Many women in the United States are trapped in abusive relationships. For immigrant women, the violence may be compounded by threats to report the women to CIS (formerly INS) if they object to the abuse. In addition, if the wife is deported and the couple has children born in the U.S., they will remain behind with the abuser.

The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) allows immigrant women to self-petition for the immigration status that their husband withholds from them. Pro bono attorneys work directly with clients to draft a declaration, gather all necessary supporting documents, and prepare the self-petition for filing with the CIS. No appearances are required, the entire process is handled by mail and should require 15-30 hours of work over a couple of months.

LAFLA conducts trainings at local law firms year-round. Our VAWA clients speak a variety of languages, so bilingual attorneys are encouraged to volunteer.

To schedule a training, please contact David Ackerly, Director of Private Attorney Involvement.

Download a Fee Waiver form for a VAWA Self-Petition here.