Immigration Evaluations

Asylum cases focus on individuals who have fled their home country to the U.S. due to fear of persecution if they were to return to their country of origin. The persecution is due to the individual's membership in a particular targeted social group such as ethnicity/race, nationality, religious beliefs, sexual orientation/gender expression, and political views. Usually the immigrant has either experienced past persecution or knows that people in their social group are persecuted. Women feeling domestic violence and individuals feeling gang violence are also eligible.

In an extreme hardship case, a U.S. citizen or legal resident can petition for an undocumented family member who is at risk of being deported. The U.S. citizen or legal resident must prove that long term separation and/or relocating with their family member would result in extreme hardship. 

An immigrant may be eligible for the T-Visa if they are a victim of human trafficking, specifically sex or labor trafficking. The victim must prove that they would suffer extreme hardship if removed from the United States and they must have complied with reasonable requests from law enforcement for assistance in the investigation or prosecution of human trafficking. Proof of cooperation with law enforcement may not be needed if the victim was under the age of 18 at the time of at least one of the acts of trafficking or if they are unable to assist due to physical or psychological trauma.

An undocumented individual may qualify for the U-Visa if they were a victim of a serious crime in the United States and can prove they have suffered substantial mental abuse. Examples of qualifying crimes include but are not limited to stalking, abduction, torture, sexual assault, domestic violence, and felonious assault. Applicants of the U-Visa must be willing to assist law enforcement or government officials in the related investigation and/or prosecution of criminal activity.

Though titled "Violence Against Women Act", VAWA cases apply to individuals of any gender, not only women. In VAWA cases, an undocumented individual can self-petition for a green card if they have suffered abuse at the hands of a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. The individual can be the spouse, child, or parent (of an adult child) of the abuser and must prove they are a victim of domestic violence.