About the Authors
Launched in 2008, Penn State Law’s Center for Immigrants’ Rights provides students
with the opportunity to work on innovative advocacy and policy projects relating to U.S.
immigration, primarily through representation of immigration organizations. Over the past
three years, students at the Center have produced policy-oriented white papers of national
impact, prepared practitioner toolkits on substantive areas of immigration law, and assisted
with individual casework for detained immigrants, among other projects. The Center’s
mission is to represent immigrants’ interests through legal excellence, advocacy, education,
and collaboration with key stakeholders and the community. The following individuals
developed this Handbook: Rebecca Ternes, J.D. student; Elham Sadri, LLM student; Shoba
Sivaprasad Wadhia, Clinical Professor of Law and Director of the Center for Immigrants’
Rights; and Angela Lombardo, Records Specialist.
The Centre County Women’s Resource Center (CCWRC) is a non-profit organization
located in State College, Pennsylvania, that provides a range of services, including
emergency shelter, counseling, advocacy, transitional housing and legal services to victims of
domestic violence and sexual assault. CCWRC is a leading voice for victims of domestic
and sexual abuse in the Central Pennsylvania region and provides advocacy and education on
topics related to domestic and sexual abuse in the community. The Civil Legal
Representation Project (CLRP) is the division of the CCWRC that provides legal advice and
representation to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in family law matters.
The CLRP staff understands the dynamics of domestic violence and sexual abuse and how
those dynamics affect survivors in the family law system and is committed to working with
clients so that they have the information and legal assistance they need to help achieve and
maintain independence from their abusers. Justine Andronici, CLRP Director; Sharon
Barney, Staff Attorney; and Stephanie Keeler, Paralegal, contributed to the development of
this Handbook.

Acknowledgments
The Center and CCWRC are extremely grateful to the immigration law experts and
practitioners who generously provided advice and resources for inclusion in his Handbook.
Moreover, we are grateful to Christie Popp, of Immigrants' and Language Rights Center,
Indiana Legal Services, Inc. and Marisa Cianciarulo, of Chapman University School of Law,
who peer-reviewed earlier drafts of this Handbook. Finally, we also would like to
acknowledge the National Immigration Justice Center, who provided us with permission to
adapt their materials in crafting portions of this Handbook.
The Center and CCWRC acknowledge the following immigration law experts and
practitioners for their insights and contributions to this Handbook:

1

Sameera Hafiz
Policy Director
Rights Working Group
1120 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20036
http://rightsworkinggroup.org
shafiz@rightsworkinggroup.org

Ann Block
Attorney at Law
2655 Portage Bay East #9
Davis, CA 95616
aeblock@dcn.org
Susan Bowyer
Directing Attorney
Immigration Center for Women and
Children
San Francisco Office
3543 18th Street, Mailbox 32
San Francisco, CA 94110
susan@icwclaw.org
www.icwclaw.org

Lisa Hurlbutt
Staff Attorney
HIAS Pennsylvania
2100 Arch St.
Philadelphia, PA 19103
215-832-0900
http://hiaspa.org
lhurlbutt@hiaspa.org

Marisa Cianciarulo
Professor, Director of the Bette & Wylie
Aitken Family Violence Clinic
Chapman University School of Law
One University Drive, Orange,
California 92866
http://chapman.edu
cianciar@chapman.edu

Carolyn Killea
Deutsch, Killea and Eapen
1666 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 222
Washington, DC 20009
http://immigrationdc.com
cakillea@erols.com
Gail Pendleton
Co-Director
ASISTA Immigration Assistance
Office Based in:
2925 Ingersoll Ave., Ste 3
Des Moines, IA 50312
http://www.asistahelp.org
gailpendleton@comcast.net

Nancy Wan
Firoza Chic Dabby-Chinoy
Asian & Pacific Islander Institute on
Domestic Violence
450 Sutter Street, Suite 600
San Francisco, CA 94108
http://www.apiidv.org
nwan@apiidv.org
cdabby@apiidv.org

Christie Popp
Directing Attorney
Immigrants' and Language Rights Center
Indiana Legal Services, Inc.
214 S. College Ave.
Bloomington, IN 47404
http://www.indianajustice.org/Home/PublicWeb
christie.popp@ilsi.net

Rosa Gomez
Dream Act Attorney
Immigrant Youth Outreach Program
Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto
2117 B University Avenue
East Palo Alto, CA 94303
www.clsepa.org
rosa@clsepa.org

Aimee Clark Todd
Troutman Sanders LLP
600 Peachtree Street, N.E., Suite 5200
Atlanta, Georgia 30308
www.troutmansanders.com
aimee.todd@troutmansanders.com

Immigration Clinic
University of Texas at Austin School of Law
727 East Dean Keeton Street
Austin, Texas 78705
http://www.utexas.edu/law

1

About this Handbook
This Handbook outlines immigration remedies for non-citizen victims of domestic violence
and sexual assault. It is intended to aid attorneys who typically practice family law and have
experience working with domestic violence victims. The Handbook hopes to aid such
practitioners in expanding their services to those victims who also need legal help with their
immigration issues. This Handbook includes information about the following remedies: the
U visa, T visa, VAWA self-petition, VAWA cancellation of removal, and prosecutorial
discretion. It contains an analysis of the substantive materials on these subjects, including
relevant statutes, regulations, agency memoranda, and secondary sources. This is combined
with information provided by experts and practitioners with practice and policy experience in
these areas. Such information includes advice provided in the form of interviews, as well as
resources, such as articles, checklists, and sample documents.
The substantive material of the Handbook is organized according to remedy. A greater
emphasis has been placed on U visas, T visas, and VAWA self-petitions, with VAWA
cancellation or removal and prosecutorial discretion receiving a briefer discussion. Important
terms have been indicated by boldface type. Advice provided through interviews with the
experts and practitioners is included as bold, italicized bullet points, and looks like this:
 Practice tip: Practitioner advice included here.
The Appendices are divided into four parts.
o Appendix A includes checklists of forms, fees, and other documents required for the
applications of each remedy, as well as a comparison chart of the remedies.
o Appendix B includes public resources, such as government and NGO documents,
provided as hyperlinks available for electronic retrieval.
o Appendix C includes a table of contents of the resources and samples provided by the
previously described stakeholders.
o Appendix D includes confidential emails, anecdotes, and interview notes from the
stakeholders. The stakeholders who have indicated that they would be willing to serve
personally as a resource have been marked with an asterisk. Appendix D is not available
to the public.

The Appendices are available for use by Practitioners and Advocates, upon request.
centerforimmigrantsr@law.psu.edu

2

Table of Contents
Introduction………………………………………………………………………...5
U Visa.........................................................................................................................9
Description .................................................................................................................................. 9
Eligibility Requirements ............................................................................................................. 9
Victim of an Enumerated Criminal Activity ....................................................................... 9
Substantial Physical or Mental Abuse ............................................................................... 10
Possession of Information ................................................................................................... 11
Law Enforcement Certification .......................................................................................... 11
Admissibility ............................................................................................................................. 13
Waivers of Grounds of Inadmissibility.............................................................................. 14
Filing the Application................................................................................................................ 14
Derivative Family Members ..................................................................................................... 15
Adjustment of Status to Lawful Permanent Resident for Principals and Derivatives .............. 16

T Visas .....................................................................................................................19
Description ................................................................................................................................ 19
Eligibility Requirements ........................................................................................................... 19
Victim of Severe Human Trafficking................................................................................. 20
Physical Presence on account of Trafficking .................................................................... 21
Compliance with Reasonable Requests from Law Enforcement .................................... 21
Extreme Hardship Involving Severe and Unusual Harm ................................................ 22
Admissibility ............................................................................................................................. 23
Waivers of Grounds of Inadmissibility.............................................................................. 24
Filing the Application................................................................................................................ 24
Two Step Process: Bona Fide Application + Adjudication .............................................. 25
Derivative Family Members ..................................................................................................... 26
Adjustment of Status to Lawful Permanent Resident for Principals and Derivatives .............. 27

VAWA Self-Petition ................................................................................................29
Description ................................................................................................................................ 29
Eligibility Requirements ........................................................................................................... 30
Qualifying Relationship ...................................................................................................... 30
3

Immigration Status of Abuser ............................................................................................ 30
Marriage ............................................................................................................................... 31
Battery and/or Extreme Cruelty ........................................................................................ 33
Joint Residence with Abuser .............................................................................................. 34
Current Residence ............................................................................................................... 34
Good Moral Character ........................................................................................................ 34
Derivative Children ................................................................................................................... 35
Filing the Application................................................................................................................ 36
VAWA Adjustment of Status .................................................................................................... 36
Current Visa Number ......................................................................................................... 36
Admissibility......................................................................................................................... 37
Filing the VAWA Adjustment of Status Application ............................................................... 37

VAWA Cancellation of Removal ............................................................................38
Description ................................................................................................................................ 38
Comparing VAWA Self-Petitions and VAWA Cancellation of Removal ............................... 38
Eligibility................................................................................................................................... 38
No Derivative Family Members ................................................................................................ 39
Filing for VAWA Cancellation of Removal ............................................................................. 39

Prosecutorial Discretion ...........................................................................................40
Description ................................................................................................................................ 40
General Factors ......................................................................................................................... 40
Factors Warranting “Particular Care” ....................................................................................... 41
Forms of Possible Discretion .................................................................................................... 42
Limitations of Relief ................................................................................................................. 43
Advocating for Prosecutorial Discretion ................................................................................... 43

4

Introduction
Domestic violence affects individuals across all races, ethnicities, nationalities, and social
strata. It is critical that advocates and attorneys who work with victims of domestic violence and
sexual abuse understand and appreciate the dynamics of power and control and how they inform
the experiences and safety of their clients. 1 This understanding is especially important in
working with non-citizen victims who may experience domestic violence and sexual abuse
differently from their American citizen counterparts. Increasingly, advocates and attorneys are
noting the unique challenges facing non-citizen victims as they consider leaving an abusive
situation. A number of factors contribute to the differing experiences of non-citizen victims. As a
result of language and cultural barriers, non-citizen victims may be less informed about their
legal options and less aware of available support services in the community. Isolation may occur
more easily for immigrant women who have entered an environment where they may not know
the language, culture, or physical geographic area, making it easier for their abusers to gain
control over them and their resources. 2 Different cultural beliefs and standards may also prevent
some immigrant women from seeking separation or divorce from an abusive husband.
Significant cultural barriers may increase challenges for non-citizens seeking to leave an abusive
situation. For example, while divorce is common in the United States, other countries expressly
prohibit or discourage separation of spouses. These ideologies remain present in immigrant
communities in the United States, where women who decide to leave abusive husbands may not
receive support from community members and extended family. 3
One of the largest barriers facing non-citizen victims is the fear of immigration-related
consequences should they report the abuse. Non-citizens may harbor anxieties around
interactions with law enforcement agencies, who they view not as resources but as individuals to
be avoided. These anxieties may be exacerbated by their abusers, who purposely misinform them
of the consequences of reporting abuse and threaten them with immigration problems should
they seek help. Abusers may attempt to control non-citizen victims by giving victims false
information about legal status and options or by threatening them with deportation if they report
the abuse or attempt to leave the abuser. In fact, abusers often use immigration-status-related
abuse to attempt to lock their victims in abusive relationships. This situation is compounded if
the victim is undocumented or otherwise reliant on the abuser for her immigrant status and if the
couple has children. An abuser may control whether or not his partner or spouse obtains legal
immigration status in this country, whether any temporary legal immigration status she has may
become permanent, and how long it may take her to become a naturalized citizen. 4 This form of
power and control is very effective and makes it extremely difficult for a victim to leave her
abuser, obtain a protection order, access domestic violence services, call the police, or participate
in the abuser’s prosecution. 5

1

For a more comprehensive discussion on safety planning issues and the importance of
confidentiality in working with immigrant victims, please see the note immediately following
this introduction.
2
Cecilia Menjivar& Olivia Salcido, Immigrant Women and Domestic Violence: Common
Experiences in Different Countries, 16 GENDER & SOCIETY 898, 904 (2002).
3
Id.
4
Leslye E. Orloff& Olivia Garcia, Dynamics of Domestic Violence Experienced by Immigrant
Victims, LEGAL MOMENTUM, available at
http://iwp.legalmomentum.org/reference/manuals/domestic-violence-family-violence.
5
Id.
5

