Asked on Dec 01st, 2022 on Immigration - Massachusetts
More details to this question:
Hello I am an immigrant waiting to hear from USCIS for my green card interview. Husband is a citizen, he has been verbally abusive for about a year and has been threatening to leave the household. He drinks a lot and say really hurtful stuff to me. He went to jail before we met as well. what should I do to help my immigration status? I just started a job with my work permit and just rented an apartment.
You may look into the Violence against Women Act (VAWA) to see if you qualify in the event that your circumstances become so intolerable that you cannot wait for the interview or your husband will not support your case for the green card to maintain a hold over you. USCIS has the following on eligibility on its website:
You were subjected to battery or extreme cruelty by your U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident relative during the qualifying relationship. (If you are applying as a spouse, you may also be eligible if your U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident spouse subjected your child to battery or extreme cruelty);
You are residing or have resided with your abusive U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident relative; and
You are a person of good moral character.
If you are self-petitioning as the spouse of an abusive U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, then you must also demonstrate that you entered into the marriage in good faith and not for the purpose of evading immigration laws.
If you decide to move forward, you would either file form I-360 with all your evidence alone or concurrently with an I-485 application to USCIS’s Vermont service center at:
USCIS Vermont Service Center
38 River Road Essex Junction,
VT 05479-0001
Due to the limitations of the Lawyers.com Forums, Alan Lee & Arthur Lee, Esqs.’ (the "Firm") participation in responding to questions posted herein does not constitute legal advice, nor legal representation of the person or entity posting a question. No Attorney/Client relationship is or shall be construed to be created hereby. The information provided herein by the Firm is general, and requires that the poster obtain specific legal advice from an attorney. The poster shall not rely upon the information provided herein as legal advice nor as the basis for making any decisions of legal consequence.
Consumers can use this platform to pose legal questions to real lawyers and receive free insights.
Participating legal professionals get the opportunity to speak directly with people who may need their services, as well as enhance their standing in the Lawyers.com community.