Conditional residency status Immigrant women who marry US citizens or permanent residents enjoy conditional residency for 24 months. They must file a joint application to get this condition lifted 90 days before the expiry of this period.
But abusers refuse to file a joint application. Domestic violence (DV) victims can self-petition, but must provide proof that the marriage was conducted in good faith.
The U visa
Open to all DV victims regardless of their spouses’ immigrant status
But they must provide proof of substantial physical abuse and get a judge or police officer to certify that they would provide information to prosecute the crime
The H4 visa
Those on H4 visa are disallowed from working legally in the US. Lack of independent finances prevent DV victims from walking out of abusive relationship.
But victims can secure the V visa.
The V Visa
It allows DV victims to work legally in the US.
But the process to obtain this visa is tedious.
Calls for Help
Name of Group Location No. of cases
Sakhi New York metropolitan area 685
Maitri San Francisco Bay Area 2,215
Manavi New Jersey 401
Daya Houston 2,451
(All figures for 2006)
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