Divorce or domestic violence


	Wolf W. Kaufmann


	Immigration


	Southern California Immigration Attorney

(951) 710-3250

Email: info@wolfklaw.com


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Divorce and Immigration - Problems and Solutions

Many immigrants fear that divorcing their spouses may end their legal status. Sometimes it is true, but in many cases we can find solutions that allow the immigrant to stay.

If you have a non-immigrant visa through your spouse (E, L etc)

and you become divorced, you will lose that status. You will have to find a status on your own or leave the country. We might be able to help you find a new status.

If you have an unconditional green card or have naturalized,

a divorce will not affect your immigration status. You might want to explore the possibility to become an U.S. citizen, though. A citizen also cannot lose citizenship because of divorce.

If you have a conditional green card you might be able to stay!

Many people believe that if they get divorced within the two years of having a conditional green card, they must leave the country. That is not true.

It is true, that normally you have to petition to remove the conditions together with your spouse. If you do not petition at all, you will lose your green card.

If your marriage ended before the two years are over, or if there are marital problems, you may be able to ask the government for a waiver of the joint petition requirement. In other words, the government might let you stay and receive an unconditional green card, even though your marriage did not last that long.


	Domestic abuse, violence and blackmail: You don’t need to be a victim

Sadly, some immigrants become victims of domestic abuse, domestic violence or blackmail because of their immigration status.

If your spouse abuses you or hurts you and threatens you with “calling immigration on you” or if he or she blackmails you into taking abuse in exchange for legal papers, you don’t have to take it!

Victims of domestic violence or abuse have several possibilities to obtain legal status without the support of their abusive spouses.


	The contents of this website may constitute advertising of legal services. We do exclude any warranty for the correctness of the information posted here. Users of this website will not enter an attorney - client relationship with the Law Offices of Wolf W. Kaufmann unless a written client agreement is signed by both parties.