Studies have shown that non-citizen victims are less likely to seek help then their citizen
counterparts. While 53% of domestic violence victims generally report the abuse to police, only
27% of battered immigrants are willing to call the police for help in a domestic violence
incident. 6 The numbers drop dramatically to less than a 20% reporting rate when the victim was
undocumented. 7 The leading reason for not reporting abuse to the police among all non-citizen
victims is fear of deportation, although many undocumented immigrants often qualify for
immigration status. 8 The fear of reporting is especially significant considering that many victims
face increased abuse following immigration. Many immigrant women report an increase in
abusive behavior by their partner after arriving in the U.S., while others state that abuse began
with immigration. 9 This data demonstrates the need for advocates and attorneys to understand
the special fears facing non-citizen victims of abuse and develop the knowledge and skills
necessary to explain the remedies available to them.
The complex and dynamic nature of immigration law makes representation of non-citizen
survivors of domestic violence and sexual abuse all the more challenging, as many domestic
violence and sexual abuse advocates and attorneys have little training in this area of the law.
While remedies do exist for non-citizen survivors, and federal legislation has been passed to
address the specific issues facing these individuals, wading through the complex statutory and
regulatory materials can be daunting. It is critical that advocates understand which remedy is
most appropriate for each particular victim, and the proper procedure for applying for that
remedy. This requires a thorough understanding of each individual client’s unique experience
and the ability to situate that experience in immigration law.
The purpose of this handbook is to provide an overview of the remedies available to non-citizen
victims of sexual or physical abuse and domestic violence. It is intended to help attorneys
working with domestic violence victims understand some of the key remedies available to
immigrant victims and hopefully to aid them in an effort to expand services to those who also
need legal help with their immigration issues. While not intended to be comprehensive, it should
provide a basic framework and an important starting place for professionals seeking to help noncitizen survivors of domestic violence and sexual abuse. As more practitioners become aware of

6

Leslye E. Orloff et al., Battered Women’s Willingness to call for Help and Police Response, 13
UCLA WOMEN’S L.J. 44, 64 (2003) (citing a 1998 Department of Justice study on general
patterns of reporting and recent study on battered immigrant women reporting).
7
Id. at 68.
8
LeslyeOrloff et al., Countering Abuser’s Attempts to Raise Immigration Status of the Victim in
Custody Cases, LEGAL MOMENTUM (2004), available
atwww.vaw.umn.edu/documents/breakingbarriers/6.1counteringabuserspdf.pdf (suggesting that
victims are often undocumented because their abusers have refused to file immigration papers
for them).
9
Mary Ann Dutton et al., Characteristics of Help Seeking Behaviors, Resources and Service
Needs of Battered Immigrant Latinas: Legal and Policy Implications, 7 GEO. J. ON POVERTY L.
&POL’Y 245, 250 (2000) (stating that 48% of Latinas in one study reported their partners’
violence against them increased upon immigrating to the United States); Giselle Aguilar Hass et
al., Battered Immigrants and U.S. Citizen Spouses, LEGAL MOMENTUM (2006), available at
http://www.mcadsv.org/webinars/IR-2007-April/VI/BatteredImmigrantsUSCitizenSpouses.pdf
(citing a survey conducted by Ayuda demonstrating that 31% of battered women reported an
increase in the incidences of abuse after immigration into the U.S., while 9% reported abuse
began with immigration).
6

the issues facing non-citizen victims and develop an understanding of the legal remedies, more
help will become available to this underserved and vulnerable population.
Note on Confidentiality and Safety Planning in Working with Immigrant Victims
Working with survivors of domestic violence and sexual abuse requires close attention to safety
planning and confidentiality, and understanding these issues is critical for practitioners working
with non-citizen victims. It is important for practitioners to realize the paramount importance of
maintaining confidentiality as well as the importance of explaining to their clients how their
confidentiality will be protected. This is necessary not only to protect the client’s interests, but
also to encourage their full disclosure of the details of their unique situation so that the
practitioner can provide appropriate advice and assistance.
Advocates and attorneys should explain to their clients that legal remedies available to noncitizen victims are designed to address confidentiality concerns. 10 These provisions also provide
that DHS cannot make an adverse determination regarding the admissibility or deportability of a
non-citizen using information furnished solely by an abusive family member or other perpetrator
of abuse. 11 Further, DHS, DOJ, and DOS cannot disclose any information relating to a noncitizen who has applied for U, T, or VAWA relief. 12 As a rule, USCIS will not even confirm the
existence of a victim-based application to anyone but the applicant or the representative. 13 Any
official who violates these confidentiality provisions is subject to disciplinary action, as well as
up to $5,000 in fines. 14 Complaints for violations of confidentiality provisions are made to the
Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties at DHS. 15
As with all victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse, safety planning is a critical
component of legal services. Advocates should work with non-citizen victims to develop a
comprehensive and individualized safety plan which addresses their unique needs. This may
require modification of normal safety planning by determining the immigration implications of
safety planning and planning for other safety issues arising from pursuing immigration status.16
For example, when safety planning with a non-citizen victim, the retention of documentation
relating to the immigration process, as well deciding where to keep that documentation is
essential. Because abusers may attempt to hide or destroy important identification or
immigration-related documents as an attempt to control the victim, making copies and keeping
those copies safe is extremely important.
10

See generally, 8 U.S.C. § 1367; Non-Disclosure and Other Prohibitions Relating to Battered
Aliens: IIRIRA §384 (May 12, 1997); Interim Guidance Relating to Officer Procedure Following
Enactment of VAWA 2005 (Jan. 22, 2007).
11
8 U.S.C. § 1367(a)(1).
12
8 U.S.C. § 1367(a)(2); see also 8 C.F.R. § 214.14(e).
13
Interview with Lisa Hurlbutt (Mar. 14, 2012).
14
8 U.S.C. § 1367(c).
15
Complaints should include the victim’s contact information, a written description of the
specific circumstances, relevant documents, and a summary of any other steps taken to resolve
the complaint. See “Reporting a Violation of the VAWA Confidentiality Provisions.”
Complaints should be submitted in writing via e-mail, fax or regular mail to: U.S. Department of
Homeland Security, Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, Compliance Branch, 245 Murray
Lane, SW, Building 410, Mail Stop #0190, Washington, D.C. 20528; E-mail: crcl@dhs.gov;
Fax: (202) 401-4708.
16
Interview with Gail Pendleton (Feb. 9, 2012).
7

As part of safety planning, clients should consider placing the following documents in a safe
place that she will continue to have access to upon leaving her abuser:













Birth certificates (for herself and children)
Passport
1-94 entry/departure record
Permanent resident card (green card)
Social Security Card
USCIS issued employment authorization
All other immigration related documents, including receipt and other notices
Orders of Protection and other court documents such as divorce
Social security number of her spouse and the parent of her child(ren)
Copy of the most recent pay stub of her spouse and the parent of her child(ren)
Copy of tax returns
Copies of her spouse’s birth certificate, social security card, green card, or
naturalization certificate. 17

As with all survivors of domestic violence and sexual abuse, it is important to be sure to use
a safe address, phone number, and email address for all communications regarding the
client’s case. Furthermore, working with non-citizen victims sometimes presents challenging
language barriers. While it may be tempting to turn to a relative or community member who
knows the victim for interpretation, it is considered best practice to refrain from using these
individuals and rather have a qualified interpreter that has been trained in providing
interpretation, will keep all communications confidential, and who has no conflicts of interest
in working with the victim. 18 Again, maintaining confidentiality is paramount when
involving third parties for interpretation purposes.
One of the primary goals in working with this population of clients is to help them gain
independence and freedom from the cycle of abuse. Domestic violence and sexual abuse
advocates and attorneys should remember that victims, both citizen and non-citizen alike, are
the best resources for knowing what is going to keep them safe. It is important to involve
them in all decision making and to respect their choices, regardless of whether the advocate
would make that choice for him or herself.
Disclaimer: This Handbook is a brief discussion of the listed remedies, and does not purport
to cover all aspects of immigration law that may be applicable to victims of domestic
violence and sexual assault. Legal professionals should not rely upon this as an exclusive
source for obtaining information related to the remedies covered in this Handbook. This
Handbook is NOT a substitute for legal advice or representation.

17

NATIONAL IMMIGRANT JUSTICE CENTER, PRO BONO ATTORNEY MANUAL ON LEGAL
IMMIGRATION PROTECTIONS FOR IMMIGRANT SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, 19 (2011).
18
Interview with Christie Popp (Feb. 24, 2012); Interview with Chic Dabby-Chinoy (Mar. 20,
2012); Interview with Sameera Hafiz (Mar. 14, 2012).
8

U Visa
Description
The U Visa is a nonimmigrant visa that was created by the Victims of Trafficking and
Violence Prevention Act to protect victims of certain serious crimes, including domestic
violence and sexual assault. Ten thousand visas are available each year. The U visa allows
certain non-citizen crime victims to live and work in United States for up to four years. The
U visa also provides an opportunity for the applicant to apply for permanent residency after
three years in U nonimmigrant status. The victim does not need to be related to the
perpetrator of the crime, and the perpetrator does not need to have lawful immigration status.
A victim applies for the U visa by filing Form I-918 with the USCIS Vermont Service
Center. An applicant who is granted U nonimmigrant status is eligible for employment
authorization, and may apply for derivative family members.
Eligibility Requirements
A victim must meet the following requirements to be eligible for a U visa:
1. The non-citizen suffered substantial physical or mental abuse as a result of having
been a victim of certain criminal activity;
2. The non-citizen (or in the case of a non-citizen child under the age of 16, the parent,
guardian or next friend of the child) possesses information concerning that criminal
activity;
3. The non-citizen (or in the case of a non-citizen child under the age of 16, the parent,
guardian or next friend of the child) has been helpful, is being helpful, or is likely to be
helpful in the investigation or prosecution of the criminal activity; and
4. The criminal activity violated the laws of the United States or occurred in the United
States. 19
The applicant must be also be admissible to the United States as a nonimmigrant, and be in
possession of a valid, unexpired passport. 20
Victim of an Enumerated Criminal Activity
Qualifying certain criminal activity is defined as one of the listed crimes below, or
substantially similar activity. 21
Crimes Covered:
Rape
Kidnapping
Torture
Abduction
Trafficking
Unlawful criminal restraint
Incest
False imprisonment
Domestic violence
Blackmail
Sexual assault
Extortion
Abusive sexual contact
Manslaughter
19

INA § 101(a)(15)(U); 8 C.F.R. 214.14(b).
8 C.F.R. § 214.1(a)(3); See INA § 212 for grounds of inadmissibility.
21
INA § 101(a)(15)(U)(i)(IV); 8 C.F.R. § 214.14(b)(4).
9
20

Prostitution
Sexual exploitation
Female genital mutilation
Being held hostage
Peonage
Involuntary servitude

Murder
Felonious assault
Witness tampering
Obstruction of justice
Perjury
Slave trade 22

The term “any similar activity” refers to criminal offenses in which the nature and elements
of the crimes are substantially alike to the statutorily enumerated list of criminal
activities. 23The crime also must have occurred in the territory of United States or violate a
U.S. law. 24
Direct or Indirect Victims
Both direct and indirect victims of a qualifying crime can apply for a U visa. 25A direct
victim is a person who suffered direct or proximate harm as a result of the crime. 26
Indirect victims are defined by the following situations:
1. The non-citizen spouse, children under 21 years of age and, if the direct victim is under
21 years of age, parents and unmarried siblings under 18 years of age, where the direct
victim is dead because of murder or manslaughter, or is incompetent or incapacitated, and
so unable to supply information for criminal activity or be helpful in the investigation or
prosecution of the criminal activity. 27
2. A victim of witness tampering, obstruction of justice, or perjury, if the offender
committed the offense to (1) escape or frustrate efforts to investigate, arrest, prosecute, or
otherwise bring to justice the perpetrator for other criminal activity committed against the
direct or indirect victim, or (2) to further the perpetrator’s abuse, exploitation of, or undue
control over the U visa applicant through operation of the legal system. 28
The person guilty of the qualifying crime that is being investigated or prosecuted is excluded
from being a victim of any qualifying activity. 29

Substantial Physical or Mental Abuse
The applicant must prove that he or she suffered substantial physical or mental abuse due
to being a victim of the qualifying crime. 30 Physical or mental abuse is injury or harm to the
22

