He sido víctima de abuso por parte de un ciudadano estadounidense o titular de una green card, ¿qué puedo hacer?
Santos Lloyd Law Team • June 29, 2023
Click here to read this article in English
La Ley de Violencia contra la Mujer (VAWA, por sus siglas en inglés)
protege a los inmigrantes que han sido víctimas de abuso por parte de un familiar ciudadano estadounidense o residente permanente legal (conocido como titular de una Tarjeta Verde o green card). VAWA te permite solicitar por ti mismo/a sin el conocimiento, consentimiento o participación de tu agresor/a en el proceso. Esto permite que las personas sobrevivientes busquen tanto seguridad como independencia de sus agresores.
- ¿Quiénes son elegibles para presentar una petición VAWA?
Personas bajo ciertas características pueden aplicar para una Auto-Petición VAWA:
- El cónyuge de un ciudadano estadounidense o titular de una green card abusivo/a. También puedes presentar una petición como cónyuge abusado/a si tu hijo/a ha sido abusado/a por tu cónyuge ciudadano estadounidense o titular de una green card.
- El padre/madre de un ciudadano estadounidense abusivo/a.
- El hijo/a (es decir, alguien menor de 21 años y soltero/a) de un ciudadano estadounidense o titular de una green card abusivo/a.
- ¿Mi agresor/a sabrá que estoy solicitando VAWA?
NO, tu agresor/a no necesita saber que estás solicitando VAWA. Él o ella no tendrá que firmar nada y no se le notificará que has presentado la petición.
- ¿Puedo incluir a otras personas en mi petición?
Depende. Si estás solicitando como cónyuge o hijo/a abusado/a de un ciudadano estadounidense o titular de una green card, puedes incluir a tus hijos/as en tu petición de VAWA. Sin embargo, tus hijos/as deben ser menores de 21 años y solteros/as para poder ser incluidos en tu petición de VAWA. Si estás solicitando como padre/madre abusado/a por su hijo/a ciudadano estadounidense, NO puedes incluir ningún derivado en tu petición.
- ¿Seré elegible para recibir beneficios públicos con VAWA?
Una vez que recibas tu determinación prima facie para tu Auto-Petición VAWA, es posible que califiques para ciertos beneficios públicos. En el estado de California, los solicitantes de Auto-Petición VAWA pueden calificar para MediCal de cobertura completa, Asistencia en Efectivo (CalWORKs, GR, CAPI), Programa Estatal de Asistencia Alimentaria (CalFresh) y Ayuda Financiera Federal.
- ¿Puedo trabajar con VAWA?
Sí, una petición VAWA aprobada te otorgará una autorización de trabajo. Si incluiste a algún derivado en tu solicitud, ellos también serán elegibles para un permiso de trabajo una vez que se apruebe la petición.
- ¿Significa tener una petición VAWA aprobada que puedo solicitar una Tarjeta Verde?
Es posible que también califiques para una green card una vez que tu petición VAWA sea aprobada, dependiendo de si hay una visa disponible de inmediato para ti y/o sus derivados. En algunos casos, es posible que pueda solicitar su petición VAWA y su petición de green card al mismo tiempo. No obstante, es mejor hablar con un abogado de inmigración con experiencia antes de solicitarlo.
Este blog no pretende ser una asesoría legal y nada aquí debe interpretarse como el establecimiento de una relación abogado-cliente. Programe una consulta con un abogado de inmigración antes de actuar sobre cualquier información que lea aquí.
This Facebook widget is no longer supported.

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

Recent data in 2026 shows a sharp increase in Requests for Evidence across employment-based visa categories such as EB-1, EB-2 NIW, O, and H-1B. Requests for Evidence (RFEs) are no longer reserved for borderline cases; even robust petitions for high-level talent are facing unprecedented scrutiny. The expansion of the USCIS Vetting Center means automated tools are cross-referencing every petition, triggering RFEs for even the smallest inconsistencies. For EB-2 NIW petitions, adjudicators are increasingly questioning the "National Importance" of a candidate’s endeavor. Even for those with impressive credentials, USCIS now demands evidence of how their work specifically benefits the U.S. on a prospective basis. For O-1A and O-1B visas, officers are applying narrower interpretations of "distinction" and "extraordinary ability," often mischaracterizing evidence already present in the record. Additionally, a troubling 2026 trend is the correlation between Premium Processing and RFEs . For discretionary categories like EB-1A and EB-2 NIW, Premium Processing has increasingly become a "fast track" to a poorly reasoned RFE. Reports indicate that adjudicators, pressured by 15-business-day timelines, may be relying on AI-assisted vetting tools that trigger automated RFEs with general and boilerplate language, rather than a thorough review and analysis of supporting documents and evidence filed. With USCIS employing more rigorous AI-driven vetting and a narrower interpretation of visa criteria, the margin for error has disappeared . As such, ensure you consult with an experienced immigration attorney before filing a petition. ' If you have any questions, please schedule a consultation with one of our experienced attorneys, and we will be more than happy to assist you.

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.

