You may be eligible for immigration benefits that will allow you to stay in the U.S.
This checklist is a partial list of possible immigration options. Check all the boxes that apply to you and then contact a reputable legal services provider.
FAMILY-BASED IMMIGRATION
ASYLUM
U VISA
CANCELLATION OF REMOVAL
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT (VAWA)
PAROLE-IN-PLACE
OTHER VISAS
FAMILY-BASED IMMIGRATION
- Do you have a U.S. citizen parent?
- Do you have a U.S. citizen child over age 21?
- Do you have a U.S. citizen husband or wife?
- Do you have a Lawful Permanent Resident husband or wife (with a “green card”)?
- Do you have a Lawful Permanent Resident parent?
- Do you have a U.S. citizen brother or sister who has already filed a visa petition for you?
- Are your husband or wife’s parents U.S. citizens?
- Are you the widow or widower of a U.S. citizen?
ASYLUM
- Have you ever participated in a rally, march or protest in your home country?
- Have you ever had trouble with the police in your home country?
- Have you ever had trouble with other organizations, groups or gangs in your home country?
- Did the government ever take your land in your home country?
- Have you ever had trouble with the government in your home country because of union activity?
- Have you ever had trouble in your home country because of your religious beliefs?
- Have you ever had trouble in your home country because you worked on a political electoral campaign?
- Has any group or organization in your home country ever tried to extort money from you?
- Have you ever given information to the police or been a witness against gangs in your home country?
- Have you ever been abused by your husband or partner in your home country?
- Have people in your family ever been abused, arrested, or detained by the government?
- Have you ever been arrested, detained or abused by the government?
- Have you ever been abused, arrested, or detained by groups, organizations or gangs in your home country?
- Do you have any special medical problems?
- Are you afraid to return to your home country?
U VISA
- Have you been the victim of a crime in the U.S.?
- Have you ever been the victim of domestic violence?
- Has your spouse, child, parent, brother or sister been the victim of a crime?
- Have you ever been sexually harassed at work? (sexual jokes or comments, requests for sexual favors, inappropriate touching?)
- Has your employer ever threatened to report you to immigration, or threatened violence to get you to do something you didn’t want to do?
- Has anyone ever taken away your passport or identity documents to force you to work?
- Did someone bring you into the U.S. for the purpose of working?
- Did your employer ever change your documents or threaten you to prevent you from giving evidence in a hearing?
CANCELLATION OF REMOVAL
- Have you lived in the U.S. for the last 10 years?
- Do you have a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident parent, child, husband or wife?
- Have you ever been convicted of a crime?
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT (VAWA)
- Do you have a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident husband or wife?
- Do you have an ex-husband or wife who is a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident?
- Has your current or former husband or wife ever abused you?
- Do you have a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident parent?
- Has your parent ever abused you?
- Do you have a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident son or daughter over 21 years old?
- Has your son or daughter ever abused you?
PAROLE-IN-PLACE
- Do you have a husband or wife who is now or used to be in the U.S. military or reserves?
- Do you have a parent who is now or used to be in the U.S. military or reserves?
- Do you have a son or daughter who is now or used to be in the U.S. military or reserves?
OTHER VISAS
- Have you been ordained as a minister in your religious faith?
- Did you work for your church or religious community for the past 2 years?