In 1994, Congress passed the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), permitting alien battered spouses and children of U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents to petition USCIS on their own behalf rather than relying upon the abusive spouse/parent. However, the provisions of IIRAIRA made self-petitioning difficult. The Battered Immigrant Women Protection Act of 2000 (VAWA 2000) was enacted to remove some of those obstacles and to strengthen the original VAWA legislation. The Law Offices of Victor M. Castro has represented battered spouses and children in self-petitions and has been successful in obtaining their lawful permanent status. These types of cases are very sensitive because our clients have been the subject of extreme cruelty by their spouse or parent.
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