For immigrants, it is difficult to survive in a foreign country, but if you are in an abusive relationship, it becomes a challenge. For single parents, it becomes a cause of worry for both you and your children. You fear that if you leave your abusive spouse, you are about to be deported from the country. Without a work permit and other necessary certifications, your life becomes a menace. You feel helpless while being struck in the situation.
That’s when VAWA(Violence Against Women Act) comes to your rescue to gain your independence. The attorneys at One People Law help you to navigate the challenges during the VAWA case. A single mistake can result in delaying your application.
In this blog, we are going to cover all the important information related to VAMA in complete detail.
What is VAWA?
VAMA stands for Violence Against Women Act. Congress passed this act in 1994 to help victims of social, psychological, physical, and sexual abuse. It can be spouses, children, and parents of U.S. citizenship regardless of their background. It helps the victims to gain independence without any support from their abusers.
Why Do You Need an Attorney for VAWA?
As discussed earlier, we know that a single mistake in application of VAWA is irreplaceable. You need an attorney throughout the entire process. Let us understand its reasons for choosing an attorney in the following points:
- Confidentiality: You can apply for VAWA without any kind of support from your abuser. It is essential for your safety. The lawyers work confidentially with you to prevent sensitive information from being accessed by the abusers.
- Proper guidance: An experienced attorney provides you with step-by-step instructions on how to apply for VAWA. They guide you in a straightforward manner and give you ideas about how to prove your case effectively.
- Preparing your case: The VAWA attorneys prepare your case with evidence to back up your points in an organized manner. These include medical reports, affidavits from witnesses and other legal documents to support your claim. Your documents, which prove the nature of your relationship with your abuser, are important evidence for VAWA application. Additionally, you need a letter from an immigration psychologist to state the impact of emotional and mental abuse more prominently.
- Fill your forms: The lawyers ensure that your form is filled correctly to avoid delay. One of the most common mistakes is submitting an old version of the form, which results in rejection. Therefore, you need to download the form from the official website.
- Protect your rights: The lawyers monitor the entire VAWA process. They help you with customer service related issues in case of delays. For instance, the fees for submission of VAWA are free. However, when you apply for additional forms such as the work authorization process and other necessary applications, you need to pay proper fees.
- Work Authorization: You need a work permit to support your family. Financial independence is the key to recovery and self-sufficiency. When you file for VAWA, you can include your children as “derivatives”. However, they should be less than 21 years old and unmarried at the time of petition.
- Prepare for green card: Without VAWA, there is a high chance of deportation from the country. To avoid such occurrences, you need the Broward County Vawa Attorney. They help you and your children to live in the country. In some cases, you may qualify for a green card or permanent citizenship.
- Protection Orders: Safety becomes an important issue after you break from a toxic relationship. While applying for VAWA, the attorneys protect you and your family with restraining orders to travel safely across state lines. Therefore, you can live a life free from abuse and fear and gradually heal your traumas.
Who is Eligible for VAWA?
You can apply for VAWA confidentiality without letting your abuser know about it. The eligibility criteria for VAWA are given below:
- Spouses
- If you are or were the spouse of a permanent resident of the USA, then you are eligible for VAWA.
- You can apply for VAWA if your child suffered abuse at the hands of the abuser. That abuser must be a permanent resident of the country.
- You can apply for VAWA with your child only if your child is below 21 years old and unmarried.
2. Parent
- If you are a parent of a child over 21 years old, you can apply for VAMA.
- That child should be a permanent resident of the country.
3. Child
The child should be less than 21 years old and unmarried. He/she has suffered abuse at the hands of the U.S. citizen.
Conclusion
We understand that quitting a toxic relationship is tough, especially when you have children. If it had been you only, the process would have been much easier. However, Broward County VAWA Attorney protects both you and your children. Throughout the application process, you need an attorney to get a work permit and other necessary documents without delay. The quicker the process, the sooner you can walk towards the process of recovery and independence. We can also contact the attorneys at our firm to apply for VAWA. Apart from VAWA, we also deal with personal injury and immigration cases.