If you are a man experiencing extreme cruelty
If you are a man experiencing extreme cruelty

or physical battery by your U.S.
or physical battery by your U.S.

citizen or green card holding spouse,
citizen or green card holding spouse,

you may be eligible to get a green card
you may be eligible to get a green card

based upon this marriage without even involving your spouse.
based upon this marriage without even involving your spouse.

The Violence Against Women Act or VAWA, wasn't created
The Violence Against Women Act or VAWA, wasn't created

just to protect women, it may also help men get a work
just to protect women, it may also help men get a work

permit, travel permission, deferred action, and a ten year green card
permit, travel permission, deferred action, and a ten year green card

based upon being married and suffering extreme cruelty or battery by the spouse.
based upon being married and suffering extreme cruelty or battery by the spouse.

You can do all of this without getting their help or letting them know.
You can do all of this without getting their help or letting them know.

My name is Moumita Rahman, and I am an immigration attorney based in New York.
My name is Moumita Rahman, and I am an immigration attorney based in New York.

I work with clients all over the U.S.
I work with clients all over the U.S.

in all 50 states to help them get their green cards
in all 50 states to help them get their green cards

and work permits based upon these sort of situations.
and work permits based upon these sort of situations.

Many of my clients
Many of my clients

happen to be men who have suffered during the course of their marriage—
happen to be men who have suffered during the course of their marriage—

whether the marriage is a same sex marriage or a traditional marriage.
whether the marriage is a same sex marriage or a traditional marriage.

You can contact my office at 212-248-7907
You can contact my office at 212-248-7907

to make an appointment so that we can discuss your case.
to make an appointment so that we can discuss your case.

Please know that if you are a man suffering extreme cruelty or battery
Please know that if you are a man suffering extreme cruelty or battery

during your marriage, you have just as much right to file
during your marriage, you have just as much right to file

for VAWA as any woman who has suffered the same during their marriage.
for VAWA as any woman who has suffered the same during their marriage.

The reality is that many men stay in abusive relationships
The reality is that many men stay in abusive relationships

because they believe that they cannot qualify for VAWA simply
because they believe that they cannot qualify for VAWA simply

because they are a man, even though the abuse that they are suffering
because they are a man, even though the abuse that they are suffering

is just as painful and as hurtful as what many women also go through.
is just as painful and as hurtful as what many women also go through.

No one deserves
No one deserves

to be treated this way, and you should not have to stay in a toxic marriage
to be treated this way, and you should not have to stay in a toxic marriage

just to get a green card.
just to get a green card.

So let's take a quick look at VAWA, see what qualifies,
So let's take a quick look at VAWA, see what qualifies,

and to see some of the unique issues that men may face when trying to apply.
and to see some of the unique issues that men may face when trying to apply.

So what is VAWA and how do you qualify for it?
So what is VAWA and how do you qualify for it?

The Violence Against Women Act was created in 1994 to protect victims of domestic
The Violence Against Women Act was created in 1994 to protect victims of domestic

violence regardless of their gender. Before VAWA was enacted,
violence regardless of their gender. Before VAWA was enacted,

spouses were unable to petition for themselves for a green card.
spouses were unable to petition for themselves for a green card.

And if the spouse was abusive, there was almost nothing
And if the spouse was abusive, there was almost nothing

they could do about the situation.
they could do about the situation.

Now that VAWA is law, an abused man who has suffered during their marriage
Now that VAWA is law, an abused man who has suffered during their marriage

to a US citizen or to a green card holder can apply for VAWA
to a US citizen or to a green card holder can apply for VAWA

if they can show the following: that they were married to a U.S.
if they can show the following: that they were married to a U.S.

citizen or to a green card holder; that they married their spouse
citizen or to a green card holder; that they married their spouse

in good faith; that during the marriage they suffered extreme cruelty or battery;
in good faith; that during the marriage they suffered extreme cruelty or battery;

that they resided with the spouse
that they resided with the spouse

for at least some period of time, either in the U.S.
for at least some period of time, either in the U.S.

or outside the U.S.; that if they do not live in the U.S.,
or outside the U.S.; that if they do not live in the U.S.,

that some of the abuse did occur while they were inside the U.S.;
that some of the abuse did occur while they were inside the U.S.;

and that he is a person of good moral character.
and that he is a person of good moral character.