8 C.F.R. § 214.14(a)(9).
8 C.F.R. § 214.14(a)(9).
24
INA § 101(a)(15)(U)(i)(IV); 8 C.F.R. § 214.14(b)(4).
25
8 C.F.R. § 214.14(a)(14).
26
8 C.F.R. § 214.14(a)(14).
27
8 C.F.R. § 214.14(a)(14)(i).
28
8 C.F.R. § 214.14(a)(14)(ii)(B).
29
8 C.F.R. § 214.14(a)(14)(iii).
30
INA § 101(a)(15)(U)(i)(I); 8 C.F.R. § 214.14(b)(1); see also “Showing Substantial Physical or
Mental Abuse (Harm)” within the “Clearinghouse of materials” under ASISTA resources in
Appendix B for more information on proving substantial abuse.
10
23

victim’s physical person, or harm to or impairment of the emotional and psychological
soundness of the victim. 31
Substantiality of abuse is based on a number of factors including:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

The nature of the hurt inflicted or suffered;
The harshness of the perpetrator’s behavior;
The cruelty of harm suffered;
The length of the infliction of harm; and
The level of permanent or serious harm to the appearance, health, or physical or mental
soundness of the victim, including the aggravation of pre-existing conditions. 32

A series of acts taken together may be considered to establish substantial physical or mental
abuse, even where no particular act alone rises to that level. 33
Possession of Information
The applicant must possess credible and reliable information about the criminal activity of
which he or she has been a victim, including specific proof regarding the criminal activity to
help the investigation or prosecution. 34 When the victim is under 16 years of age at the time
the qualifying criminal activity occurred or is otherwise incapacitated or incompetent, a
parent, guardian, or “next friend” may possess evidence about the qualifying crime. 35A “next
friend” is a person who participates in a lawsuit in favor of an immigrant victim who is
incapacitated, incompetent, or under the age of 16, and who has suffered substantial physical
or mental abuse because of being a victim of a qualifying activity. 36
Law Enforcement Certification
An applicant must provide certification that he or she was helpful, is being helpful, or is
likely to be helpful in the criminal investigation or prosecution of the crime. 37 Similar to
possession of the required information, if the victim is under 16 years of age at the time that
the qualifying criminal activity first occurred, or is otherwise incapacitated or incompetent, a
parent, guardian, or “next friend” may provide the required help. 38The applicant cannot
decline or fail to supply “reasonably requested” assistance to law enforcement after any
initial help and beginning the U visa application process. 39To prove the helpfulness
requirement, the applicant must obtain certification on Form I-918, Supplement B, from a

31

8 C.F.R. § 214.14(a)(8).
8 C.F.R. § 214.14(b)(1).
33
8 C.F.R. § 214.14(b)(1).
34
INA § 101(a)(15)(U)(i)(II); 8 C.F.R. § 214.14(b)(2).
35
INA § 101(a)(15)(U)(i)(II); 8 C.F.R. § 214.14(b)(2).
36
8 C.F.R. § 214.14(a)(7).
37
INA § 101(a)(U)(i)(III); 8 C.F.R. § 214.14(b)(3).
38
8 C.F.R. § 214.14(b)(3).
39
8 C.F.R. § 214.14(b)(3).
11
32

federal, state, or local law enforcement official, or a judge investigating or prosecuting the
criminal activity. 40
 Practice Tip: Try to cultivate a good relationship with law
enforcement agencies, and educate them on the certification
process 41 and the benefits of U visas to law enforcement agencies
and the communities they protect. 42 Try to build relationships before
having a case that needs certification. 43
 Practice Tip: Explain to law enforcement that providing certification
is not the agency granting the visa, but just providing USCIS with
one piece of evidence in their determination.44 Use the DHS Guide
on U Visas for Law Enforcement Officers for this and for general
work with law enforcement officers. 45
This certification attests to the fact that the victim has been, is being, or is likely to be helpful
in the detection, investigation, or prosecution of that criminal activity. 46 The person who can
provide certification must be the head of the certifying agency, or any person in a supervisory
role that has been specifically designated by the head of the certifying agency, or a federal,
state or local judge. 47
 Practice Tip: Remember that certification can come from other
sources besides the police. 48
 Practice Tip: Try to look up as much information as possible
regarding assistance, such as court records, before asking for
certification. 49
The certification provides specific details about the nature of the crime being detected,
investigated, or prosecuted, and describes the applicant’s helpfulness. The certification can
be issued prior to completing the investigation, even at the very early stages of the
investigation into the criminal activity. It can also be issued during the investigation or after
the investigation has terminated. There is no cut-off date for issuing a certification. Form I918, Supplement B must be certified within the 6 months immediately preceding the

40

For more information on law enforcement certification, see “U Visa Law Enforcement
Certification Resource Guide” under Government Resources in Appendix B.
41
Interview with Gail Pendleton (Feb. 9, 2012); Interview with Rosa Gomez (Feb. 21, 2012);
Interview with Lisa Hurlbutt (Mar. 14, 2012); Interview with Sameera Hafiz (Mar. 14, 2012).
42
Interview with Lisa Hurlbutt (Mar. 14, 2012).
43
Interview with Gail Pendleton (Feb. 9, 2012).
44
Interview with Gail Pendleton (Feb. 9, 2012); Interview with Rosa Gomez (Feb. 21, 2012);
Interview with Sameera Hafiz (Mar. 14, 2012).
45
Interview with Gail Pendleton (Feb. 9, 2012).
46
8 C.F.R. § 214.14(c)(2)(i).
47
8 C.F.R. § 214.14(a)(3).
48
Interview with Sameera Hafiz (Mar. 14, 2012).
49
Interview with Lisa Hurlbutt (Mar. 14, 2012).
12

filing of the U visa application. 50 The applicant must submit the U visa application with the
completed, original certification form to USCIS before this expiration. To be eligible for
lawful permanent residence, the victim has an ongoing responsibility to provide assistance to
the investigation or prosecution when reasonably requested. 51
 Practice Tip: Encourage the law enforcement agency to have a
written policy regarding how it wants the certification process to go,
and to designate one person to receive and decide U visa
certifications. This provides consistency in the process, and also
makes education easier. 52
Admissibility
A U visa applicant not only must prove his or her eligibility, but also must prove that he or
she is admissible to the United State as a nonimmigrant. 53 If the applicant is not admissible,
he or she must prove that a waiver is available. 54 The statutory grounds of inadmissibility are
listed in INA § 212(a).
 Practice Tip: Grounds of inadmissibility can be one of the most
difficult aspects of immigration law for a new practitioner. Consider
asking someone with more experience for help if there is a criminal
issue. 55
Some frequent grounds of inadmissibility include:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

50

Entering without inspection;
Criminal convictions;
Security grounds;
Fraud or Misrepresentation;
False claims to U.S. citizenship;
Health conditions or substance abuse;
Prior deportations; and
Unlawful presence. 56

8 C.F.R. § 214.14(c)(2)(i).
For a more thorough discussion of law enforcement certification, see “U Visa Law
Enforcement Certification Resource Guide for Federal, State, Local, Tribal and Territorial Law
Enforcement” under government resources in Appendix B.
52
Interview with Lisa Hurlbutt (Mar. 14, 2012).
53
For a more thorough discussion of admissibility, see “Overcoming Inadmissibility for U Visa
Applicants” under Gail Pendleton Resources in Appendix C.
54
8 C.F.R. § 214.1(a)(3).
55
Interview with Christie Popp (Feb. 24, 2012).
56
INA § 212(a); see also NATIONAL IMMIGRANT JUSTICE CENTER, PRO BONO ATTORNEY
MANUAL ON IMMIGRATION RELIEF FOR CRIME VICTIMS: U VISAS, 23 (2011).
13
51

 Practice Tip: Grounds of inadmissibility most likely to arise include
single or, less frequently and more seriously, multiple unlawful
entries, criminal convictions (important to determine any arrests, as
dispositions must be provided), past immigration fraud or
misrepresentation, and helping others enter unlawfully, such as
children. Ask clients questions in many different ways to be sure that
they understand, especially as to arrest history which is frequently
confusing to them.57
 Practice Tip: Send your client’s fingerprints for an FBI criminal
background check for a full and accurate account of all crimes
committed by your client. 58
 Practice Tip: A client who is undocumented is usually not a big
problem unless there were multiple reentries, if there are no other
inadmissibility issues. 59
Note that there is no ground of inadmissibility for individuals who entered the United States
lawfully but have stayed beyond their authorized period of stay. 60
Waivers of Grounds of Inadmissibility
USCIS has discretion to waive all grounds of inadmissibility listed in INA § 212(a) for a U
visa by waiver request, except INA § 212(a)(3)(E) (relating to Nazi persecution, genocide,
torture, and extrajudicial killing). 61 The applicant must file Form I-192 to request a waiver
and pay the current fee or request a fee waiver. 62 This should be included with the I-918
application.
 Practice Tip: Address inadmissibility proactively, and make
arguments for waivers. 63
 Practice Tip: Waivers are more difficult to obtain for drug, gang,
and physical assault crimes than for illegal entry. 64

Filing the Application
To apply for a U visa, the applicant needs to complete Form I-918. 65 Though there is no
application fee for this form, a fee may be required for other aspects of the application, such
57

Interview with Lisa Hurlbutt (Mar. 14, 2012).
Interview with Rosa Gomez (Feb. 21, 2012); Interview with Christie Popp (Feb. 24, 2012).
59
Interview with Gail Pendleton (Feb. 9, 2012).
60
See INA § 212(a).
61
INA § 212(d)(14); 8 C.F.R. § 212.17(b)(1).
62
8 C.F.R. § 212.17(a).
63
Interview with Gail Pendleton (Feb. 9, 2012).
64
Interview with Rosa Gomez (Feb. 21, 2012).
14
58

as the biometrics fee or if a form for a waiver is required. Additionally, the applicant does
not need to file Form I-765 for employment authorization, as this information is taken
directly from the I-918. Employment authorization is automatically granted when the U visa
application is granted. 66 A cap of 10,000 U visas exists for each year, but this cap applies
only to principal applicants, not to derivative family members. 67
Any eligible applicants who are not granted a U visa because of the annual cap will be
placed on a waiting list. 68 Priority on the waiting list will be determined by the date the
petition was filed with the oldest petitions receiving the highest priority. 69USCIS will grant
deferred action or parole to U visa applicants and qualifying family members while the
principal applicants are on the waiting list. 70 USCIS may authorize employment for these
applicants and qualifying family members, at its discretion. 71
Derivative Family Members
When a victim is applying for U nonimmigrant status, he or she may also apply for
admission of immediate family members. 72 In the case of a victim under the age of 21, the
victim’s parents, unmarried siblings under the age of 18, spouses, and unmarried children
under the age of 21 will be eligible for derivative status. 73 In the case of a victim who is 21
years old or older, his or her spouse and unmarried children will be eligible for derivative
status. 74 The perpetrator of the criminal activity cannot obtain derivative status as a
qualifying family member. 75There is no annual limit of U visas for derivative family
members. 76 A victim can apply for a derivative family member using the I-918, Supplement
A application form, which may be filed with the principal I-918 application, or at a
subsequent time. 77 Additionally, the application for derivative family members must include
Form I-765 if the family member wishes to receive work authorization. 78

65

For a detailed list of material for the U visa application, see “Required material for U
Nonimmigrant Visa application” in Appendix A.
66
8 C.F.R. § 214.14(c)(7).
67
8 C.F.R. § 214.14(d)(1).
68
8 C.F.R. § 214.14(d)(2).
69
8 C.F.R. § 214.14(d)(2).
70
8 C.F.R. § 214.14(d)(2).
71
8 C.F.R. § 214.14(d)(2); 8 C.F.R. § 274a.12(c)(14).
72
INA § 101(a)(15)(U)(ii).
73
8 C.F.R. § 214.14(f).
74
8 C.F.R. § 214.14(f).
75
8 C.F.R. § 214.14(f)(1).
76
8 C.F.R. § 214.14(d)(2).
77
8 C.F.R. § 214.14(f)(2); see “Consular Processing for Overseas Derivative T and U
Nonimmigrant Status Family Members: Questions and Answers” for more information of filing a
derivative U application for a family member overseas.
78
8 C.F.R. § 214.14(f)(7).
15

 Practice Tip: When a derivative (U-3) child turns 21, he or she currently
will lose U nonimmigrant status (although a “fix” of this problem is
under consideration by policy makers at DHS), which poses a problem if
the necessary three years have not accrued in order to adjust status. The
age of children can be a way to prioritize cases. 79
 Practice Tip: Inadmissibility based on convictions for crimes tends to be
more problematic, especially for juvenile derivatives with a criminal
background who show no rehabilitation and for those in detention, since
rehabilitation is hard to show for them.80

