Humanitarian Visas: Options for Survivors of Abuse, Crimes, and Exploitation

If you were harmed in the United States, you might feel that your options are limited, especially if someone threatened to call immigration authorities on you if you speak up.

Here is what you need to know first: U.S. law protects victims of certain crimes, mistreatment, and exploitation, regardless of your current immigration status. You have the right to seek safety and a path toward a Green Card without needing an abuser to sponsor you.

Have Any of These Situations Happened to You?

Depending on what you experienced, there are three primary legal pathways designed to protect you:

• Were you the victim of a crime in the United States? (U-Visa): If you suffered physical or mental harm as a result of falling victim to a crime in the U.S. and you reported it to law enforcement, you may qualify for a U-Visa. Crimes that may qualify include domestic violence, stalking, assault, armed robbery, and extortion, among others.
• Were you trapped into working or exploited by a partner or employer? (T-Visa): Whether it happened on a job site or inside your own relationship, using force, fraud, or threats to make you work, give up your money, or engage in sexual acts is against the law. If a partner or employer used your immigration status, debt, or fear to control and exploit you, a T-Visa offers a safe pathway to legal status and independence.
• Are you being mistreated by a U.S. citizen or permanent resident relative? (VAWA): If your spouse, parent, or adult child is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident and subjects you to physical, emotional, or financial abuse, you do not have to stay in that situation to obtain lawful status. Under VAWA, you can apply for a green card independently, without the abuser ever finding out.

Confidential Legal Support

We understand the real fear of an abuser, partner, or employer finding out you sought legal advice. Under attorney-client privilege, everything you share with us stays strictly between you and our legal team. We will never disclose your case, contact anyone involved in your situation, or send correspondence to an address that is not safe for you.

Important: Some Protections Are Time-Sensitive

It is critical not to delay seeking legal advice. Certain forms of humanitarian relief have strict legal deadlines:

• VAWA & Divorce Deadlines: If you were married to an abusive U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident and finalize a divorce, you must file your VAWA self-petition within two years of the divorce date. Waiting too long can disqualify you.
• Law Enforcement & Evidence Windows: Other forms of relief like U-Visas and T-Visas, require law enforcement reports, certifications, or physical evidence that become much harder to obtain as time passes.