VAWA can also be applied for if the marriage is already over,
VAWA can also be applied for if the marriage is already over,

as long as the divorce is not more than two years old and there was a connection
as long as the divorce is not more than two years old and there was a connection

between the divorce and the abuse suffered during the marriage.
between the divorce and the abuse suffered during the marriage.

Please note that there are no minimums or limits to how any of these elements
Please note that there are no minimums or limits to how any of these elements

can be proven.
can be proven.

For example, many immigration lawyers insist
For example, many immigration lawyers insist

that you must have either a police report or hospital records to prove abuse.
that you must have either a police report or hospital records to prove abuse.

But this is simply not the case.
But this is simply not the case.

You just need to provide enough evidence that is legitimate
You just need to provide enough evidence that is legitimate

and that is credible in order to establish your eligibility for VAWA.
and that is credible in order to establish your eligibility for VAWA.

In fact, the law says that any credible evidence
In fact, the law says that any credible evidence

can be given to prove any elements of a VAWA application.
can be given to prove any elements of a VAWA application.

Some people may consider that the abuse that men tend to suffer is different
Some people may consider that the abuse that men tend to suffer is different

from what women suffer, but in many instances it is very, very similar.
from what women suffer, but in many instances it is very, very similar.

For example, some of the abusive behaviors that men can also encounter
For example, some of the abusive behaviors that men can also encounter

during the course of their marriage include but is not limited to: belittling
during the course of their marriage include but is not limited to: belittling

such as being told by their spouse that they are not good enough
such as being told by their spouse that they are not good enough

or that they are nothing without the spouse; bullying,
or that they are nothing without the spouse; bullying,

including constant verbal attacks; threats to have their children taken away
including constant verbal attacks; threats to have their children taken away

or to be harmed by the family or by the US citizen spouse themselves;
or to be harmed by the family or by the US citizen spouse themselves;

threats of being deported; unfounded accusations that you have been
threats of being deported; unfounded accusations that you have been

unfaithful to the spouse; being controlled and not being able to talk to family
unfaithful to the spouse; being controlled and not being able to talk to family

or to see some friends; invasive behaviors such as having your messages
or to see some friends; invasive behaviors such as having your messages

or emails constantly monitored and checked; being humiliated,
or emails constantly monitored and checked; being humiliated,

including being humiliated for your sexual performance or your looks;
including being humiliated for your sexual performance or your looks;

being compared to other partners that your spouse has had in the past;
being compared to other partners that your spouse has had in the past;

being demanding, such as insisting that you work a certain number of hours
being demanding, such as insisting that you work a certain number of hours

or provide a certain amount of money; controlling whether you can spend money
or provide a certain amount of money; controlling whether you can spend money

on yourself; and withholding intimacy to gain power in the relationship.
on yourself; and withholding intimacy to gain power in the relationship.

Of course, there is also physical abuse, which also includes
Of course, there is also physical abuse, which also includes

hitting, slapping, pushing and shoving.
hitting, slapping, pushing and shoving.

If you are subjected to any of these behaviors and can show
If you are subjected to any of these behaviors and can show

that they have been a pattern during the course of your marriage,
that they have been a pattern during the course of your marriage,

then you may be eligible to file for VAWA and you may be able to get your ten year
then you may be eligible to file for VAWA and you may be able to get your ten year

green card without the involvement or help of your spouse.
green card without the involvement or help of your spouse.

At the end of this video, I will provide links to my other videos where I go
At the end of this video, I will provide links to my other videos where I go

into more detail about how to prepare a more successful VAWA case.
into more detail about how to prepare a more successful VAWA case.

But first, it is more important that you understand
But first, it is more important that you understand

why applying for VAWA is different for men.
why applying for VAWA is different for men.

When most people think of abusive relationships, they tend to think of women
When most people think of abusive relationships, they tend to think of women

as victims in the traditional power and control struggle.
as victims in the traditional power and control struggle.

They find it hard to reverse the roles in their heads
They find it hard to reverse the roles in their heads

and view a man as a victim instead.
and view a man as a victim instead.

Many people do not think that men can be the victims
Many people do not think that men can be the victims

of physical, emotional, psychological or financial cruelty.
of physical, emotional, psychological or financial cruelty.

