Pro Bono Client Obtains Permanent Residency Status Under VAWA

Paul, Weiss successfully converted our client's U-visa status to one of permanent residency in a case referred by the City Bar Justice Center's Immigrant Women & Children Project. Our representation began in 2009, when our client sought to obtain U-visa status under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). U-visa status is available to individuals who have suffered significant mental and/or physical abuse and who assist law enforcement with the investigation and prosecution of criminal activity. Our client was granted U-visa status in 2010 and she became eligible to convert her status in 2013. However, because our client's daughter's petition for derivative U-visa status was still pending due to a contested interpretation of VAWA's age restrictions, she chose to postpone seeking adjustment.

When Congress clarified the age restrictions in the 2013 reauthorization of VAWA, we were able to successfully obtain U-visa derivative status for our client's daughter. Once her daughter arrived in the U.S., we began the application process to adjust our client's status to permanent residency. That application was granted at the end of January and our client received her green card the week of February 9.

The Paul, Weiss team included litigation associates Erin White and Jonathan Truppmann. Litigation partner Aidan Synnott supervised the case.