Protection for Victims of Crime & Abuse
Immigration Help for Survivors of Crime, Abuse & Trafficking
After experiencing abuse or a serious crime, you may feel uncertain about your safety, your family, and your future in the United States. Immigration concerns can make it even harder to ask for help. Depending on your circumstances, U.S. immigration law may offer a way to seek protection without relying on the person who harmed you.
Konare Law helps immigrants understand potential options under the U visa, T visa, and Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) programs. We review your circumstances, explain the requirements, and help you identify the records needed to support your case. Each option has different rules; experiencing harm alone does not establish eligibility.
Which Immigration Options May Be Available?
U Visas for Victims of Qualifying Crimes
A U visa may be available to someone who suffered substantial physical or mental abuse from qualifying criminal activity that occurred in the United States or violated U.S. law. The applicant generally must have information about the crime and have been helpful, be helpful, or be likely to be helpful to authorities. Special rules can apply to children and people unable to provide assistance themselves.
A qualifying agency must complete a law enforcement certification. A police report by itself does not replace this certification, and certification does not guarantee approval. USCIS separately reviews the petition and other eligibility requirements, including admissibility or eligibility for a waiver.
VAWA Self-Petitions for Certain Abused Family Members
VAWA allows certain abused spouses and children of U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents, and certain abused parents of adult U.S. citizens, to petition for themselves. Despite the law’s name, eligible people of any gender may apply.
Qualifying abuse can include battery or extreme cruelty. An eligible self-petitioner does not need the abusive relative to sponsor or cooperate with the petition. The qualifying family relationship and other requirements still matter, so a careful review of your history is essential.
T Visas for Survivors of Human Trafficking
A T visa may offer protection to survivors of severe forms of labor or sex trafficking. Eligibility generally involves being in the United States or another covered location because of trafficking, meeting requirements concerning reasonable requests for law enforcement assistance unless an exception or exemption applies, and showing that removal would cause extreme hardship involving unusual and severe harm.
Trafficking can involve forced labor or commercial sexual exploitation. It does not always involve crossing a border. We can help assess whether your experience fits the immigration requirements and what evidence may support your application.
How Konare Law Can Help
- Identify whether a U visa, T visa, VAWA self-petition, or another immigration option may fit your circumstances.
- Review your immigration history and any issues that could require a waiver or additional legal analysis.
- Help organize your statement and supporting records into a clear, consistent filing.
- Explain certification requirements when they apply and how they differ from the immigration application.
- Assess whether eligible family members may have related options.
- Discuss work authorization, next steps, and possible paths to permanent residence based on the specific benefit involved.
Records That May Help Support Your Case
Useful evidence may include police or court records, protective orders, medical records, messages, employment records, witness statements, and documents showing a qualifying family relationship. The right evidence depends on the type of case. You do not need every item on this list before speaking with an attorney.
Avoid putting yourself at risk to obtain documents. Tell our team about a safe way to contact you and whether anyone else can access your phone, email, or mail.
Questions Immigrants Often Ask
Can I explore these options if I do not have lawful immigration status?
Possibly. Lack of lawful status does not automatically rule out every survivor-based immigration option. Your entries, prior applications, criminal history, and any immigration court proceedings still require individual review.
Does my abuser have to help with a VAWA petition?
No. A qualifying VAWA self-petition is designed to let eligible survivors seek immigration relief without the abusive relative’s sponsorship or cooperation. You must still document the applicable requirements.
Will filing an application immediately give me work authorization?
Do not assume that filing alone provides permission to work, lawful status, or protection from removal. Work authorization and interim benefits depend on the application category, eligibility, and applicable government procedures.
Can my children or other relatives be included?
Some survivor-based categories allow benefits for certain relatives, but the rules differ by category, age, and relationship. We can review each family member’s situation rather than assume one filing covers everyone.
What if I already have an immigration court case?
Tell your attorney about every hearing, order, and deadline. A survivor-based application does not automatically resolve a court case or excuse attendance. Coordinating your application with a removal defense strategy may be necessary.
Talk with Konare Law About Your Options
You deserve a clear explanation of the immigration options that may apply to your circumstances. Konare Law can help you understand the requirements and plan your next steps.
Call (833) 888-0417 or schedule a consultation. You can also explore our humanitarian immigration services.