Gainesville Florida

Immigration Lawyer in Gainesville, Florida

Debunking 5 Myths About the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Self-Petitions

The abuse must be physical. One requirement to qualify under VAWA is that the petitioner has been subjected to battery or extreme cruelty. Domestic violence may be physical, but verbal abuse or emotional abuse are also forms of domestic violence and depending on the specific circumstances, may amount to extreme cruelty.
Only women qualify for VAWA. Men are also victims of domestic violence and if they meet the requirements for VAWA, they may qualify for a self-petition.
There must be a police report. Although police reports will often demonstrate more than one of the requirements for VAWA such as residence with the abuser and battery or extreme cruelty, a police report is not a requirement to apply for a VAWA self-petition.
Immigration will contact your abuser. VAWA contains several confidentiality provisions making it unlawful for the government to contact your abuser or inform them you have filed a self-petition.
You must be married to your abuser. You may still qualify for VAWA if your petition is filed within 2 years of your divorce from your abuser. Additionally, you may qualify for VAWA if you believed you were married to your abuser, but your marriage was invalid or unlawful.

Get started with our experienced and compassionate immigration team today. Call us at (904) 740-3690 or contact us online today.

I am so grateful to her for all the help that we received from her when we applied for green cards and also later for our citizenship. Everybody who works in her office is very kind and professional.

- Soledad Z.
What impressed me most about the staff was the attention to detail and their ability to explain legal issues in a way that we could easily understand. They were always available and made us feel like a priority.

- Wara P.
Karen Winston helped me secure a visa for my fiancee to come to the USA in 2018, and now her team has delivered once again with a visa for my sibling. I was so relaxed because they had everything taken care of.

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Karen made me feel at home. My process is complete and approved thanks to her professionalism. I’ve noticed how respected she is even inside the USCIS building. She was very professional and friendly with me.

- Paulo C.

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Over almost 15 years of service, Karen Winston has an impressive record of keeping families together.
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As an attorney and former law professor, Karen Winston is well-respected before USCIS, courts, and judges.
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