VAWA - Violence Against Women Act
Under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) passed by Congress in
1994, the spouses and children of United States citizens or lawful
permanent residents (LPR) may self-petition to obtain lawful permanent
residency.
The immigration provisions of VAWA allow certain battered
immigrants to file for immigration relief without the abuser's
assistance or knowledge, in order to seek safety and independence from
the abuser.
Victims of domestic violence should know that help is available to them through the National Domestic Violence Hotline on 1-800-799-7233 or 1-800-787-3224 [TDD] for information about shelters, mental health care, legal advice and other types of assistance, including information about self-petitioning for immigration status.