Adjustment of Status to Lawful Permanent Resident for Principals and Derivatives
To adjust status to lawful permanent resident, the U nonimmigrant 81 must file Form I-485.82
U visa adjustment is governed by INA 245(m). 83A victim must meet the following
requirements to apply for permanent residency:
1. Was lawfully admitted to the United States as a U nonimmigrant and continues to hold
such status at the time of application; 84
2. Has continuous physical presence for 3 years; 85
a. Continuous physical presence means the period of time that the non-citizen has
been physically present in the United States and must be a continuous period of at
least 3 years since the date of admission as a U nonimmigrant continuing through
the date of the conclusion of adjudication of the application for adjustment of
status. 86
b. If the non-citizen has departed from the United States for any single period in
excess of 90 days or for any periods in the aggregate exceeding 180 days, the
applicant must include a certification from the agency that signed the Form I-918,
Supplement B, in support of the non-citizen's U nonimmigrant status that the
absences were necessary to assist in the criminal investigation or prosecution or
were otherwise justified. 87

79

Interview with Lisa Hurlbutt (Mar. 14, 2012).
Interview with Gail Pendleton (Feb. 9, 2012).
81
This section applies to applicants granted principal U nonimmigrant status (U-1), as well as
those granted derivative U nonimmigrant status (U-2, U-3, U-4, and U-5). See 8 C.F.R. §
245.24(a)(4).
82
For a detailed list of material for the adjustment of status application, see “Required material
for U Nonimmigrant Visa Adjustment of Status application” in Appendix A.
83
For a more thorough discussion of adjustment of status for a U nonimmigrant, see “U Visa
Adjustment of Status Guide” under in Appendix D.
84
8 C.F.R. § 245.24(b).
85
8 C.F.R. § 245.24(b).
86
8 C.F.R. § 245.24(a)(1).
87
8 C.F.R. § 245.24(a)(1).
16
80

3. Is not inadmissible under section 212(a)(3)(E) of the Act 88 (Note: Applicants do not
have to establish that they are admissible; the inadmissibility grounds at 212(a) do not
apply);
4. Has not unreasonably refused to provide assistance to an official or law enforcement
agency that had responsibility in an investigation or prosecution of persons in connection
with the qualifying criminal activity after the non-citizen was granted U nonimmigrant
status; 89
a. Refusal to provide assistance in a criminal investigation or prosecution is the
refusal by the non-citizen to provide assistance to a law enforcement agency or
official that had responsibility for the investigation or prosecution of persons in
connection with the qualifying criminal activity after the non-citizen was granted
U nonimmigrant status. 90
b. DHS will determine whether the non-citizen's refusal was unreasonable under the
totality of the circumstances based on all available affirmative evidence, and may
take into account such factors as general law enforcement, prosecutorial, and
judicial practices; the kinds of assistance asked of other victims of crimes
involving an element of force, coercion, or fraud; the nature of the request to the
non-citizen for assistance; the nature of the victimization; the applicable
guidelines for victim and witness assistance; and the specific circumstances of the
applicant, including fear, severe traumatization (both mental and physical), and
the age and maturity of the applicant. 91
5. Establishes to the satisfaction of the Secretary of Homeland Security that the noncitizen's presence in the United States is justified on humanitarian grounds, to ensure
family unity, or is in the public interest; 92 and
6. Merits a favorable exercise of discretion. 93
A victim who has had his or her U status revoked will not be eligible to adjust to lawful
permanent resident. 94
Derivative Adjustment of Status
A U nonimmigrant may also file a derivative application for adjustment of status for a
spouse, child, or parent, if the nonimmigrant is a child, who has not held U nonimmigrant
status. 95 To file as a derivative, the applicant must show that:
1. The qualifying family member has never held U nonimmigrant status; 96
2. The qualifying family relationship exists at the time of the principal's adjustment
and continues to exist through the adjudication of the adjustment or issuance of the
immigrant visa for the qualifying family member; 97
88

8 C.F.R. § 245.24(b).
8 C.F.R. § 245.24(b).
90
8 C.F.R. § 245.24(a)(5).
91
8 C.F.R. § 245.24(a)(5).
92
8 C.F.R. § 245.24(b).
93
8 C.F.R. § 245.24(f).
94
8 C.F.R. § 245.24(c).
95
8 C.F.R. § 245.24(g).
96
8 C.F.R. § 245.24(g)(1).
97
8 C.F.R. § 245.24(g)(2).
89

17

3. The qualifying family member or the principal U nonimmigrant would suffer
extreme hardship if the qualifying family member is not allowed to remain in or
enter the United States; 98 and
4. The principal U nonimmigrant has adjusted status to that of a lawful permanent
resident, has a pending application for adjustment of status, or is concurrently filing
an application for adjustment of status. 99

98
99

8 C.F.R. § 245.24(g)(3).
8 C.F.R. § 245.24(g)(4).
18

T Visas
Description
The T visa is a nonimmigrant visa that was created by the Victims of Trafficking and
Violence Protection Act to combat the trafficking in persons. 100 Five thousand T visas are
available each year. The T visa allows trafficking victims to live and work legally in the
United States for up to four years. Further, it allows eligible victims to adjust to permanent
residency after three years of T nonimmigrant status. Similar to the U visa, a victim applying
for the T visa does not need to be related to the perpetrator of the trafficking, and the
perpetrator does not need to have legal immigration status. A trafficking victim applies for
the T visa by filing Form I-914 with the USCIS Vermont Service Center. An applicant who
is granted T nonimmigrant status is qualified for employment authorization, and may apply
for derivative family members under this visa.
 Practice Tip: Serving an individual client through both a domestic
violence and human trafficking lens increases the likelihood that the
entirety of the client’s needs will be addressed appropriately. 101
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for a T visa, the nonimmigrant must:
1. Be or have been a victim of severe forms of trafficking in humans; 102
2. Be physically present in the U.S., American Samoa, or the Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands, or at a port of entry, on account of such trafficking, which
includes physical presence on account of the non-citizen having been allowed entry into
the United States for participation in investigative or judicial processes associated with an
act or a perpetrator of trafficking; 103
3. Comply with reasonable requests from law enforcement agencies for assistance in the
investigation or prosecution of human trafficking; 104UNLESS
a. physically or psychologically unable to assist law enforcement or
b. under the age of 18 105
4. Demonstrate extreme hardship involving severe and unusual harm if removed from
the US. 106
100

For more discussion of human trafficking victims see “Meeting the Legal Needs of Human
Trafficking Victims: An Introduction for Domestic Violence Attorneys & Advocates” and
“Meeting the Legal Needs of Child Trafficking Victims: An Introduction for Children’s
Attorneys & Advocates” under the American Bar Association resources in Appendix B.
101
“Meeting the Legal Needs of Human Trafficking Victims: An Introduction for Domestic
Violence Attorneys & Advocates,” 6 under American Bar Association resources in Appendix B.
102
INA § 101(a)(15)(T)(i)(I).
103
INA § 101(a)(15)(T)(i)(II).
104
INA § 101(a)(15)(T)(i)(III).
105
INA § 101(a)(15)(T)(i)(III).
106
INA § 101(a)(15)(T)(i)(IV).
19

Victim of Severe Human Trafficking
“Severe Forms of Trafficking in Humans” is defined as:
1. Sex trafficking in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or
in which the person induced to perform such act has not attained 18 years of age; or
a. “Sex trafficking” is further defined as the recruitment, harboring, transportation,
provision, or obtaining of a person for the purpose of a commercial sex act. 107
b. “Commercial sex act” means any sex act on account of which anything of value
is given to or received by any person. 108
c. “Coercion” is defined as:
i. Threats of serious harm to or physical restraint against any person;
ii. Any scheme, plan, or pattern intended to cause a person to believe that
failure to perform an act would result in serious harm to or physical
restraint against any person; or
iii. The abuse or threatened abuse of the legal process. 109
2. The recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or
services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to
involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery. 110 This is often referred to as
“labor trafficking.”
a. “Debt bondage” means the status or condition of a debtor arising from a pledge
by the debtor of his or her personal services or of those of a person under his or
her control as a security for debt, if the value of those services as reasonably
assessed is not applied toward the liquidation of the debt or the length and nature
of those services are not respectively limited and defined. 111
b. “Involuntary servitude” includes a condition of servitude induced by means of:
i. Any scheme, plan, or pattern intended to cause a person to believe that, if
the person did not enter into or continue in such condition, that person or
another person would suffer serious harm or physical restraint; or
ii. The abuse or threatened abuse of the legal process. 112
c. “Peonage” is a status or condition of involuntary servitude based upon real or
alleged indebtedness. 113
Thus, to qualify for labor trafficking, three steps of requirements must be met – a process, a
means, and an ends. Labor trafficking requires the process of the victimization
(“recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or
services”), the means used to obtain the victim (“through the use of force, fraud, or
coercion”), and the ends or purpose for obtaining the victim (for the purpose of subjection to
involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery). Sex trafficking forgoes the
107

22 U.S.C. §7102(9).
22 U.S.C. §7102(3).
109
22 U.S.C. §7102(2).
110
22 U.S.C. §7102(8).
111
22 U.S.C. §7102(4).
112
22 U.S.C. §7102(5).
113
8 C.F.R. § 214.11(a).
108

20

process, but parallels the means used (“induced by force, fraud, or coercion”), as well as the
ends or purpose (to induce “a commercial sex act”). Additionally, in the case where the
victim is under the age of 18, only the ends or purpose is required, omitting the need for a use
of force, fraud or coercion. 114
 Practice Tip: Remember that the T visa can be used for individual
cases, and not only large trafficking operations. 115

Physical Presence on account of Trafficking
The requirement of being physically present in the United States on account of
trafficking extends to a victim who:
1. Is present because he or she is being subjected to a severe form of trafficking in persons;
2. Was recently liberated from a severe form of trafficking in persons; or
3. Was subject to severe forms of trafficking in persons at some point in the past and whose
continuing presence in the United States is directly related to the original trafficking
in persons. 116
Thus, the focus of the physical presence requirement is not on the manner of or reason for
a victim’s entry into the United States, but rather on whether the victim’s current presence
is on account of the trafficking. However, if the victim has the chance to escape the
traffickers before the trafficking comes to the attention of law enforcement, the victim must
show that he or she did not have a clear chance to leave the United States in the interim.117
Additionally, if the victim voluntarily leaves or is removed from the United States after an
incident of trafficking, he or she will not be deemed to be physically present unless his or her
reentry was due to a continuation of the previous trafficking, or a new incident of
trafficking. 118
Compliance with Reasonable Requests from Law Enforcement
A “reasonable request for assistance” is defined as a reasonable request made by a law
enforcement officer or prosecutor to a victim of a severe form of trafficking in persons to
assist law enforcement authorities in the investigation or prosecution of the acts of trafficking
in persons. 119 A “law enforcement agency” is any Federal law enforcement agency that has
the responsibility and authority for the detection, investigation, or prosecution of severe
forms of trafficking in persons. 120The “reasonableness” of the request depends on the
totality of the circumstances taking into account general law enforcement and prosecutorial

114

See Kavitha Sreeharsha and Maria Joes Fletcher, HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND THE T-VISA, 4-5
(Legal Momentum).
115
Interview with Gail Pendleton (Feb. 9, 2012).
116
8 C.F.R. § 214.11(g).
117
8 C.F.R. § 214.11(g)(2).
118
8 C.F.R. § 214.11(g)(3).
119
8 C.F.R. § 214.11(a).
120
8 C.F.R. § 214.11(a).
21

practices, the nature of the victimization, and the specific circumstances of the victim,
including fear, severe traumatization, and the age and maturity of young victims. 121
Two general exceptions to the compliance requirement are:
1. When the victim has not yet reached 18 years of age; 122 or
2. When the victim is unable to cooperate with the request due to severe physical or
psychological trauma. 123
Evidence of compliance with reasonable requests from law enforcement agencies for
assistance in the investigation or prosecution may include primary or secondary evidence.
1. Primary evidence of compliance consists of a law enforcement agency endorsement
describing the assistance provided by the victim, though this endorsement is not
required. 124
2. Credible secondary evidence and affidavits may be submitted to show compliance and
that primary evidence is nonexistent or unavailable, and should demonstrate a good faith
effort to obtain an endorsement from a law enforcement agency. 125
a. The statement or evidence must show that a law enforcement agency that has
responsibility and authority for the detection, investigation, or prosecution of
severe forms of trafficking in persons has information about such trafficking in
persons, that the victim has complied with any reasonable request for assistance in
the investigation or prosecution of such acts of trafficking, and, if the victim did
not report the crime at the time, why the crime was not previously reported. The
statement or evidence should demonstrate that good faith attempts were made to
obtain the law enforcement agency endorsement, including what efforts the
applicant undertook to accomplish these attempts. In addition, applicants may also
submit their own affidavit and the affidavits of other witnesses. 126

