Éligibilité à la VAWA
Denice Flores • March 7, 2024
Click here to read this article in English
La loi sur la violence à l'égard des femmes, également connue sous le nom de VAWA, permet aux conjoints, aux parents et aux enfants de citoyens américains et de résidents permanents légaux (LPR) qui ont été victimes d'abus de demander une aide à l'immigration. Une personne peut également être éligible à la VAWA si son conjoint, citoyen américain ou résident permanent légal, a soumis son enfant à des coups et blessures ou à des actes de cruauté extrême.
Une personne éligible à la VAWA peut demander elle-même à bénéficier de l'aide. Cette procédure permet à la personne d'introduire elle-même une demande sans que l'agresseur ne le sache, n'y consente ou ne participe à la procédure.
Voici un bref aperçu des conditions d'éligibilité à la VAWA:
1. Être victime de coups et blessures ou de cruauté extrême de la part d'un citoyen américain ou d'un conjoint, d'un parent et/ou d'un enfant résident permanent. Les coups et blessures ou la cruauté extrême peuvent être des violences physiques, des actes violents ou des menaces de violence, des violences sexuelles, des violences verbales et des dégradations, des violences psychologiques, l'isolement, l'intimidation, des violences économiques, la coercition ou des menaces d'éloigner les enfants ou d'appeler les services d'immigration.
2. Résider ou avoir résidé avec le conjoint, le parent ou l'enfant abusif, citoyen américain ou résident permanent.
3. En tant que conjoint demandeur d'un citoyen américain ou d'un resident permanent violent, le demandeur doit également démontrer qu'il s'est marié de bonne foi. Le mariage doit être encore valide ou, en cas de divorce, le mariage doit avoir pris fin moins de deux ans avant le dépôt de la requête VAWA.
4. Le demandeur doit démontrer qu'il est une personne de bonne moralité. Pour déterminer si une personne est de bonne moralité, l'immigration examine les antécédents criminels et d'immigration de l'auteur de la demande ou l'absence d'antécédents.
Il convient de noter que les conjoints ou enfants battus de citoyens américains ou de résidents permanents, qui font l'objet d'une procédure d'expulsion, peuvent également bénéficier d'une aide au titre de la loi VAWA par le biais de l'annulation de l'expulsion.
Si vous pensez pouvoir bénéficier du programme VAWA ou si vous avez des questions, prenez rendez-vous avec l'un de nos avocats expérimentés et nous nous ferons un plaisir de vous aider.
Ce blog n'est pas destiné à fournir des conseils juridiques et rien ici ne doit être interprété comme établissant une relation avocat-client. Veuillez prendre rendez-vous avec un avocat spécialisé en droit de l'immigration avant d'agir sur la base de toute information lue ici.

On January 14, 2026, the Trump administration announced a freeze on immigrant visa issuance for nationals of 75 countries . The administration states that this “visa freeze” is intended to review security protocols, “reduce risks,” and control immigration flows. However, the immediate reality is that this change in policy has temporarily suspended visa processing and restricted travel for applicants from numerous countries across the globe. While the legal landscape surrounding these suspensions is highly fluid and subject to change, it is important to consider how this “visa freeze” might impact your current status or immigration plans. The scope of the restrictions varies drastically depending on your country of origin and specific visa category. Most notably, a nationality-based travel ban restricts visa issuance for 19 countries : Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. Beyond this targeted ban, a broader freeze affects applicants from a designated list of up to 75 countries, leading to indefinite delays for many visa petitions. However, it is important to note that immigrant visa applications first need to be processed through USCIS, which has not paused processing applications from the 75 countries. Thus, it is important to contact an attorney to understand at what point in the process this visa freeze may affect your case. While Brazil is included in the list of 75 countries, at the time of this publication, the freeze does not include non-immigrant visas for Brazil . Non-immigrant visas are granted to foreign nationals seeking to enter the United States on a temporary basis for specific purposes, such as tourism, studying, or temporary work. This means that Brazilian applicants can still safely pursue non-immigrant employment options, such as O visas for individuals with extraordinary ability or P visas for internationally recognized athletes, without being subjected to the current travel bans or suspensions. This alert is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. There are many changes and uncertainties, so please consult with a qualified attorney at Santos Lloyd Law Firm, P.C. to understand how these evolving policies might affect your specific case

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In recent weeks, the U.S. government has moved to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for multiple countries, sparking a wave of last-minute litigation and creating significant uncertainty for beneficiaries. This shift is having a profound impact on those who rely on TPS for lawful presence and work authorization in the United States. Across the country, federal courts have intervened to pause or block scheduled TPS terminations for several countries, including Burma (Myanmar), Ethiopia, Haiti, South Sudan, and Syria. In response to these court orders, USCIS has updated its webpages to indicate that TPS status and related Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) are extended for these populations. However, USCIS is intentionally not providing specific new end dates for EAD validity while the litigation remains in flux. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has prominently noted that it "vehemently disagrees" with these court orders and is actively working with the Department of Justice on next steps. This legal landscape remains highly unpredictable and varies drastically depending on the country of origin. For example, on February 9, 2026, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals granted a stay allowing the government to proceed with the termination of TPS for Nicaragua, Honduras, and Nepal while the underlying legal challenges continue. Because of this ruling, the automatic extension of work authorization for these individuals has ended, and employers are now required to reverify the work authorization of affected employees, who must present alternative valid documentation to continue their employment. These rapid changes and the lack of clear end dates are causing complications beyond the workplace. Because driver's licenses often track the length of an individual's authorized stay, many DMVs are currently declining to issue or renew driver's licenses for impacted TPS populations. For employers, managing internal communications, avoiding onboarding errors, and navigating Form I-9 compliance has become increasingly complex. It is more important than ever to be well-prepared and proactive in monitoring these rapid changes. At Santos Lloyd Law Firm, P.C., our immigration attorneys are ready to guide you through this evolving process and ensure you are informed, and supported. Please contact us if you have questions or need assistance.

