Get Help
Are you being abused?
Does someone in your family or home:
- Call you names or constantly criticize you? Control your everyday life?
- Prevent you from working, learning English or learning how to drive?
- Threaten to take away your documents or have you deported?
- Deny you food, housing, or medicines?
- Hit, kick, slap, strangle or push you?
- Threaten to hurt you or someone you love?
- Use weapons or other things to hurt you?
- Make you be sexual or do sexual acts when you don’t want to?
- Prevent you from speaking to people who can help you?
- Make you feel afraid?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you may be one of the many women that are being abused everyday in all parts of the world.
Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behaviors that some individuals use to control others in their family or home, which tends to get worse over time. If your spouse has ever threatened you, physically harmed you, or otherwise made you afraid for your safety, taking action to separate or divorce may put you in danger. Please call Georgia's 24-Hour domestic violence hotline, 1-800-33-HAVEN (V/TTY), for assistance with safety planning.
Shelters
Shelters are safe, confidential places that assist abused women. They provide a temporary place for you and your children to stay until you decide what you want to do. Shelters provide you with free food and boarding. They will assist you with safety planning, your legal options and help with locating other local resources. They may also assist you with your other needs such as finding a job or a permanent place to stay. Most shelters will provide you services whether you wish to leave your abuser or not.
Call 1.800.33.HAVEN to be connected to the shelter nearest you or click here to see a list of shelters in your area.
Temporary Protective Order (TPO)
A TPO is a civil court order that orders your abuser not to come near you or contact you and may order him to attend a 24 week Family Violence Intervention Program (FVIP) class. With this order you can also ask for the custody of your children, child support, that the abuser be removed from the home, required to attend FVIP, and that the abuser not interfere with your immigration status. The TPO could possibly lead to the deportation of your spouse if he violates the order.
To learn more about the laws regarding TPO click here. Call 1.800.33.HAVEN to be connected to an advocate who can help you obtain a TPO or click here to see a list of shelters providing this service in your area.
Criminal Charges
If you or your loved ones have been physically injured, raped or harassed, the state may press criminal charges or get a criminal warrant against your abuser. If prosecuted, your abuser could be arrested and possibly imprisoned. He may also be ordered to a FVIP. You may be eligible for support and services from the Victim Witness Program or Crime Victim Compensation. Be aware that this could lead to your non–U. S. citizen abuser/ partner being deported.
Call 1.800.33.HAVEN to know your legal options for filing criminal charges or click here to see a list of shelters providing this service in your area.
Public Benefits
You may receive public benefits:
- if you are refugee who has been in the country for less than 5 years.
- if you are undocumented but have applied for your green card.
- if your children are U.S. citizens.
Even if none of the above applies to you, you can still get emergency Medicaid (medical services.)
Call 1.800.33.HAVEN to find out if you are eligible for public benefits or click here to see a list of shelters providing this service in your area
Immigration Related Options
If you are married to a US citizen or green-card holder you can apply for your own green card through the Violence Against Women Act. You can apply for this without the knowledge or cooperation of your abuser. If you have been divorced from your citizen or green-card-holding spouse for less than 2 years, you may still be eligible to “self– petition” for your green card.
If you are already in deportation proceedings, or expect that you soon will be, you can apply for “Cancellation of Removal”. If you qualify, the court may waive your deportation and grant you a green card.
If you currently have a “conditional” green card, you can apply for the “Battered Spouse Waiver”, through which you can obtain a permanent green card.
If you are not married to your abuser or if he/ she is not a citizen or green card holder, you may qualify for a U visa. This is a 3- year visa for victims of crime. To qualify for this visa, you will be required to cooperate with the authorities in prosecuting your abuser. You may also apply for “Gender Based Asylum” if you can show that you have come to the US to escape from abuse or if the situation in your country is such that you will undergo persecution or gender based violence if you return.
If you are seeking assistance on immigration issues, always consult an immigration attorney. Do NOT call BCIS. Your conversation with the attorney will be confidential. If you cannot afford an attorney, contact a local domestic violence agency for assistance or call 1.800.33.HAVEN.