Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)
The Violence Against Women Act established new offenses and penalties for the violation of a protection order or stalking in which an abuser crossed a state line to injure or harass another, or forced a victim to cross a state line under duress and then physically harmed the victim in the course of a violent crime.
VAWA provides numerous forms of protection for noncitizen women and men who are the victims of domestic violence or other qualifying crimes.
VAWA applicants are often fearful that their abusers will find out that they filed for VAWA relief. Victims can apply for VAWA in secret so their abusers can never find out that they applied for VAWA relief.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is legally prohibited from disclosing that a victim has applied for VAWA benefits.
Under the federal Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), you may be eligible to become a lawful permanent resident (get a Green Card) if you are the victim of battery or extreme cruelty committed by:
-A U.S. citizen spouse or former spouse.
-A U.S. citizen parent.
-A U.S. citizen son or daughter.
-A lawful permanent resident (LPR) spouse or former spouse; or
-An LPR parent