As a result, many people tend to minimize threats against men,
As a result, many people tend to minimize threats against men,

including the victims themselves.
including the victims themselves.

This leads to a bias that even abused men can carry around inside.
This leads to a bias that even abused men can carry around inside.

This results in abuse men suffering without taking any action at all
This results in abuse men suffering without taking any action at all

when VAWA can be a solution for them.
when VAWA can be a solution for them.

They won't often call the police if their spouse hurts them
They won't often call the police if their spouse hurts them

or steals from them, and they refuse to take any other action
or steals from them, and they refuse to take any other action

because they believe that it is not "manly."
because they believe that it is not "manly."

Many men will also fail to take pictures of their injuries
Many men will also fail to take pictures of their injuries

or to seek the help of a psychologist if they suffer from depression
or to seek the help of a psychologist if they suffer from depression

or anxiety as a result of what their spouse has done.
or anxiety as a result of what their spouse has done.

Also, many men tend to be embarrassed because of what they have gone through,
Also, many men tend to be embarrassed because of what they have gone through,

because they believe that men should not be suffering this way.
because they believe that men should not be suffering this way.

They believe that it would make them look weak
They believe that it would make them look weak

in order to reveal any of the abuse that they have been going through.
in order to reveal any of the abuse that they have been going through.

This may make filing a VAWA case more difficult.
This may make filing a VAWA case more difficult.

It's not uncommon for women to share what they are going through
It's not uncommon for women to share what they are going through

with their friends and family; however, many men may tend to do the opposite
with their friends and family; however, many men may tend to do the opposite

and withhold a lot of information and keep it to themselves.
and withhold a lot of information and keep it to themselves.

If you are going through anything you should share with your friends
If you are going through anything you should share with your friends

so that they can help you write affidavits of support later in your case.
so that they can help you write affidavits of support later in your case.

Many men also come from macho cultures where they believe it is the man's
Many men also come from macho cultures where they believe it is the man's

responsibility to satisfy everything that their partner desires, including
responsibility to satisfy everything that their partner desires, including

any time there is unreasonable demands for gifts and money and sex.
any time there is unreasonable demands for gifts and money and sex.

But just because something is culturally acceptable does not mean that it is right,
But just because something is culturally acceptable does not mean that it is right,

nor that it does not fit within the definition of extreme cruelty or battery.
nor that it does not fit within the definition of extreme cruelty or battery.

No amount of effort can save a toxic relationship, and it is up to you
No amount of effort can save a toxic relationship, and it is up to you

to take action when you see that you are suffering in the course of your marriage.
to take action when you see that you are suffering in the course of your marriage.

Make sure you start documenting the treatment
Make sure you start documenting the treatment

that you are going through right now.
that you are going through right now.

And finally,
And finally,

many men may find it difficult to file a valid case because other attorneys
many men may find it difficult to file a valid case because other attorneys

believe that there is a much higher bar for proving abuse
believe that there is a much higher bar for proving abuse

just because the client is a man.
just because the client is a man.

This is why it is extremely important that you work with an attorney like me
This is why it is extremely important that you work with an attorney like me

who does know that the bar is just the same as it is for women victims
who does know that the bar is just the same as it is for women victims

and that you have suffered abuse that qualifies in your case.
and that you have suffered abuse that qualifies in your case.

If you believe that you are ready to start your case, please give us a call
If you believe that you are ready to start your case, please give us a call

so that I can review your case and let you know what your options are.
so that I can review your case and let you know what your options are.

By applying for VAWA, you may also be eligible to apply for your residency
By applying for VAWA, you may also be eligible to apply for your residency

at the same time and thus get a two year work permit and travel document.
at the same time and thus get a two year work permit and travel document.

If you would like to learn more about how to file for VAWA and how to file
If you would like to learn more about how to file for VAWA and how to file

a successful case, I will include links to two of my other videos here.
a successful case, I will include links to two of my other videos here.

I will also continue to release more information about VAWA,
I will also continue to release more information about VAWA,

so if you have not already done so, make sure you give me a follow
so if you have not already done so, make sure you give me a follow

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Click here to watch my next video and I'll see you there.
Click here to watch my next video and I'll see you there.