Extreme Hardship Involving Severe and Unusual Harm
To be eligible for a T visa, a victim must demonstrate that he or she would suffer extreme
hardship involving severe and unusual harm if removed from the United States. 127 A
determination of extreme hardship is made on a case by case basis and all credible evidence
regarding the nature and the scope of the hardship will be considered. 128 However, such a
finding may not be based upon current or future economic detriment, or the lack of, or
121

8 C.F.R. § 214.11(a).
INA § 101(a)(15)(T)(i)(III)(cc). The regulations, which state that the victim must be under the
age of 15 to be exempt from the compliance requirement, are not as up to date as the statute on
this point.
123
INA § 101(a)(15)(T)(i)(III)(bb).
124
8 C.F.R. § 214.11(h)(1).
125
8 C.F.R. § 214.11(h)(2).
126
8 C.F.R. § 214.11(h)(2).
127
8 C.F.R. § 214.11(i).
128
8 C.F.R. § 214.11(i)(3).
22
122

disruption to, social or economic opportunities. 129 Also, hardship to people other than the
victim, such as hardship to family members, is not considered. 130 Factors in this
determination include, but are not limited to:
1. The age and personal circumstances of the applicant;
2. Serious physical or mental illness of the applicant that necessitates medical or
psychological attention not reasonably available in the foreign country;
3. The nature and extent of the physical and psychological consequences of severe forms of
trafficking in persons;
4. The impact of the loss of access to the United States courts and the criminal justice
system for purposes relating to the incident of severe forms of trafficking in persons or
other crimes perpetrated against the applicant, including criminal and civil redress for
acts of trafficking in persons, criminal prosecution, restitution, and protection;
5. The reasonable expectation that the existence of laws, social practices, or customs in the
foreign country to which the applicant would be returned would penalize the applicant
severely for having been the victim of a severe form of trafficking in persons;
6. The likelihood of re-victimization and the need, ability, or willingness of foreign
authorities to protect the applicant;
7. The likelihood that the trafficker in persons or others acting on behalf of the trafficker in
the foreign country would severely harm the applicant; and
8. The likelihood that the applicant's individual safety would be seriously threatened by the
existence of civil unrest or armed conflict. 131
Admissibility
A T visa applicant not only must prove his or her eligibility, but also must prove that he or
she is admissible to the United States as a nonimmigrant. 132 If the applicant is not
admissible, he or she must prove that a waiver is available. 133 The statutory grounds of
inadmissibility are listed in INA § 212(a).
Some frequent grounds of inadmissibility include:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Entering Without Inspection
Criminal convictions
Security grounds
Fraud/Misrepresentation
False claims to U.S. citizenship, including unlawful voting and falsification of I-9 form
for employment
6. Health Conditions or Substance Abuse
7. Prior Deportations
8. Unlawful presence 134
129

8 C.F.R. § 214.11(i)(1).
8 C.F.R. § 214.11(i)(2).
131
8 C.F.R. § 214.11(i)(1).
132
8 C.F.R. § 214.1(a)(3).
133
8 C.F.R. § 214.1(a)(3).
134
INA § 212(a); see also National Immigrant Justice Center, PRO BONO ATTORNEY MANUAL ON
IMMIGRATION RELIEF FOR CRIME VICTIMS: U VISAS, 23 (2011).
23
130

 Practice Tip: Send your client’s fingerprints for an FBI criminal
background check for a full and accurate account of all crimes
committed by your client. 135
 Practice Tip: Victims sometimes engage in criminal acts that may
not appear related to trafficking, but are actually the result of it.
This can cause law enforcement officers to view them more as
offenders than victims.136
Note that there is no ground of inadmissibility for individuals who entered the United States
lawfully but have stayed beyond their authorized period of stay. 137
Waivers of Grounds of Inadmissibility
USCIS has discretion to waive all grounds of inadmissibility listed in INA § 212(a) for a T
visa by waiver request, except INA § 212(a)(3), (10)(C), and (10)(E). 138 Special
consideration will also be given when the inadmissibility was caused by or incident to the
acts that caused the victimization.139 Further, criminal and related grounds listed in INA §
212(a)(2) will only be waived in exceptional cases, unless the grounds were caused by or
related to the victimization described under INA § 101(a)(15)(T). 140The inadmissibility
ground of being a public charge does not apply to a T visa applicant. 141The applicant must
file Form I-192 to request a waiver and pay the current fee or request a fee waiver. 142 This
should be included in the I-914 application.
 Practice Tip: Address inadmissibility proactively, and make
arguments for waivers. 143
Filing the Application
To apply for a T visa, the applicant needs to complete Form I-914. 144 Though there is no
application fee for this form, a fee may be required for other aspects of the application, such
as the biometrics fee or if an application for a waiver is required. Additionally, the applicant
does not need to file Form I-765 for employment authorization, as this information is taken
135

Interview with Rosa Gomez (Feb. 21, 2012); Interview with Christie Popp (Feb. 24, 2012).
“Meeting the Legal Needs of Child Trafficking Victims: An Introduction for Children’s
Attorneys & Advocates,” 13 under American Bar Association resources in Appendix B.
137
See INA § 212(a).
138
INA § 212(d)(13)(A); 8 C.F.R. § 212.16(b)(1). These grounds of inadmissibility are security
and related grounds, international child abduction, and former citizens who renounced their
citizenship to avoid taxation.
139
8 C.F.R. § 212.16(b)(1).
140
8 C.F.R. § 212.16(b)(2).
141
INA § 212(d)(13)(A); 8 C.F.R. § 214.11(k)(1).
142
8 C.F.R. § 212.16(a).
143
Interview with Gail Pendleton (Feb. 9, 2012).
144
For a detailed list of material for the T visa application, see “Required material for T
Nonimmigrant Visa application” in Appendix A.
24
136

directly from the I-914. Employment authorization is automatically granted when the T visa
application is granted. 145 A cap of 5,000 T visas exists for each year, but this cap applies
only to principal applicants, not to derivative family members. 146
 Practice Tip: Unlike U visas, the allotment of T visas is not fully
utilized.147
Once this cap is reached in any given year, applications will continue to be reviewed in the
order in which they are received. 148A determination will made on the applicant’s eligibility
for a T visa, but the T visa will not be issued at that time. 149 Eligible applicants who are
not granted a T visa due to the cap are placed on a waiting list.150While on the waiting list,
the applicant will maintain his or her current means to prevent removal (deferred action,
parole, or stay of removal) and any employment authorization. 151Priority on the waiting list
is determined by the date the application was properly filed, with the oldest applications
receiving the highest priority. 152
 Practice Tip: Given that trafficking often intersects with other
crimes, such as domestic violence, it might be possible to pursue
multiple remedies concurrently for a client who is a victim of human
trafficking. 153

Two Step Process: Bona Fide Application + Adjudication
Once the application for a T visa has been submitted, an initial review will take place to
determine if the application is bona fide. 154 A determination of bona fide application will be
made if the application is properly filed, the application is complete, no appearance of
fraud exists, and the application presents prima facie evidence of each eligibility
requirement. 155 For an application to be deemed bona fide, the applicant must not be
inadmissible under INA § 212(a), 156 although the inadmissibility ground of being a public
charge does not apply to a T visa application. 157 The application may also be deemed bona

145

8 C.F.R. § 214.11(l)(4).
8 C.F.R. § 214.11(m); 8 C.F.R. § 214.11(o)(9).
147
Interview with Gail Pendleton (Feb. 9, 2012).
148
8 C.F.R. § 214.11(m)(1).
149
8 C.F.R. § 214.11(m)(1).
150
8 C.F.R. § 214.11(m)(2).
151
8 C.F.R. § 214.11(m)(2).
152
8 C.F.R. § 214.11(m)(2).
153
“Meeting the Legal Needs of Human Trafficking Victims: An Introduction for Domestic
Violence Attorneys & Advocates,” 21 under American Bar Association resources in Appendix
B.
154
8 C.F.R. § 214.11(k)(1).
155
8 C.F.R. § 214.11(k)(1).
156
8 C.F.R. § 214.11(k)(1).
157
INA § 212(d)(13); 8 C.F.R. § 214.11(k)(1).
25
146

fide once an applicant receives a waiver for any of the other grounds of inadmissibility. 158
Waivers of inadmissibility grounds are discretionary, and require an affirmative request. 159
If an application is incomplete, or if evidence of a requirement is insufficient, USCIS will
request additional evidence, issue a notice of intent to deny, or adjudicate the application on
its merits. 160If the application is bona fide, USCIS will then conduct ade novo review and
final adjudication of the application. 161
Derivative Family Members
When a victim is applying for T nonimmigrant status, he or she may also apply for admission
of immediate family members. 162 In the case of a victim under the age of 21, the victim’s
spouse, children, and unmarried siblings under the age of 18 will be eligible for this
derivative status. 163 In the case of a victim who is age 21 or older, his or her spouse and
children will be eligible for this derivative status. 164 Parents and siblings under the age of
18 may also be eligible if they face a present danger as a result of the victim having escaped
from trafficking or cooperation with law enforcement. 165 Derivative applications must also
show that extreme hardship would result, either on the part of the family member or on the
principal, if the family member was not admitted or, in the case where the family member is
present in the United States, was removed. 166 Factors used in evaluating extreme hardship
include, but are not limited to:
1. The need to provide financial support to the principal non-citizen;
2. The need for family support for a principal non-citizen; or
3. The risk of serious harm, particularly bodily harm, to an immediate family member from
the perpetrators of the severe forms of trafficking in persons. 167
A victim can apply for a derivative family member using the I-914 Supplement A
application form, which may be filed with the principal I-914 application, or at a subsequent
time. 168 Additionally, the application for derivative family members must include Form I765 if the family member wants to receive work authorization, as this will not automatically
be granted, as is the case with the principal applicant. 169

158

8 C.F.R. § 214.11(k)(1).
8 C.F.R. § 214.11(k)(1); See INA § 212(h) and Form I-601.
160
8 C.F.R. § 214.11(k)(2).
161
8 C.F.R. § 214.11(l).
162
INA § 101(a)(15)(T)(ii); 8 C.F.R. § 214.11(o)(1).
163
INA § 101(a)(15)(T)(ii)(I).
164
INA § 101(a)(15)(T)(ii)(II).
165
INA § 101(a)(15)(T)(ii)(III).
166
8 C.F.R. § 214.11(o)(5).
167
8 C.F.R. § 214.11(o)(5).
168
8 C.F.R. § 214.11(o)(2); see “Consular Processing for Overseas Derivative T and U
Nonimmigrant Status Family Members: Questions and Answers” for more information of filing a
derivative T application for a family member overseas.
169
8 C.F.R. § 214.11(o)(10).
26
159

Adjustment of Status to Lawful Permanent Resident for Principals and Derivatives
To adjust status to lawful permanent resident, the T nonimmigrant must file Form I-485. 170
A T nonimmigrant 171 must meet the following requirements to apply for permanent
residency:
1. Was lawfully admitted to the United States as a T nonimmigrant, and continues to hold
such status at the time of application; 172
2. Has been physically present in the United States for a continuous period of at least 3
years since the first date of lawful admission as a T–1 nonimmigrant or has been
physically present in the United States for a continuous period during the investigation or
prosecution of acts of trafficking and the Attorney General has determined that the
investigation or prosecution is complete, whichever period of time is less; 173
a. If the applicant has departed from the United States for any single period in
excess of 90 days or for any periods in the aggregate exceeding 180 days, the
applicant shall be considered to have failed to maintain continuous physical
presence in the United States 174
3. Is admissible to the United States, or otherwise has been granted a waiver of any
applicable ground of inadmissibility at the time of examination for adjustment; 175
4. Has been a person of good moral character since first being lawfully admitted as a T
nonimmigrant and until the USCIS completes the adjudication for adjustment of status; 176
5. Has complied with any reasonable request for assistance in the investigation or
prosecution of acts of trafficking, or would suffer extreme hardship involving unusual
and severe harm upon removal; 177 and
6. Merits a favorable exercise of discretion. 178
In proving good moral character, the victim must submit the following evidence:
1. An affidavit from the applicant attesting to his or her good moral character, accompanied
by a local police clearance or a state-issued criminal background check from each locality
or state in the United States in which the applicant has resided for 6 or more months
during the requisite period in continued presence or T–1 nonimmigrant status. 179

