The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) is one of the most important protections in U.S. immigration law. It was designed to give immigrant victims of abuse \u2014 regardless of gender \u2014 a safe and independent way to obtain legal status without relying on their abuser.<\/p>\n
Under VAWA, certain spouses, children, and parents of abusive U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents (green card holders) can self-petition for a green card confidentially, without the abuser\u2019s knowledge or consent.<\/p>\n
At Khashmati Law, P.C., our experienced immigration attorneys have helped countless survivors rebuild their lives through VAWA petitions, giving them the freedom to live without fear or control.<\/p>\n
To qualify for VAWA protection, an applicant must meet one of the following relationship categories:<\/p>\n
VAWA recognizes both physical and non-physical forms of abuse, including:<\/p>\n
The abuse does not have to be continuous or result in a police report. The law recognizes that many victims are afraid or unable to call the police \u2014 credible statements, witness affidavits, or therapy records can also support a case.<\/p>\n
To be approved under VAWA, you must demonstrate:<\/p>\n
The VAWA process is confidential \u2014 USCIS does not notify your abuser about your petition. Below is an overview of how it works:<\/p>\n
1.\u00a0<\/b>Prepare and File Form I-360<\/b><\/p>\n
The self-petition is filed using Form I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant, along with supporting evidence of abuse, relationship, and good moral character.<\/p>\n
2.\u00a0<\/b>Gather Supporting Documents<\/b><\/p>\n
Your attorney will help you collect evidence such as:<\/p>\n
3.\u00a0<\/b>Work Authorization & Deferred Action<\/b><\/p>\n
If your petition is strong, USCIS may grant deferred action while your case is pending \u2014 allowing you to apply for work authorization (EAD card) and live safely in the U.S.<\/p>\n
4.\u00a0<\/b>Apply for a Green Card<\/b><\/p>\n
Once your I-360 is approved, you may apply for adjustment of status (Form I-485) to become a lawful permanent resident. Depending on your situation, this can be done concurrently or after approval.<\/p>\n
5.\u00a0<\/b>Confidential Processing<\/b><\/p>\n
All VAWA cases are handled with strict confidentiality. USCIS communicates only with the applicant or their attorney, never the abuser.<\/p>\n
VAWA gives survivors the chance to live freely, work legally, and rebuild their lives without fear of retaliation or control.<\/p>\n
1.\u00a0<\/b>Deep Expertise in Humanitarian Immigration<\/b><\/p>\n
With over 14 years of immigration experience, Attorney Inara Khashmati and her team have successfully represented clients in VAWA, U visa, and other victim-based immigration cases. We know how to present strong, well-documented petitions that protect survivors and secure results.<\/p>\n
2.\u00a0<\/b>Trauma-Informed Legal Care<\/b><\/p>\n
We approach every VAWA case with compassion, confidentiality, and respect. Our attorneys and staff understand the emotional challenges survivors face and handle each case with sensitivity.<\/p>\n
3.\u00a0<\/b>Strong Advocacy and Strategy<\/b><\/p>\n
From collecting evidence to drafting affidavits and preparing you for interviews, Khashmati Law, P.C. develops a personalized legal strategy designed to maximize your chance of success.<\/p>\n
4.\u00a0<\/b>Serving the New York Community<\/b><\/p>\n
With offices in Queens, Long Island, Westchester, and New York City, we proudly serve immigrant families throughout the New York metro area. Our multilingual team communicates in Spanish, Russian, Turkish, and Georgian, ensuring clients feel understood and supported.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re living in fear or uncertainty because of an abusive relationship, you are not alone \u2014 and you have legal rights. The VAWA self-petition can give you safety, independence, and a path to permanent residency.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
What Is VAWA and Who Does It Protect? The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) is one of the most important protections in U.S. immigration law. It was designed to give immigrant victims of abuse \u2014 regardless of gender \u2014 a safe and independent way to obtain legal status without relying…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3804,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[40],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3535","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-immigration-law"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\r\n\t\t