Has anyone been able to get VAWA without police repot?

[laurakells8898 0]

52 minutes ago, neca said:

Pardon my bluntness, but it seems like this is exactly what he's done with you.

 

I don't want to get into it because I don't know the specifics of your case other than what you've said here, and it's not relevant to your immigration question, but I really hope that whatever you choose to do involves continuing with therapy. Just know that I understand the paranoia, the anxiety, and the fear of having a manipulative and volatile person threatening you, and I think that acting to protect yourself might not come back to haunt you as much as not doing anything gives him the freedom to continue to do as he pleases. Especially if he's never actually done anything other than talk.

Your life decisions are your own. You know what options are available to you, and unfortunately no one else is going to be able to make the big decisions for you, or tell you objectively what is right or wrong. Sometimes that really sucks 😅

 

All the best, friend 🌻

I completely agree. I started going to therapy when it got too be too much. I had to stop because my insurance changed and wouldn't cover my sessions anymore. But it really did help and I got some great book recommendations out of it that truly helped with my mental health. 

[Demise 1,289]

Yeah I managed to get mine done without a police report and without a psychological evaluation. I wrote a really grisly self-affidavit that went into a lot of NSFW details.

 

I got RFE'd, but only for bona fides of the marriage. Gave them literally everything I could in response to that and I was approved.

[laurakells8898 0]

2 hours ago, Demise said:

Yeah I managed to get mine done without a police report and without a psychological evaluation. I wrote a really grisly self-affidavit that went into a lot of NSFW details.

 

I got RFE'd, but only for bona fides of the marriage. Gave them literally everything I could in response to that and I was approved.

Thankfully I have the psychological evaluation, from two therapists. And I believe I can ask my note from my doctor. I've broken down in her office multiple times after I kept going in and feeling sick, but her telling me I just have extreme stress and anxiety. Did you get a police clearance? How long did your whole case take?

[Villanelle 4,122]

 

This is the current VAWA thread. As you can see we are on part 22. If you have time please go back and read the previous parts (they close them due to size). Pay attention to posts by Sandranj- she is a probono VAWA attny with decades of experience that generously donates her time answering questions there. 

 

Your situation is unique because you are on withholding but it is still common. Your attny does not seem to know enough about VAWA or VAWA cancellation of removal. You may want to seek out an attny who is. Unfortunately some people (often the ones who are suppose to be helping you with stuff like this) still minimize abuse or look the other way, or just dont want to get involved. Now your VAWA process will be slightly different due to the withholding aspect but everyones process is a bit different- thats OK. You can still find support with others in the VAWA thread and track your progress asking questions there as you need to. 

 

[laurakells8898 0]

13 hours ago, Villanelle said:

 

This is the current VAWA thread. As you can see we are on part 22. If you have time please go back and read the previous parts (they close them due to size). Pay attention to posts by Sandranj- she is a probono VAWA attny with decades of experience that generously donates her time answering questions there. 

 

Your situation is unique because you are on withholding but it is still common. Your attny does not seem to know enough about VAWA or VAWA cancellation of removal. You may want to seek out an attny who is. Unfortunately some people (often the ones who are suppose to be helping you with stuff like this) still minimize abuse or look the other way, or just dont want to get involved. Now your VAWA process will be slightly different due to the withholding aspect but everyones process is a bit different- thats OK. You can still find support with others in the VAWA thread and track your progress asking questions there as you need to. 

 

Hi,

Thanks so much for getting back to me. When you say that my attorney does not seem to know enough about VAWA, what gave that away? 

 

I am in between two lawyers right now. The original one that I've had for years, but he is not keen on VAWA. He keeps telling me that I don't have what I need, even though I have found people to get approved with far less than I have. I know witholding is different. But the first lawyer is who got me on it in the first place. 

 

The second lawyer told me that VAWA for my case is worth a chance. I've heard this from about two other lawyers, as well. It is risky, considering my case, but I believe I have enough information to prove abuse and win the case. If not, this will be my last attempt at trying to remain in the US and to get legalized. I've spent over 20 years here, and missed out on grandparents passing away, cousins getting married, etc,. I know it may seem selfish, but I am going to have a Nursing degree soon and Canada is a place that is very welcoming to educated fellows, especially from the US. I don't want to wait, or waste, another I don't know how long waiting for something that may never happen for me. So, I am actually willing to risk it. If it's meant to be, it will be. If not, it's time to stop forcing it. 

[Demise 1,289]

4 hours ago, laurakells8898 said:

Hi,

Thanks so much for getting back to me. When you say that my attorney does not seem to know enough about VAWA, what gave that away? 

 

I am in between two lawyers right now. The original one that I've had for years, but he is not keen on VAWA. He keeps telling me that I don't have what I need, even though I have found people to get approved with far less than I have. I know witholding is different. But the first lawyer is who got me on it in the first place. 

 

The second lawyer told me that VAWA for my case is worth a chance. I've heard this from about two other lawyers, as well. It is risky, considering my case, but I believe I have enough information to prove abuse and win the case. If not, this will be my last attempt at trying to remain in the US and to get legalized. I've spent over 20 years here, and missed out on grandparents passing away, cousins getting married, etc,. I know it may seem selfish, but I am going to have a Nursing degree soon and Canada is a place that is very welcoming to educated fellows, especially from the US. I don't want to wait, or waste, another I don't know how long waiting for something that may never happen for me. So, I am actually willing to risk it. If it's meant to be, it will be. If not, it's time to stop forcing it. 

Definitely find a lawyer who's decent with waivers and VAWA, I say decent with waivers because honestly waiver cases and VAWA cases are very similar and argued in similar ways, both also have some discretionary factors. I'm in a similar position to you, been in US for 17 years (brought in as a minor), and similarly I considered VAWA the only way I had left after a marriage I walked away from with some bruises. So I did what I could and I took the shot, and at the time it felt like a long shot with s****y wind, and I think you should too because you miss every shot you don't take. If you get approved - awesome, if you don't - you can appeal or get the matter reopened, and if that fails that's when you can move onto plan B.

[Villanelle 4,122]

I strongly agree with everything Demise wrote above. Since you are currently in between attnys now is the best time to make a switch to a qualified VAWA attny. As said before there are unfortunately people who still minimize abuse and it can be very scary to speak up. Abusers can condition you to believe that no one will believe you or that you will get into some kind of trouble by reporting it. They use fear to control you. You have to have faith that the system will work the way its designed to and not be afraid to take that first step in starting the process. 

[Yogalife 3]

On 3/26/2021 at 5:58 AM, Demise said:

Yeah I managed to get mine done without a police report and without a psychological evaluation. I wrote a really grisly self-affidavit that went into a lot of NSFW details.

 

I got RFE'd, but only for bona fides of the marriage. Gave them literally everything I could in response to that and I was approved.

I pray for all of us that suffer through this trauma.