Lorenzo Law Group provides skilled legal assistance in complex and sensitive humanitarian immigration matters. Backed by over 19 years of immigration law experience, Attorney Lorenzo and his team offer compassionate, confidential, and strategic legal counsel to help survivors who have been abused by a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident achieve safety and independence. We serve clients in Orange County and across Central Florida.
Call (689) 220-3998 or reach out online to book a initial consultation with an Orlando VAWA immigration attorney. Your consultation can be held virtually. Hablamos español.
What Can VAWA Immigration Do for You?
The VAWA self-petition (Form I-360) is more than just a legal application; it is the key to escaping an abusive relationship without jeopardizing your legal status.
Achieve independence: VAWA allows you to secure a Green Card and work authorization based on your own petition, eliminating the abuser’s control over your immigration future.
Obtain immediate protection: An approved VAWA petition protects you from deportation and allows you to move forward with your life safely.
Qualify for assistance: VAWA petitioners often become eligible for certain public benefits and community resources intended to help survivors transition to stability.
Overcome your abuser’s control: Abusers frequently use your lack of immigration status as a weapon, threatening deportation to ensure compliance. The VAWA process neutralizes this threat.
Protect children: VAWA allows you to include your unmarried children under 21 on the petition, extending safety and status to the next generation.
How Our Experienced Attorneys Assist VAWA Clients
Our firm focuses on creating a safe and confidential environment while building a strong and unassailable legal case.
Confidential and compassionate consultations: We providea secure space for you to share your highly sensitive story without fear of judgment so that your abuser never learns of the petition.
Strategic case assessment: We determine if you qualify as an abused spouse, child, or parent of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, and identify all potential grounds of inadmissibility that must be addressed.
Comprehensive evidence gathering: We help you compile and organize evidence to prove the key requirements, including:
The qualifying relationship (such as a marriage document).
The residence requirement (proof of having lived together).
Proof of abuse, such as police reports, medical records, therapist letters, or affidavits from witnesses.
Meticulous declaration drafting: The personal declaration is the most critical piece of evidence. Our firm drafts this narrative to be legally persuasive, emotionally compelling, and entirely consistent with all supporting documents.
Adjustment of status filing: Once the I-360 is approved, we guide you through the final step: filing the Green Card application (Form I-485, Adjustment of Status).
The VAWA Immigration Process Explained
The VAWA Green Card process is a two-step legal application filed with USCIS.
Step 1: The Self-Petition (Form I-360)
This is the central step that establishes eligibility under the Violence Against Women Act.
Filing: You file Form I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant, with comprehensive supporting evidence to prove:
A qualifying relationship to an abuser who is/was a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.
You were subjected to battery or extreme cruelty.
You resided with the abuser at some point.
You are a person of good moral character.
Initial eligibility recognized: If the evidence meets the initial legal standards, USCIS issues a notice, making you eligible for work authorization and certain public benefits while the case is pending.
Approval: Upon final approval, you are granted deferred action status, which protects you from deportation.
Step 2: The Green Card Application (Adjustment of Status)
Immediate relative status: If the abuser was a U.S. citizen, as an immediate relative, you can apply for a Green Card (Form I-485) immediately upon approval of the I-360.
Preference category status: If your abuser was a lawful permanent resident, you are considered a Second Preference (F2) relative. You must wait for an immigrant visa number to become available before filing the I-485; however, you will retain your work authorization pending the processing of your I-485.
Final review and interview: USCIS conducts final background checks and a medical exam. Most VAWA petitioners are not required to attend an interview, further protecting them from a stressful or high-pressure in-person review.
Why You Should Hire Lorenzo Law Group for Your VAWA Petition
The VAWA self-petition offers life-saving protection, but its sensitivity and complexity require legal guidance to enable success and safety.
Confidentiality and safety: We act as a secure buffer; all correspondence from USCIS is sent to our office, not your home, safeguarding privacy from your abuser.
Proof beyond documents: We possess the experience to strategically build a strong case using legally sufficient secondary evidence, witness affidavits, and your detailed declaration, which is essential when traditional proof (police reports, medical records) is unavailable.
Addressing inadmissibility: We can file necessary waivers within the VAWA petition to forgive technical immigration violations (like unlawful presence) often incurred due to your abuser's manipulation, preventing denial.
Legal standards: We work to prove the complex legal standard of "extreme cruelty," making the petition legally sound and reducing the risk of a denial that could be devastating.
Guiding a complex process: Our firm manages the entire multi-step process, from the initial filing to the final Green Card application, emphasizing accuracy and adherence to USCIS regulations.
Do not face the U.S. immigration system alone while seeking safety. Put a proven VAWA immigration attorney and team on your side.
Call (689) 220-3998 or contact us online to schedule your initial consultation today.
