Asylum and Humanitarian Immigration Attorneys

U nonimmigrant status may be available to victims of certain qualifying criminal activity who suffered substantial physical or mental abuse and possess information about the crime. The applicant generally must have been helpful, be helpful, or be likely to be helpful to law enforcement or another qualifying certifying agency. A required certification from an authorized agency is generally part of the petition. Certain U visa recipients may later qualify to apply for permanent residence after satisfying additional requirements.

Certain abused spouses and children of U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents, as well as certain abused parents of adult U.S. citizens, may be eligible to file a VAWA self-petition without the abuser’s knowledge or participation. Eligibility depends on the qualifying relationship, battery or extreme cruelty, residence and other statutory requirements. VAWA protections are available to eligible applicants of any gender.

Asylum may be available to a person who is unable or unwilling to return to their country because of past persecution or a well-founded fear of future persecution based on race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. Applicants generally must file within one year after their most recent arrival in the United States unless an exception applies. Other eligibility bars and procedural requirements may also affect the case.

Individuals outside the United States may request temporary parole on a case-by-case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons or a significant public benefit. Parole is discretionary, is not an admission to the United States, and does not by itself provide permanent immigration status. The request should explain the urgent circumstances, supporting evidence, requested period, and why ordinary visa processing is not sufficient or available.