VAWA
Home / Practice Areas / VAWA
Protection From Abuse
If you are being hurt, controlled, or threatened by a spouse, partner, child, or parent who is a U.S. citizen or green card holder, you may have the right to apply for legal protection on your own, without their knowledge and without their involvement. You do not have to stay in a dangerous situation because of your immigration status, and you do not have to wait for someone else’s permission to protect yourself.
Your immigration status should never be used as a weapon against you. If it has been, the law has protections specifically for this situation.
What Is VAWA?
VAWA stands for the Violence Against Women Act. Despite its name, this protection is available to women, men, and children who have experienced abuse, cruelty, or control by a qualifying family member who is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.
Under VAWA, you can file a petition, privately and independently, without notifying the person who harmed you. If approved, it can lead to work authorization, protection from deportation, and eventually a path to a green card and permanent residency.
Abuse does not only mean physical violence. Emotional cruelty, threats, isolation, and other psychological harm can also qualify.
VAWA allows certain spouses, children, and parents of U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents to seek protection on their own, without relying on the person who caused harm. For many people, that can be the first step toward safety, independence, and long-term stability.
Abuse is not always physical. It can also involve threats, control, humiliation, financial restriction, isolation, or using immigration status as a way to intimidate someone. Because these situations often happen behind closed doors, many people spend years believing they have no way forward. In reality, the law may offer more protection than they realize.
A VAWA case is about more than filing paperwork. It is about telling your story carefully, gathering the right evidence, and creating a path that is truly your own. It can also lead to work authorization and, in many cases, permanent residency. Our role is to help you move through that process with privacy, respect, and a clear understanding of what may be possible next.
Schedule a case review with
an immigration attorney.
Do Any of These Sound Familiar?
"My spouse is a U.S. citizen and they hurt me physically or emotionally. I am afraid that if I leave or speak up, I will be deported."
You may be wondering →
Can I apply for protection without my spouse finding out?
"My partner controls everything. They threaten to call immigration on me or say I will never get papers without them. I feel completely trapped."
You may be wondering →
Does using my immigration status as a threat count as abuse?
Yes. Using immigration status as a threat or a tool of control is recognized as a form of abuse. Withholding documents, threatening to report you to immigration authorities, or making you feel like your legal future depends entirely on them are all forms of cruelty that VAWA is designed to address. You have more options than they want you to believe.
"I am not sure what I experienced counts as abuse. It was not always physical. But I lived in fear and I was not free."
You may be wondering →
Does abuse have to be physical to qualify for VAWA protection?
"I am a parent and my child has been hurt or mistreated by my spouse who is a U.S. citizen. I want to protect them."
You may be wondering →
Can I apply for VAWA protection on behalf of my child?
"I already left the relationship. I was not sure I could still apply, so I have been waiting and hoping things would work out on their own."
You may be wondering →
Can I still apply for VAWA even if the relationship is already over?
"My parent is a U.S. citizen and they have been cruel, controlling, or abusive toward me. I want to find a way to be safe and independent."
You may be wondering →
Can adult children also apply for VAWA protection?
"My child is a U.S. citizen and they have been controlling, threatening, or harmful toward me. I feel ashamed to talk about it, but I do not feel safe."
You may be wondering →
Can a parent apply for VAWA protection against an abusive child?
Yes. VAWA protections extend to parents who have been abused or mistreated by a U.S. citizen child. This is more common than many people realize, and it is nothing to be ashamed of. Abuse within a family is still abuse, regardless of who it comes from. You deserve safety and stability, and the law recognizes that. We listen without judgment and help you understand whether this protection is available to you.
A Note on Safety:
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text “HELP” to 233733.
They are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in multiple languages, and your call is confidential.
Google Reviews
235+ Reviews
Practice Areas
You did not choose what happened to you. But you can choose what comes next.
The Trust We Build, In Their Words
40+ Years of Combined Experience Guiding Individuals and Families Through Immigration Challenges
Our team has spent decades helping individuals and families navigate difficult immigration challenges with a steady mix of legal skill, honesty, and compassion.
WHAT'S THE LATEST?
FIND OUT IF YOU QUALIFY AND TAKE A STEP TOWARD A LIFE WITHOUT FEAR
Understanding your options can bring real change: better job opportunities, more security for your family, the ability to travel safely, and the confidence to plan your future without fear. If you’ve been unsure about where you stand, this is the place to begin.