Immigration Lawyer in Gainesville, Florida
5 Common Myths about the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) self-petitions
- The abuse must be physical. One requirement to qualify under VAWA is that the petitioner has been subjected to battery or extreme cruelty. Domestic violence may be physical, but verbal abuse or emotional abuse are also forms of domestic violence and depending on the specific circumstances, may amount to extreme cruelty.
- Only women qualify for VAWA. Men are also victims of domestic violence and if they meet the requirements for VAWA, they may qualify for a self-petition.
- There must be a police report. Although police reports will often demonstrate more than one of the requirements for VAWA such as residence with the abuser and battery or extreme cruelty, a police report is not a requirement to apply for a VAWA self-petition.
- Immigration will contact your abuser. VAWA contains serval confidentiality provisions making it unlawful for the government to contact your abuser or inform them you have filed a self-petition.
- You must be married to your abuser. You may still qualify for VAWA if your petition is filed within 2 years of your divorce from your abuser. Additionally, you may qualify for VAWA if you believed you were married to your abuser, but your marriage was invalid or unlawful.
Get started with our experienced and compassionate immigration team today. Call us at (904) 740-3690 or contact us online today.
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From the first call with Karen and throughout the green card process, the steps were explained to me. They were exceptional when putting together all the documentation of my case and I got my green card without an interview.- Carina P.
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"We are extremely satisfied and grateful"
I highly recommend Karen Winston's office because thanks to their excellent work, my husband and I are finally at peace after a long immigration process. We have been with this office since 2020, and although my case was not easy, Karen and our assigned paralegal Florencia were always there to help us and answer all our questions. Thanks to their effort and professionalism, I was able to obtain my green card after a long wait, but Karen was always there to provide us with the best solution. She fought for our case, and thanks to her, I feel relieved to have successfully completed my immigration process and to know that I can be here with my husband and start building a family without worrying about the uncertainty of my pending process. We are extremely satisfied and grateful. I also recommend Florencia because her attention was incredible; we felt like she was a friend throughout this process. She was always there with us, letting us know every step of our process, providing us with the tools, and gathering all our information to strengthen our case. Thank you, Karen, thank you, Florencia, and thank you to the entire team for making us feel like family. We felt supported at all times, and we are very happy to have gone through this with you.
- Natalia V. -
The process was quick & easy. We worked with Elizabeth & she communicated very effectively in english & spanish. The green cards arrived much faster then expected, so we’re very happy!- Brandon C.
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"They always treat you like family and cater to your needs"
I have been coming to Karen Winston office for 9 years since I was a teen. They always treat you like family and cater to your needs, the moment you walk in their office they always offer you a drink and welcome you. They will also take care of your immigration needs on time and done in a well manner. They are flexible and available to you when needed, and will answers majority of your questions. Definitely would recommend.- Jersy V.
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High Success Rate
Over almost 15 years of service, Karen Winston has an impressive record of keeping families together.
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Reputation for Excellence
As an attorney and former law professor, Karen Winston is well-respected before USCIS, courts, and judges.
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We focus exclusively on Immigration services and are fully prepared for whatever your case may need.
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Trustworthy Representation
Our dedicated team truly cares about each client, and we hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards.