VAWA Self-Petition: Protections for Immigrant Survivors of Domestic and Sexual Assault by Abusive Spouses and Parents
This webinar will provide attorneys, advocates, and courts with information on the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Self-Petition. The VAWA Self-Petition allows battered immigrants to confidentially file their own application for legal status without relying on abusive U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident spouses, parents, or adult children to apply on their behalf. Faculty will discuss the requirements, how to screen for VAWA Self-Petition eligibility, the importance of identifying VAWA self-petitioning eligible victims in family court, and best practices for evidence collection including developing a trauma-informed affidavit. The webinar will enhance advocates' and attorneys' ability to help abused immigrants file VAWA self-petitions while employing case strategies that improve victim safety and ensure that immigrant survivors of domestic and sexual violence perpetrated by family members, have full access to the immigration protections under VAWA.
