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SAN ANTONIO IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY HELPING WOMEN TO SAFETY THROUGH VAWA PETITIONS Domestic violence is a very real problem that directly affects one in four women during their lifetime, with over one million physical assaults on women by their intimate partner occurring every year in the U.S. alone. Women who are abused often feel trapped in their situation and are scared to speak out or find help. This situation is even worse for immigrant women, who due to language barriers, social isolation, lack of resources, and worry over immigration status, may be even more reluctant to try to get help and break out of an abusive relationship. But help is available. The immigration attorneys at The Lozano Law Firm in San Antonio and San Angelo help immigrant women find safety and freedom from abuse with the help of U.S. immigration policy and the protections afforded by the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). FREE YOURSELF FROM AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP WITHOUT HARMING YOUR IMMIGRATION STATUS VAWA is a federal law first passed by Congress in 1994. It was updated in 2000 by the Battered Immigrant Women’s Protection Act and reauthorized in 2005 and again in 2013. VAWA provides a route for noncitizens who have been victims of battery or extreme cruelty by a spouse or parent to obtain lawful permanent residence in the United States without having to rely on their citizen or resident spouse or parent to petition for them through the usual alien relative process. Instead, under VAWA the abused spouse may “self-petition” for residency without the knowledge of the abusive spouse or parent. The Lozano Law Firm can help you prepare and file your petition for lawful permanent residence and obtain a Green Card under VAWA. Even if you don’t qualify for residence under VAWA, we may still be able to help you obtain legal status as a victim of criminal domestic abuse with a U visa. WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR A VAWA GREEN CARD• VAWA allows those who are spouses, immediate relatives, or dependents of U.S. citizens or lawful residents to petition the U.S. for their own Green Card. However, under some complicated scenarios, those who are not the direct recipient of the violence may also apply under VAWA. Eligibility includes: Those who are suffering abuse by a spouse who is a U.S. citizen or legal resident; Those who have children who are suffering abuse by a spouse who is a U.S. citizen or legal resident; and Children who are suffering abuse by a parent or other guardian. The act may specifically name women, but men and children may still apply for a Green Card under VAWA given that certain conditions are met. For instance, if one man is being abused by his husband (who is a U.S. citizen or legal resident) the other man may apply under VAWA. In addition, if a wife is abusing her children, the husband may apply under VAWA to protect the children. Lozano Law Firm - Abogados de Inmigración 5718 University Heights Blvd #104, San Antonio, TX 78249 (210) 899-2290 https://www.AbogadoLozano.com/