LEGAL SERVICES

ASYLUM

Asylum is a form of protection available to anyone at risk of serious harm in their home country who must leave in search of safety in another country. The first step for a person seeking asylum is to leave one's home, one of the most difficult decisions a person will ever make.

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VAWA 

The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) allows abused spouses, children of U.S. Citizens or Lawful Permanent Residents (also referred to as green card holders), and abused parents of U.S. Citizen sons or daughters to apply for immigration relief separate from the abusive family member. An individual who is eligible for VAWA can “self-petition”. VAWA is available to both men and women. 

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 U Visa

The U visa is a United States nonimmigrant visa which is set aside for victims of crimes (and their immediate family members) who have suffered substantial mental or physical abuse while in the U.S. and who are willing to assist law enforcement and government officials in the investigation or prosecution of the criminal activity. It permits such victims to enter or remain in the US when they might not otherwise be able to do so. An advantage that comes along with the acceptance of a U-visa is the individual will have deportation protection which is important when they are collaborating with law enforcement

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TPS

​Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a government protection granted by the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to eligible foreign-born individuals who are unable to return home safely due to conditions or circumstances preventing their country from adequately handling the return.

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DACA

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is a United States immigration policy that allows some individuals who, on June 15, 2012, were physically present in the United States with no lawful immigration status after having entered the country as children at least five years earlier, to receive a renewable two-year period of deferred action from deportation and to be eligible for an employment authorization document (work permit).

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Family petitions

A family petition is a request submitted to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to sponsor a relative for lawful immigration status. The main purpose is to establish a qualifying family relationship between a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (green card holder) and the beneficiary.

There are two main categories of eligible relatives:

• Immediate Relatives: Spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents of U.S. citizens. Immigrant visas for immediate relatives of US citizens are unlimited.

• Family Preference Categories: Include siblings, married children, and more distant relationships, with annual limits on the number of visas issued. Family preference visas are limited to around 226,000 per year (USCIS, 2025).

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Motions to reopen

​A motion to reopen asks the immigration court to reopen proceedings after the Immigration Judge has rendered a decision, so that the Immigration Judge can consider new facts or evidence in the case.

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