Immigration options if you survived violence, abuse or trafficking

This page is a map, not legal advice. DNLH is not a law office, a shelter or a crisis line. Every story is different. Talk with a lawyer or DOJ accredited representative before you file anything. For hotlines, shelter and restraining orders, see Where survivors can get free help.

Is there any protection for someone like me?

Yes. Many people do not know this. U.S. immigration law has paths made for people who were hurt. Some cover crimes in the United States. Some cover abuse at home. Some cover harm in your home country.

What happened to you was not your fault. You can ask about these options whatever your status, even if you entered without papers.

What are the five main options?

You may fit more than one. A lawyer can tell you which is strongest for you.

What does each one cost?

Sources: 8 CFR 106.2, 8 CFR 106.3 and the October 1, 2026 Federal Register fee notice. Fees change. Check the form page before you file.

U visa: hurt by a crime here

The U visa is for victims of crimes like domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, kidnapping, extortion, felonious assault and trafficking. You must have suffered substantial harm and have helped, or be likely to help, the police, a prosecutor or a judge.

• The police, prosecutor or judge must sign a form called Supplement B.
• Approval gives status for up to four years, a work permit and a path to a green card.
• Only 10,000 main U visas are given each year, so the wait is long.

Read more: What is a U visa and could I qualify?, How to get a U visa certification signed in California and Is it safe to apply for a U visa right now?

T visa: forced to work or forced into sex

The T visa is for victims of a "severe form of trafficking in persons." To qualify, you must:

• Be in the U.S. because of the trafficking
• Help with reasonable requests from law enforcement, unless you were under 18 or the trauma makes it too hard
• Show you would suffer extreme hardship involving unusual and severe harm if removed

Approval gives status for up to four years, a work permit and a path to a green card.

Read more: What counts as trafficking? and Family status through a T visa.

VAWA: abused at home by a citizen or green card holder

If your spouse or parent is a U.S. citizen or green card holder and abuses you, you can apply for yourself. You do not need the abuser. USCIS says you can file without the abuser's knowledge, consent or participation. You must show abuse or extreme cruelty, that you lived together, and good moral character. VAWA protects men and women.

There is no filing fee for the VAWA I-360.

Read more: Can I get a green card if my spouse or parent abuses me?

SIJS: a young person hurt by a parent

Special Immigrant Juvenile Status is for young people under 21 when they file. A California court must first make findings about abuse, neglect or abandonment by a parent. Then the young person files with USCIS. A green card comes when a visa number is available, which can take time.

Read more: Could my child qualify for SIJS?, The California court order a child needs for SIJS and Can I still get SIJS at 18, 19 or 20?

California funds free legal help for unaccompanied immigrant children, including SIJS, asylum, T and U visa cases, through the Department of Social Services.

Asylum: fear of going back

Asylum is for people persecuted, or afraid of persecution, in their home country because of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group. Whether violence from a partner or a gang fits is a hard legal question. A lawyer must look closely.

• Most people must apply within one year of arriving, with exceptions for changed or extraordinary circumstances.
• The fee is $100, plus $105 for each year the case is pending. These fees cannot be waived.

Read more: How to start an asylum application, The one year deadline for asylum and New immigration court and asylum fees in 2026.

Do these options lead to a green card?

Most can. U, T, VAWA and SIJS can each lead to a green card if you meet the rules later. Asylum can too, after you are granted asylum.

The public charge rule does not apply to green card applicants through U, T, VAWA, SIJS or asylum. That means using benefits like CalFresh or Medi-Cal does not count against you on those paths. See Will using benefits hurt my case?

Are there risks in applying?

Yes. Filing gives the government your name and address. Cases can take years. A denial can lead to a deportation case: a February 2025 USCIS memo says USCIS will issue a Notice to Appear after denying a request from someone who is not lawfully present. ICE also replaced its 2021 victim protection policy with interim guidance 11005.4, which says people with pending or approved U, T or VAWA cases may face enforcement. Federal confidentiality rules still apply. A lawyer can weigh your risk before you file. See Is it safe to apply for a U visa right now?

What if I have a record or past deportation?

You may still have options. The U and T visas allow waivers of many problems that block other paths. VAWA and SIJS have their own rules. Tell your lawyer everything. See Can a criminal record affect my immigration status? and Clearing convictions caused by trafficking or abuse.

Is help available in my language?

Ask for an interpreter every time. You have a right to understand.

• The National Human Trafficking Hotline offers English, Spanish and more than 200 other languages by phone interpreter.
• Bay Area Legal Aid's advice line takes calls in all languages.
• The National Domestic Violence Hotline has a Spanish site at espanol.thehotline.org.

Mam, K'iche' or Tongan speakers: if Spanish or English is hard for you, say your language when you call and ask for an interpreter. The trafficking hotline and Bay Area Legal Aid's advice line both take calls through interpreters.

What should I do now?

1. Get safe. In danger now? Call 911. Need shelter or a safety plan? Call a hotline above.
2. Write down what happened, with dates and places if you can. Keep it hidden and safe.
3. Keep any proof: police reports, medical records, photos, messages, court papers.
4. Call a free legal group. Ask for a screening for all five options.
5. Do not pay a notario. Only lawyers and DOJ accredited representatives can give immigration legal advice. See Warning signs of an immigration scam.

Questions people ask

The abuse happened in my home country. Does anything fit? Maybe asylum, if you fear going back. If the abuser is a U.S. citizen or green card holder family member and you now live in the U.S., ask a lawyer whether VAWA could fit. USCIS says that people who file VAWA from outside the U.S. must show the abuse happened in the U.S. or that the abuser works for the U.S. government or serves in the U.S. military (USCIS).

I never reported the crime. Is it too late? Not always. You can report now and still help the police. See the U visa.

My partner is undocumented and hurts me. Does VAWA fit? No. VAWA needs an abuser who is a U.S. citizen or green card holder. The U visa may fit instead.

I am a man. Can I apply? Yes. Every option on this page is open to any gender.

Who can help?

• Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto (CLSEPA): (650) 326-6440, 1861 Bay Road, East Palo Alto. Walk in Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Survivor cases (VAWA, U visa), asylum and SIJS for low income residents of San Mateo and Santa Clara counties.
• Bay Area Legal Aid: advice line 1-800-551-5554, all languages. VAWA, U, T and SIJS for survivors.
• Tahirih Justice Center, Bay Area: 1-866-575-0071, Monday to Friday, 9 to 5. Free legal help for immigrant women and girls fleeing violence.
• CORA (San Mateo County): 24 hour hotline 800-300-1080.
• Next Door Solutions (Santa Clara County): 24/7 hotline 408-279-2962.
• YWCA Golden Gate Silicon Valley: 24/7 bilingual support line 800-572-2782, for domestic violence, sexual assault and trafficking.

Contact them to confirm hours, languages and openings. Being listed here is not a referral or a promise of service. More options: Free legal help in the Bay Area and Counseling and healing for survivors.

You carried something heavy to get here. You do not have to carry the next part alone. Do not lose hope.