170

For a detailed list of material for the adjustment of status application, see “Required material
for T Nonimmigrant Visa Adjustment of Status application” and “Required material for T
Nonimmigrant Derivative Visa Adjustment of Status application” in Appendix A.
171
This section applies to applicants granted principal T nonimmigrant status, as well as those
granted derivative T nonimmigrant status. See 8 C.F.R. § 245.23(a) and 8 C.F.R. § 245.23(b).
172
8 C.F.R. § 245.23(a)(2).
173
8 C.F.R. § 245.23(a)(3).
174
8 C.F.R. § 245.23(a)(3).
175
8 C.F.R. § 245.23(a)(4).
176
8 C.F.R. § 245.23(a)(5).
177
8 C.F.R. § 245.23(a)(6).
178
8 C.F.R. § 245.23(e)(3).
179
8 C.F.R. § 245.23(g)(1).
27

2. If police clearances, criminal background checks, or similar reports are not available for
some or all locations, the applicant may include an explanation and submit other evidence
with his or her affidavit. 180
3. USCIS will consider other credible evidence of good moral character, such as affidavits
from responsible persons who can knowledgeably attest to the applicant's good moral
character. 181
In addition, the victim must show that discretion should be exercised in his or her
favor. 182Mitigating evidence may be submitted to offset any adverse factors, and the victim
may have to show exceptional and extremely unusual hardship as a result of a denial of
adjustment. 183

180

8 C.F.R. § 245.23(g)(2).
8 C.F.R. § 245.23(g)(3).
182
8 C.F.R. § 245.23(e)(3).
183
8 C.F.R. § 245.23(e)(3).
181

28

VAWA Self-Petition
Description
The VAWA Self-Petition was created by the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) to
provide immigrant victims with a legal remedy for obtaining a legal immigration status
independently of their abusers. The self-petition allows the victim of abuse who is otherwise
eligible for family-based immigration to adjust status without relying on the abuser for the
petition. However, unlike the U and T visas, a self-petition requires a family relationship,
such as spousal or parent-child, with the abuser, and requires the abuser to be a U.S. citizen
or lawful permanent resident (“LPR”). A victim applies for a VAWA self-petition by filing
Form I-360 with the USCIS Vermont Service Center. Once a self-petition is approved, the
victim may apply for adjustment of status to lawful permanent resident. This will provide the
victim with a route for employment authorization, as well as the ability to apply for certain
derivative family members.
Attorneys and advocates working with this remedy should also have an understanding of
family-based immigration. Family-based immigration takes two routes: visas for immediate
relatives of U.S. citizens and family preference visas. 184 Visas for the immediate relatives of
U.S. citizens are not subjected to limitations, and thus eligible family members are able to
apply to adjust to LPR status immediately. 185Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens are
defined as spouses, unmarried children under the age of 21, and parents of citizens who are at
least 21 years old. 186 Family preference visas, however, are limited each year based on one
of four preference categories and the country of origin. 187 The first preference category
consists of unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens.188 The second preference
category consists of the spouses, children, and unmarried sons and daughters of LPRs. 189
The third preference category consists of married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens. 190
Finally, the fourth preference category consists of brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens who
are at least 21 years old. 191 When the number of qualified applicants exceeds the quota, or
the number of available visas, the eligible applicant will have to wait for an available visa.
Visas are issued in chronological order based on when the application is filed, also called the
“priority date.” Once the priority date is reached, a visa is issued and the applicant may
apply for adjustment of status. Understanding the mechanics of the family-based
immigration scheme is important when handling VAWA and related cases because familybased immigration underlies the VAWA remedies.

184

See National Immigrant Justice Center, PRO BONO ATTORNEY MANUAL ON LEGAL
IMMIGRATION PROTECTIONS FOR IMMIGRANT SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, 20-21 (2011).
185
INA § 201(b)(2)(A)(i).
186
INA § 201(b)(2)(A)(i).
187
INA § 203(a).
188
INA § 203(a)(1).
189
INA § 203(a)(2).
190
INA § 203(a)(3).
191
INA § 203(a)(4).
29

Eligibility Requirements
In order for an applicant to file for a VAWA self-petition, he or she must prove:
1. A qualifying relationship;
2. That the abuser was a U.S. citizen or LPR;
3. A legal and good faith marriage, in the case that the qualifying relationship is that of a
spouse;
4. Battery or extreme cruelty;
5. Residence with the abuser; and
6. Good moral character. 192
Qualifying Relationship
The following persons can apply for a VAWA self-petition:
1. An abused spouse of a U.S. citizen or LPR; 193
2. A non-abused spouse of a U.S. citizen or LPR whose child is abused by the U.S. citizen
or LPR spouse, even if the child is not related to the U.S. citizen or LPR abuser; 194
3. Abused parents of a U.S. citizen children where the abusive child is 21 years of age or
older; 195
4. An abused child of a U.S. citizen or LPR parent; 196 or
5. An abused “intended spouse” of a U.S. citizen or LPR. 197
a. The term “intended spouse,” means an individual who believes that she or he has
married a U.S. citizen or LPR and for whom a marriage ceremony was actually
performed, but whose marriage is not legitimate solely because of the U.S.
citizen’s or LPR’s bigamy (i.e. previously married and did not legally terminate
that marriage before entering into the current marriage). 198
Immigration Status of Abuser
When applying for a VAWA self-petition, the applicant must prove that the abuser is a U.S.
citizen or LPR. 199 The following circumstances may also allow for the requisite status of
the abuser:
1. If the abuser loses or renounces his or her U.S. citizenship or LPR status, the victim
may still qualify for a self-petition, but the application must be filed within 2 years of the
date the abuser loses or renounces his U.S. citizenship or LPR status. 200
192

See INA § 204(a); see also “Document Gathering for Self-Petitioning Under the Violence
Against Women Act” under Immigrant Legal Resource Center resources in Appendix B for more
information on providing evidence for each of the requirements.
193
INA §204(a)(1)(A)(iii); INA §204(a)(1)(B)(ii).
194
INA §204(a)(1)(A)(iii)(I)(bb) and INA §204(a)(1)(B)(ii)(1)(bb).
195
INA §204(a)(1)(A)(vii).
196
INA §204(a)(1)(A)(iv); INA §204(a)(1)(B)(iii).
197
INA §204(a)(1)(A)(iii)(II)(aa)(BB) ; INA §204(a)(1)(B)(ii)(II)(aa)(BB) .
198
INA §101(a)(50).
199
INA §204(a)(1)(A)(iii)(I)(aa); INA §204 (a)(1)(B)(ii)(I)(aa); INA §204(a)(1)(A)(iv); INA
§204(a)(1)(B)(iii).
30

2. An abuser losing proper immigration status after filing the self-petition application
will have no effect on the applicant’s case for self-petition or adjustment of status. 201
 Practice Tip: Note that proving the abuser’s status can be tricky
when you have no access to information. 202
Marriage
If an applicant is filing as the spouse of a U.S. citizen or LPR, the applicant must establish
that he or she is or was legally married to the U.S. citizen or LPR abuser, and that he or she
married in “good faith,” and not for immigration purposes. 203
Legal Marriage
A legal marriage for immigration purposes must be valid in the state or country in which it
was executed, and must not violate public policy. 204If a marriage was not valid because the
abuser’s prior or concurrent marriage was not legally terminated, a self-petitioner may
nevertheless be filed if the applicant believed that the marriage was valid and can prove that
the marriage ceremony was executed. This is referred to as an “intended marriage.” 205
Good Faith Marriage
The applicant must prove that his or her marriage intent was in “good faith” and it was not
because of immigration purposes. 206All credible relevant evidence of good faith at the time
of marriage will be considered, and may include proof that one spouse has been listed as the
other's spouse on insurance policies, property leases, income tax forms, or bank accounts;
and testimony or other evidence regarding courtship, wedding ceremony, shared residence
and experiences. 207The birth certificates of children born to the abuser and the spouse; police,
medical, or court documents providing information about the relationship; and affidavits of
persons with personal knowledge of the relationship may also be used to prove good faith. 208
A self-petition will not be denied solely because the spouses are not living together and the
marriage is no longer viable. 209
 Practice Tip: For VAWA self-petitioners, make sure that good faith
marriage is heavily documented, as applications are often denied on
this ground. 210

200

INA §204(a)(1)(A)(iii)(II)(aa)(CC)(bbb);INA §204(a)(1)(B)(ii)(II)(aa)(CC)(aaa).
INA §204(a)(1)(A)(vi); INA §204(a)(1)(B)(v)(I).
202
Interview with Aimee Todd (Feb. 29, 2012).
203
INA §204(a)(1)(A)(iii)(II)(aa)(CC); INA §204(a)(1)(B)(ii)(II)(aa)(CC).
204
INA §204(a)(1)(A)(iii)(I)(bb).
205
INA §101 (a)(50).
206
INA §204(a)(1)(A)(II)(aa)(CC).
207
8 C.F.R. § 204.2(c)(2)(vii).
208
8 C.F.R. § 204.2(c)(2)(vii).
209
8 C.F.R. § 204.2(c)(1)(ix).
210
Interview with Lisa Hurlbutt (Mar. 14, 2012).
31
201

Divorce
A VAWA self-petitioner can only apply before the termination of the marriage. The only
exception for filing a VAWA self-petition after divorce is when the applicant can
demonstrate a connection between the divorce and domestic violence, and applies within
two years of the divorce. 211 The divorce decree is not required to demonstrate that the
divorce was due to domestic violence, but rather the applicant must prove that the abuse or
extreme hardship led to the divorce. 212
A VAWA self-petitioner can apply for divorce only after filing the self-petition application,
and is not required to wait for the process to be completed and the application
approved. 213However, if the applicant remarries while the application is pending, it will be
denied. 214 The applicant may remarry after the self-petition is approved. 215
 Practice Tip: For VAWA self-petitioners, encourage clients not to
file for divorce until the application is filed. Otherwise, a divorced
spouse must file a VAWA self-petition within two years of the
divorce, and establish a connection between the divorce and the
battery or extreme cruelty. 216
Bigamy
If the self-petitioner is not legally married to the abuser because of the abuser’s bigamy, the
applicant may still qualify if the applicant can prove that he or she believed she was legally
married to the abuser. 217
The following forms of evidence may be used to prove this belief:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

211

A marriage certificate;
A marriage license application;
Photographs of the wedding ceremony;
Affidavits from persons attending the wedding ceremony; and
An affidavit from self-petitioner supporting why she believed she legally married the
abuser, and why she believed her marriage was valid.

INA §204(a)(1)(A)(iii)(II)(aa)(CC)(ccc); INA §204(a)(1)(B)(ii)(II)(aa)(CC)(ccc).
INA §204(a)(1)(A)(iii)(II)(aa)(CC)(ccc); INA §204(a)(1)(B)(ii)(II)(aa)(CC)(ccc).
213
8 C.F.R. § 204.2(c)(1)(ii).
214
8 C.F.R. § 204.2(c)(1)(ii).
215
8 C.F.R. § 204.2(c)(1)(ii).
216
Interview with Lisa Hurlbutt (Mar. 14, 2012).
217
INA § 204(a)(1)(A)(iii)(II)(aa)(BB); INA § 204(a)(1)(B)(ii)(II)(aa)(BB).
32
212

Death of the Abuser
If the self-petitioner was the spouse of an abusive U.S. citizen (not a permanent resident)
who died within the past two years, the victim can still apply for a self-petition. 218
The following documents must be provided:
1. A marriage certificate;
2. A death certificate of the U.S. citizen spouse; and
3. Proof of U.S. citizenship
a. This may include a U.S. passport, birth certificate, or naturalization certificate
Battery and/or Extreme Cruelty
For a VAWA self-petition, the applicant must prove that he or she has been battered or has
been the subject of extreme cruelty by a U.S. citizen or LPR spouse, parent, or child. 219 In
spousal cases, abusive behavior must occur during the marriage. 220 Abusive behavior is
broadly defined to cover physical, sexual, psychological, and economic coercion
behaviors. 221
Definitions of abuse include abusive behavior that may not appear violent, but is part of a
general pattern of violence. Abuse must rise to a certain level of severity, but is not required
to be physical.
No exhaustive list exists of acts that constitute “battery or extreme cruelty,” and the
definition of such is flexible. 222The following list provides examples of non-physical abuse
that may constitute extreme cruelty:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

Social isolation of the victim;
Accusations of infidelity;
Incessantly calling, writing or contacting her;
Interrogating her friends and family members;
Threats;
Economic abuse;
Not allowing the victim to get a job;
Controlling all money in the family; and/or
Degrading the victim 223

If an action was deliberately used to perpetrate extreme cruelty against the victim, it may be
considered abuse. The victim must show that the abusive behavior was not only abusive, but
also rose to the level of extreme cruelty.

