Atlanta Immigrant Abuse Lawyer

As an immigrant, you are protected by certain rights when living or working in the United States. Even if you have not yet secured citizenship, the law offers you protection in cases where you have been abused by the party sponsoring your visa.

If you are an immigrant who is experiencing mistreatment in the United States, a compassionate immigration attorney could advise you on your legal rights and options. In some cases, an Atlanta immigrant abuse lawyer could help you remain in the country without the assistance or knowledge of your abuser.

What Are U-Visas?

Many immigrants that experience domestic violence feel as though they are unable to report the abuse. Even in cases where they an immigrant may feel prepared to face their abuser, the fear or threat of deportation is often enough to prevent them from doing so. This places immigrants at even greater risk of facing domestic abuse.

In these situations, an Atlanta immigrant abuse attorney could assist with obtaining a U-visa, an immigration program intended for the victims of domestic abuse. In cases where an immigrant assists law enforcement with an investigation into the act of abuse, they could qualify for a U-visa. These visas are available to victims of a number of crimes, including sexual assault or stalking.

What Is the Violence Against Women Act?

Immigrants facing abuse in the United States are in a difficult position, particularly when their visa is sponsored by their abuser. Having their abuser hold that level of power over them only increases the risk of abusive behavior. That is where the Violence Against Women Act comes in. The Violence Against Women Act—or VAWA—offers an opportunity for the victims of abuse to remain in the country.

Under VAWA, an immigrant that has suffered abuse from the permanent resident or citizen that sponsored their visa has the option to self-sponsor. That means they can move forward with their visa without the help—or even the knowledge—of their abuser.

How Can I Prove an Abusive Relationship?

In order for an immigrant to qualify under the Violence Against Women Act, they must be able to show they experienced “extreme cruelty” at the hands of their green card sponsor. This could include evidence of physical or emotional abuse, meaning that evidence of an injury is not the only option.

Relying on government records is one of the best ways to proceed. If there is a police record documenting these acts of abuse, those documents could go a long way toward proving extreme cruelty. Some of the other ways an Atlanta attorney could establish abuse of an immigrant has occurred includes the following:

• Threats of harming shared children
• Financial abuse or fraud
• Manipulation regarding visa sponsorship
• Isolation
• Threats of harm

It is important to note that while the majority of abuse survivors in these cases are women, any person has the right to seek help. Anyone experiencing extreme cruelty could benefit from the protection of VAWA or a U-visa.

Call an Atlanta Immigrant Abuse Attorney Today

You should never fear cruelty or abuse. These feelings should also never be escalated by the fact that you are an immigrant concerned about facing consequences that may affect your status in the United States. Call Solano Law Firm today to let an Atlanta immigrant abuse lawyer protect your rights and walk you through your options.