MWLS’ Immigration Assistance for Victims of Domestic Violence Project represents both documented and undocumented battered immigrants by helping them to obtain or maintain legal immigration status in the United States. We give priority to immigrant victims of domestic violence, whether the domestic violence occurred in the United States or in the immigrant’s country of origin.

Specifically, the Immigration Assistance for Victims of Domestic Violence Project represents battered immigrants in the following types of cases:

• Self-Petitioning for Legal Permanent Residency under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)
• U-Visa Status for domestic violence victims of a qualifying crime
• T-Visa Status for victims of human trafficking
• Asylum based on persecution in the form of domestic violence in the immigrant’s country of origin
• Removal proceedings before the Immigration Court

Helpful Links

Information about Your Legal Rights

• www.masslegalhelp.org
  Massachusetts legal aid programs put together this website to help you find practical information about your legal rights.  For example, information about issues regarding health and mental health, Special Education services, immigration and many more areas.

Government

• United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”)
• United States State Department
• United States Travel (Passports/Visas)
• Immigration Court

Other Immigration Websites

• American Immigration Lawyers Association (“AILA”)
• Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (“MIRA”)
• Immigrant Legal Research Center (“ILRC”)