218

INA § 204(a)(1)(A)(iii)(II)(aa)(CC)(aaa).
INA § 204(a)(1)(A); INA § 204(a)(1)(B).
220
INA §204(a)(1)(A)(iii); INA §204(a)(1)(B)(ii).
221
8 C.F.R. § 204.2(c)(1)(vi); 8 C.F.R. §204.2(e)(vi).
222
See Matter of L-M- (BIA, 2012) for an unpublished decision discussing extreme cruelty.
223
National Immigrant Justice Center, PRO BONO ATTORNEY MANUAL ON LEGAL IMMIGRATION
PROTECTIONS FOR IMMIGRANT SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, 26 (2011).
33
219

Joint Residence with Abuser
Though there is no specified amount of time of required cohabitation with the abuser, the
applicant must live with the abuser at least for a short time. The cohabitation may have taken
place inside or outside of the United States. It is also not necessary to live with abuser at the
time of filing the self-petition. 224
Current Residence
The applicant must prove that he or she is either:
1. Residing in the United States, or
2. If living abroad, was subjected to abuse either
a. By a U.S. citizen or LPR in the United States; or
b. By an abusive U.S. citizen or LPR who is an employee of the U.S. government or
armed forces. 225
Good Moral Character
Applicants who are more than 14 years old must prove that they possess good moral
character. 226INA § 101(f) states that a person will be barred from showing good moral
character if he or she:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Is or was a habitual drunkard;
Has engaged in prostitution within the last ten years before filing the application;
Has engaged in any other commercial vice, whether or not related to prostitution;
Is or was involved in smuggling people into the United States;
Has been convicted of, or has admitted to, committing acts of moral turpitude, other than
(1) purely political crimes and (2) petty offenses or crimes committed both when the noncitizen was under 18 years of age and more than five years before applying for a visa for
admission;
6. Has been convicted of two or more offenses for which the aggregate sentences of
confinement were five years or more;
7. Has been convicted of, or has admitted to, violating laws relating to controlled
substances, except for simple possession of 30 grams or less of marijuana;
8. Has earned income derived principally from illegal gambling;
9. Has been convicted of two or more gambling offenses;
10. Has given false testimony for the purposes of obtaining an immigration benefit;
11. Was incarcerated for an aggregate period of 180 days or more as a result of conviction; or
12. Has been convicted of an aggravated felony, as defined in INA § 101(a)(43), where the
conviction was entered on or after November, 1990, except for conviction of murder,
which is bar to good moral character regardless of the date of conviction. 227

224

INA §204(a)(1)(A); INA § 204(a)(1)(B).
INA § 204(a)(1)(A); INA § 204(a)(1)(B).
226
INA § 204(a)(1)(A); INA §204(a)(1)(B).
227
INA § 101(f); see also National Immigrant Justice Center, PRO BONO ATTORNEY MANUAL ON
LEGAL IMMIGRATION PROTECTIONS FOR IMMIGRANT SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, 27
(2011).
34
225

The self-petitioner must also prove “good moral character” for the last three years.

Waiver of Good Moral Character
An exception exists in INA § 204(a)(1)(C) for a self-petitioner who has committed an act or
has a conviction listed under INA § 101(f) if:
1. The act or conviction is waived with respect to the self-petitioner for purposes of
determining whether the self-petitioner is admissible or deportable, and
2. The Attorney General finds that the act or conviction was connected to the abuse
suffered by the self-petitioner. 228
Regulations have not yet been issued for the good moral character provision, and some
questions still exist about how this exception will be interpreted. For example, it is unclear
how authorities will interpret the phrase “the act or conviction is waivable with respect to the
petitioner” under the inadmissibility or deportability grounds. Waivers of INA §212
inadmissibility grounds and INA §237 deportability grounds might be helpful for the purpose
of determining a self-petitioner’s good moral character exception.
Admissibility
An applicant for a VAWA self-petition does not need to prove admissibility during the selfpetition application process. 229The applicant, however, must prove admissibility when
applying for adjustment of status. 230All waivers in INA §212 are available for an approved
self-petition applicant who is adjusting status.
 Practice Tip: Note that, in contrast to U and T visas, for selfpetitioners, admissibility is determined at the adjustment phase, and
normal inadmissibility grounds and special VAWA exceptions and
waivers apply. 231

Derivative Children
A self-petitioner may include derivative children on his or her application, but only children
under age of 21 may be included. 232A child accompanying or following to join a principal
self-petitioner may be included in the principal’s visa petition, and the child will be accorded
the second preference classification and the same priority date as the principal applicant. 233
However, if the child reaches the age of twenty-one prior to the issuance of a visa to the

228

INA § 204(a)(1)(C).
See generally INA § 204(a); 8 C.F.R. § 204.2.
230
INA § 245(a).
231
Interview with Gail Pendleton (Feb. 9, 2012).
232
8 C.F.R. § 204.2(a)(4).
233
8 C.F.R. § 204.2(a)(4).
35
229

principal alien parent, a separate petition will be required, but the original priority date will
be retained if the subsequent petition is filed by the same petitioner. 234
Filing the Application
The VAWA self-petition process usually consists of two steps: filing the actual selfpetition, and filing for adjustment of status. 235 The self-petition is filed using Form I-360
with the Vermont Service Center. 236 This form typically has a filing fee, but this fee does not
apply in the case of a self-petitioner. Once the self-petition application is approved, the
applicant may be eligible to adjust status, depending on the requirements laid out below. In
the interim, the applicant with an approved self-petition will be granted deferred action,
which is not an actual immigration status, but will prevent removal proceedings from being
brought against the non-citizen. A non-citizen with an approved self-petition is also eligible
for employment authorization. 237
VAWA Adjustment of Status
Only certain VAWA self-petitioners may apply for adjustment of status to lawful permanent
resident. Additional criteria must be met before an applicant with an approved self-petition
may adjust status.
For VAWA adjustment of status, the applicant must prove that he or she:
1. Is the beneficiary of an approved VAWA self-petition or has a pending VAWA selfpetition that if approved, would render the applicant eligible for adjustment of status;
2. Has an available immigrant visa (often referred to as a current visa number or current
priority date);
3. Is admissible; and
4. Merits adjustment of status as an exercise of discretion. 238
Current Visa Number
The current visa number refers to the availability of an immigrant visa in the family-based
immigration process, and the ability of a self-petition to adjust status will depend on whether

234

8 C.F.R. § 204.2(a)(4).
For further discussion of VAWA remedies, see “Some Tips for Preparing VAWA
Immigration Cases” under Carolyn Killea Resources in Appendix C and “VAWA SelfPetitioning: Some Practice Pointers” under Gail Pendleton Resources in Appendix C (lists
incomplete or inaccurate C.F.R. provisions for VAWA).
236
For a detailed list of material for the VAWA self-petition application, see “Required material
for VAWA Self-Petition (Spouse) application” and “Required material for VAWA SelfPetition (Child) application” in Appendix A. Note that spouses of USCs can file the I-485 along
with the I-360 in a “one-step” application.
237
See 8 C.F.R. § 274a.12(c)(9) (allowing employment authorization for an applicant for
adjustment of status) and 8 C.F.R. § 274a.12(c)(14) (allowing employment authorization for a
non-citizen who has been granted deferred action).
238
INA § 245(a).
36
235

he or she is related or a U.S. citizen or an LPR. 239 Immediate family members of U.S.
citizens can adjust status immediately because they are not subject to the quotas in the
family-based immigration system. 240 The immediate family members of LPRs must wait
until a visa is available within the petitioner’s preference category, and once the
corresponding priority date becomes current, the petitioner may apply to adjust status. 241
Admissibility
An applicant for adjustment of status must demonstrate that he or she is admissible to the
United States. 242INA § 212 provides grounds of inadmissibility.
The following are common grounds of inadmissibility:
1. Entering Without Inspection
2. Criminal convictions
3. Security grounds
4. Fraud/Misrepresentation
5. False claims to U.S. citizenship, including unlawful voting and falsification of I-9
form for employment
6. Health Conditions or Substance Abuse
7. Prior Deportations
8. Public Charge
9. Unlawful presence 243
A waiver may be available for a VAWA self-petitioner depending on the ground of
inadmissibility.
 Practice Tip: Send your client’s fingerprints for an FBI criminal
background check for a full and accurate account of all crimes
committed by your client. 244
Filing the VAWA Adjustment of Status Application
To apply for adjustment of status, the applicant must file Form I-485. 245The applicant must
also prove his or her eligibility for VAWA adjustment of status. Though there is no fee for
the VAWA self-petition, there is a fee for adjustment of status and for employment
authorization. The applicant can apply for a fee waiver for both of these forms with Form
I-912, which must be included in the adjustment of status and employment authorization
applications.
239

See “Description” section for a discussion of family-based immigration.
INA § 201(b).
241
8 C.F.R. § 245.1(g); current priority dates can be found on the Visa Bulletin.
242
INA § 245(a).
243
See INA § 212; see also National Immigrant Justice Center, PRO BONO ATTORNEY MANUAL
ON IMMIGRATION RELIEF FOR CRIME VICTIMS: U VISAS, 23 (2011).
244
Interview with Rosa Gomez (Feb. 21, 2012); Interview with Christie Popp (Feb. 24, 2012).
245
For a detailed list of material for the VAWA adjustment of status application, see “Required
material for VAWA Self-Petitioner Adjustment of Status” in Appendix A.
37
240

VAWA Cancellation of Removal
Description
VAWA Cancellation of Removal is a defensive remedy, unlike the affirmative applications
of the U visa, T visa, and VAWA self-petition. Only immigrants in immigration court
proceedings are eligible for VAWA cancellation of removal. This remedy will cancel the
removal or deportation order of an applicant and grant the applicant lawful permanent
residence. Cancellation of removal is also granted by an immigration judge, rather than
through filing an application with the USCIS Vermont Service Center. Similar to the selfpetition, cancellation of removal requires a family relationship with an abusive spouse or
parent, and requires the abuser to be a U.S. citizen or LPR. Cancellation of removal does
not provide relief for derivative family members.
Comparing VAWA Self-Petitions and VAWA Cancellation of Removal
Both the VAWA self-petition and VAWA cancellation of removal can lead to legal
permanent resident status for the applicant; however, the eligibility requirements for
VAWA cancellation of removal are more difficult than the requirements for the VAWA selfpetition.
Some examples of an applicant who is eligible for cancellation of removal but not for selfpetition are:
1. Parents of abused children of U.S. citizens and LPRs who are not married to the abuser
are not eligible to self-petition, but may be eligible for VAWA cancellation.
2. Spouses of U.S. citizens and LPRs who were divorced more than two years ago, or whose
U.S. citizen or LPR abusive spouse or parent lost status more than two years ago, are no
longer eligible to self-petition, but can still apply for VAWA cancellation of removal.
3. An individual who is qualified for self-petition or who has an approved self-petition, but
is placed in removal proceedings before his or her priority date becomes current may be
eligible for VAWA cancellation. In this case, an approved self-petition will lend
credibility to the cancellation claim, but will not permit the applicant to adjust status until
the precedence date becomes current.
4. Abused sons and daughters of U.S. citizens or LPRs who do not apply for self-petition
before they turn 21 no longer qualify for a self-petition, but may be eligible for VAWA
cancellation. 246
Eligibility
The following persons are eligible to apply for VAWA cancellation:
1. Abused spouses of U.S. citizens and LPRs;

246

National Immigrant Justice Center, PRO BONO ATTORNEY MANUAL ON LEGAL IMMIGRATION
PROTECTIONS FOR IMMIGRANT SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, 32 (2011).
38

