the first thing he said was, “We will get it done.” Even during the USCIS pause, he continued to…
Schedule a consultation!:
Umów się na konsultację!
Libertyville
Reklama prawnika. Informacje te mają wyłącznie charakter ogólny. Przedstawionych informacji nie należy interpretować jako formalnej porady prawnej ani tworzenia relacji prawnik/klient. Wcześniejsze wyniki i referencje nie stanowią gwarancji, rękojmi ani przewidywania wyniku Twojej sprawy i nie powinny być w ten sposób interpretowane. Wyniki z przeszłości nie mogą zagwarantować przyszłych wyników. Jakikolwiek wynik w pojedynczej sprawie nie ma na celu stworzenia oczekiwań podobnych wyników w przyszłych sprawach, ponieważ każdy przypadek wiąże się z wieloma różnymi czynnikami, dlatego też wyniki będą się różnić w każdym przypadku. Podając dane kontaktowe, użytkownicy potwierdzają i wyrażają wyraźną zgodę na kontakt za pośrednictwem udostępnionych metod komunikacji, w tym wiadomości SMS. Mogą obowiązywać stawki za wiadomości i transmisję danych. Częstotliwość wiadomości może się różnić. Odpowiedz STOP, aby zrezygnować.
NUVEW | Prawo autorskie 2026 Wszelkie prawa zastrzeżone | Informacja o dostępności | polityka prywatności