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VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT (VAWA)

I met my spouse in Canada. He was a U.S. citizen, and I soon fell in love with him. We became engaged and got married. I moved to the United States, and we began the process of filing for my green card because I had entered under a tourist visa. As soon as we got married, there was a shift in our relationship.

He became very controlling and possessive, dominated where I could go, and started delaying the filing for my green card. He then began verbally abusing me, and one night, after we were out with friends, when we got home, he accused me of flirting and hit me across the face. This physical abuse escalated.
Thank God we had no children, but I was at my wits’ end, and it was terrible because I was reliant on him financially, and I had no legal status in the United States and I was embarrassed. A friend of mine had recommended Caro, and I spoke to her at her office in Florida. She advised me that because of what I was going through, we could file under VAWA, which is the Violence Against Women Act. It’s where, if your spouse is abusing you physically or emotionally, you can apply for your green card without your spouse even knowing.
So, with the help of some friends, we hatched an escape plan. I didn’t tell my ex because I felt it would be too dangerous for me, and I essentially ran away. I started living with two of my close friends, and we would change houses while the case was pending. It took 27 months in total, but I got my green card, and I am now legally in the United States. I am divorced and safe, and the fact that my spouse never knew anything about what was happening with immigration really protected me. I cannot thank Caro enough because she won me my green card.