2. Non-abused parents of abused children of U.S. citizens or LPRs, even if not married to
the abuser, and regardless of the child’s status; and
3. Abused “intended spouses” of U.S. citizens or LPRs. 247
An applicant for VAWA cancellation of removal needs to prove the following items:
1. Being abused or suffering extreme cruelty; 248
2. Being physically present in the United States for three years before applying; 249
3. Extreme hardship on the part of the applicant, his or her child, or his or her parent if the
applicant were removed from the United States; 250
4. Good moral character during the period of required physical presence; 251 and
5. Not inadmissible for criminal or security and related grounds, not deportable for
marriage fraud, failure to register and falsification of documents, or security and
terrorism grounds; and not convicted of an aggravated felony. 252
No Derivative Family Members
VAWA cancellation of removal does not offer any “derivative beneficiaries.” Thus,
children are not automatically granted the cancellation of removal with their parents and a
parent will not be granted cancellation of removal with their abused children. However, the
parent who is granted cancellation of removal may file a second-preference petition for the
child as an LPR parent. 253 However, a child who is granted cancellation of removal cannot
apply for his or her parent until the child is 21 and a U.S. citizen. 254 In either case, parole
will be granted to the child or parent of a non-citizen granted VAWA cancellation of
removal. 255 This grant of parole will last until the adjudication of the parolee’s adjustment of
status application. 256
Filing for VAWA Cancellation of Removal
To apply for VAWA cancellation of removal, the non-citizen must file Form EOIR 42B and
the required supporting documents. 257A grant of cancellation of removal by an immigration
judge will end the removal proceedings against the immigrant, and he or she will be
granted lawful permanent residence. 258
247

INA § 240A(b)(2)(A)(i).
INA § 240A(b)(2)(A)(i); see Matter of L-M- (BIA, 2012) for an unpublished decision
discussing extreme cruelty.
249
INA § 240A(b)(2)(A)(ii).
250
INA § 240A(b)(2)(A)(v).
251
INA § 240A(b)(2)(A)(iii).
252
INA § 240A(b)(2)(A)(iv).
253
See “Family-based Immigrant Visas” at the Department of State and “Family” at USCIS for
more information regarding family-based immigration.
254
INA §203(a).
255
INA § 240A(b)(4).
256
INA § 240A(b)(4).
257
For a detailed list of material for the VAWA cancellation application, see “Required material
for VAWA Cancellation of Removal application” in Appendix A.
258
INA § 240A(b)(2)(A).
39
248

Prosecutorial Discretion
Description
Prosecutorial Discretion is the discretion of the agency to determine whether and to what
extent it will enforce the law. When the agency decides not to enforce the law against an
individual, this is referred to as a favorable exercise of prosecutorial discretion.
Within the immigration context, prosecutorial discretion is premised on both monetary
grounds (DHS has a limited number of resources and as a practical matter, cannot deport 12
million undocumented immigrants) and humanitarian grounds (many individuals who
present positive or humanitarian equities are statutorily ineligible for remedies such as
VAWA Cancellation, and in the absence of adverse factors are considered “low
priorities.”). 259 Prosecutorial discretion provides an important option for domestic violence
victims who may be ineligible for a particular immigration remedy, but nonetheless present
important or compelling equities. 260
 Practice Tip: Note that the attitude of local ICE may not always be
consistent with the official policies of national ICE. 261
General Factors
In the last year, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE, the prosecutorial arm of DHS)
has issued a number of guidance documents about its enforcement priorities and
prosecutorial discretion. 262The June 17, 2011, memorandum, “Exercising Prosecutorial
Discretion Consistent with the Civil Immigration Enforcement Priorities of the Agency
for the Apprehension, Detention, and Removal of Aliens,” (Morton Memo 1) broadly
states the goals of prosecutorial discretion and the general factors relied upon to make
determinations. These factors include, but are not limited to:
1. The agency's civil immigration enforcement priorities;
2. The person's length of presence in the United States, with particular consideration given
to presence while in lawful status;
3. The circumstances of the person's arrival in the United States and the manner of his or
her entry, particularly if the alien came to the United States as a young child;

259

Exercising Prosecutorial Discretion Consistent with the Civil Immigration Enforcement
Priorities of the Agency for the Apprehension, Detention, and Removal of Aliens, 2 (June 17,
2011).
260
For further discussion of prosecutorial discretion, see “AILA Prosecutorial Discretion Toolkit”
and “DHS Review of Low Priority Cases for Prosecutorial Discretion” under Other Resources in
Appendix C.
261
Interview with Gail Pendleton (Feb. 9, 2012).
262
See Exercising Prosecutorial Discretion Consistent with the Civil Immigration Enforcement
Priorities of the Agency for the Apprehension, Detention, and Removal of Aliens(June 17,
2011); Prosecutorial Discretion: Certain Victims, Witnesses, and Plaintiffs (June 17, 2011).
40

4. The person's pursuit of education in the United States, with particular consideration given
to those who have graduated from a U.S. high school or have successfully pursued or are
pursuing a college or advanced degrees at a legitimate institution of higher education in
the United States;
5. Whether the person, or the person's immediate relative, has served in the U.S. military,
reserves, or national guard, with particular consideration given to those who served in
combat;
6. The person's criminal history, including arrests, prior convictions, or outstanding arrest
warrants;
7. The person's immigration history, including any prior removal, outstanding order of
removal, prior denial of status, or evidence of fraud;
8. Whether the person poses a national security or public safety concern;
9. The person's ties and contributions to the community, including family relationships;
10. The person's ties to the home country and condition in the country;
11. The person's age, with particular consideration given to minors and the elderly;
12. Whether the person has a U.S. citizen or permanent resident spouse, child, or parent;
13. Whether the person is the primary caretaker of a person with a mental or physical
disability, minor, or seriously ill relative;
14. Whether the person or the person's spouse is pregnant or nursing;
15. Whether the person or the person's spouse suffers from severe mental or physical illness;
16. Whether the person's nationality renders removal unlikely;
17. Whether the person is likely to be granted temporary or permanent status or other relief
from removal, including as a relative of a U.S. citizen or permanent resident;
18. Whether the person is likely to be granted temporary or permanent status or other relief
from removal, including as an asylum seeker, or a victim of domestic violence, human
trafficking, or other crime; and
19. Whether the person is currently cooperating or has cooperated with federal, state or local
law enforcement authorities, such as ICE, the U.S Attorneys or Department of Justice, the
Department of Labor, or National Labor Relations Board, among others. 263
In determining to exercise prosecutorial discretion, ICE officers, agents, and attorneys
consider all relevant factors, and make determinations on a case-by-case basis. The decision
is made based on a totality of the circumstances, with the goal of conforming to ICE
enforcement priorities, and no single factor will be determinative.
Factors Warranting “Particular Care”
The June 17, 2011, memorandum, “Prosecutorial Discretion: Certain Victims, Witnesses,
and Plaintiffs,” (Morton Memo 2) details the more specific considerations that will affect
domestic violence victims. This memo states that specifically “Absent special circumstances
or aggravating factors, it is against ICE policy to initiate removal proceedings against an
individual known to be the immediate victim or witness to a crime. In practice, the vast
majority of state and local law enforcement agencies do not generally arrest victims or
witnesses of crime as part of an investigation.” 264 The policy serves the purpose of aiding
263

Exercising Prosecutorial Discretion Consistent with the Civil Immigration Enforcement
Priorities of the Agency for the Apprehension, Detention, and Removal of Aliens, 4 (June 17,
2011).
264
Prosecutorial Discretion: Certain Victims, Witnesses, and Plaintiffs, 1 (June 17, 2011).
41

law enforcement by minimizing the effect of immigration enforcement on a victim or
witness’s willingness to call the police and aid in investigations. 265
Together, the Morton Memoranda elucidate the following positive factors that prompt
particular care and consideration by ICE officers, attorneys, and agents:
1. Veterans and members of the U.S. armed forces;
2. Long-time lawful permanent residents;
3. Minors and elderly individuals;
4. Individuals present in the United States since childhood;
5. Pregnant or nursing women;
6. Individuals who suffer from a serious mental or physical disability;
7. Individuals with serious health conditions;
8. Victims of domestic violence, human trafficking, or other serious crimes;
9. Witnesses involved in pending criminal investigations or prosecutions;
10. Plaintiffs in non-frivolous lawsuits regarding civil rights or liberties violations; and
11. Individuals engaging in a protected activity related to civil or other rights who may be in
a non-frivolous dispute with an employer, landlord, or contractor. 266
Forms of Possible Discretion
Prosecutorial discretion can apply to a broad range of discretionary enforcement
decisions, including but not limited to the following:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Deciding to issue or cancel a notice of detainer;
Deciding to issue, reissue, serve, file, or cancel a Notice to Appear (NTA);
Focusing enforcement resources on particular administrative violations or conduct;
Deciding whom to stop, question, or arrest for an administrative violation;
Deciding whom to detain or to release on bond, supervision, personal recognizance, or
other condition;
6. Seeking expedited removal or other forms of removal by means other than a formal
removal proceeding in immigration court;
7. Settling or dismissing a proceeding;
8. Granting deferred action, granting parole, or staying a final order of removal;
9. Agreeing to voluntary departure, the withdrawal of an application for admission, or other
action in lieu of obtaining a formal order of removal;
10. Pursuing an appeal;
11. Executing a removal order; and
12. Responding to or joining in a motion to reopen removal proceedings and to consider
joining in a motion to grant relief or a benefit. 267

265

Prosecutorial Discretion: Certain Victims, Witnesses, and Plaintiffs, 1 (June 17, 2011).
Exercising Prosecutorial Discretion Consistent with the Civil Immigration Enforcement
Priorities of the Agency for the Apprehension, Detention, and Removal of Aliens, 5 (June 17,
2011); Prosecutorial Discretion: Certain Victims, Witnesses, and Plaintiffs, 2 (June 17, 2011).
267
Exercising Prosecutorial Discretion Consistent with the Civil Immigration Enforcement
Priorities of the Agency for the Apprehension, Detention, and Removal of Aliens, 2-3 (June 17,
2011).
42
266

Limitations of Relief
1. A favorable exercise of prosecutorial discretion does not confer legal immigration
status on your client. It also does not prevent ICE from initiating removal proceedings if
circumstances change.
2. A favorable exercise of prosecutorial discretion does not always lead to work
authorization.
 Practice Tip: Beware of the “perfect victim” fallacy, or the
misconception that prosecutorial discretion should only be granted
to victims with a perfect background, and that the non-citizen is not
actually a victim if there is anything negative in his or her record,
such as a criminal history, immigration violations, etc. 268
Advocating for Prosecutorial Discretion
Though a formal application process for a favorable exercise of prosecutorial discretion does
not exist, an attorney can advocate for such discretion to be exercised in the following ways:
1. Ask that favorable prosecutorial discretion be exercised in your client’s case.
a. If the factors of your client’s case seem favorable, request a specific action (e.g.,
granting a stay of removal, dismissing a proceeding, etc.), rather than simply
asking that prosecutorial discretion be exercised. Outline how such a grant would
be appropriate and in furtherance of enforcement priorities by highlighting the
positive factors in your client’s case.
2. Put together a package of materials to support your request for prosecutorial
discretion.
a. Make the request in writing, and consider providing a detailed cover letter than
explains why your client deserves a favorable exercise of prosecutorial discretion.
Also provide the necessary supporting materials and evidence to help the
decision-making process.
3. Use the agency memoranda to support your request.
a. Provide the appropriate authority to encourage the officer to act favorably, even
though these decisions are not mandatory
4. Highlight the positive factors in your client’s case.
a. Bring attention to the positive criteria in the applicable memos that apply to your
client. Be sure to emphasize that your client falls into a classification that
deserves “particular care.”
5. Address any problems or inadequacies in the case or the evidence.
a. Appearing to be hide information can undercut the credibility of your client’s
case. Try to provide mitigating information when disclosing the negative
information.
6. Consider seeking a continuance of the proceedings if removal proceedings have been
initiated.
a. The immigration judge may be inclined to continue proceedings to allow you to
discuss prosecutorial discretion options with ICE counsel.

268

Interview with Gail Pendleton (Feb. 9, 2012); Interview with Sameera Hafiz (Mar. 14, 2012).
43

7. Ensure that all details of any plan for favorable action for your client are completely
worked out and are committed to writing.
8. Seek reconsideration if you are denied a favorable exercise of prosecutorial
discretion.
a. Though there is no formal process of appeal, internal supervisory channels can be
utilized to seek an appeal or reconsideration informally. 269

269

See Mary Kenney, PROSECUTORIAL DISCRETION: HOW TO ADVOCATE FOR YOUR CLIENT,
(American Immigration Council, Legal Action Center) (2011).
44