English
EspañolIf I apply for a VAWA self-petition or for a U Visa, will the abuser be notified?
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will not specifically search out the abuser to notify them – as you can see from the USCIS website, they say:
“Q4. If I am a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault or other crime, what immigration options are available to me?
A4. There are three ways immigrants who become victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and some other specific crimes may apply for legal immigration status for themselves and their child(ren). A victim’s application is confidential and no one, including an abuser, crime perpetrator or family member, will be told that you applied.”
However, one thing to consider is what mailing address you put on your application. If someone puts their home address, it’s possible that if mail comes to the home where the abuser is living, it could be discovered this way. For this reason, a person may put their lawyer’s office or a close family member’s address on the application.
