Usher Law Group, P.C.
Usher Law Group is an immigration practice built on more than fifteen years of representing immigrants. It has run from the same Sheepshead Bay office since 2013. VAWA self-petitions are federal filings, so we take them from anywhere in the United States.
Mikhail Usher has represented immigrants for more than fifteen years, and founded the firm in 2013. The immigration practice runs the whole length of a case: petitions and applications before USCIS, removal defense in the immigration courts, appeals to the Board of Immigration Appeals, and federal court when an agency will not act. Alongside it we handle the criminal and family matters that so often travel with an abuse case.
This site exists because survivors of abuse need their own set of pages. The law lets a spouse, child or parent who was abused by a United States citizen or permanent resident file for status without the abuser's help or knowledge. Much of what is written about it online is out of date, and some of it is unsafe to read on a shared phone. We keep a documented ledger of every legal fact on this site with its source and the date we checked it, and we update a page when the primary source changes.
We also built this site to be careful with you. It sets no cookies, runs no analytics, and carries a Quick Exit on every page. Read staying safe online for what that can and cannot do.
Who would work on your case
Mikhail Usher, Esq.
Founder and managing attorney
Mikhail Usher founded the firm in 2013 and runs it. He came to immigration practice as a trial lawyer: he clerked for a Dade County, Florida judge and built a Brooklyn firm's criminal division before opening Usher Law Group. He is responsible for the firm's VAWA work, and plans each survivor's immigration filing around any criminal or family case so that one does not undercut the other.
He studied political science at Brooklyn College and earned his law degree at St. Thomas University School of Law. Thomson Reuters selected him for the Super Lawyers New York Metro Rising Stars list from 2015 through 2018 and for the Super Lawyers list in 2019 and 2020.
He is a member of AILA, the American Bar Association, the New York and New Jersey State Bar Associations and the New York County Lawyers Association. He speaks English, Russian and Spanish.
Alexander Susi, Esq.
Executive Senior Associate
Alexander Susi works on building the record a VAWA case is decided on: the written declaration, the statements of people who saw the marriage and the abuse, and evidence for survivors whose abuser kept the documents. His immigration work also covers removal defense and asylum.
He studied history and political science at New York University and earned his law degree at Boston University School of Law. During the pandemic he gave volunteer legal help to military veterans and helped survivors of domestic violence obtain free legal services.
His practice also includes civil and commercial litigation, where cases are won on documents: who signed what, when, and what the record shows.
Mitchell Bromberg, Esq.
Senior Associate
Mitchell Bromberg works where abuse and immigration court meet: survivors in removal proceedings or in ICE custody, survivors with an old removal order who need a motion to reopen, and survivors whose better path is a U visa because the abuser was not a citizen or permanent resident.
He earned a bachelor's degree in political science and his law degree at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.
His practice centers on deportation defense, detained clients, bond proceedings, appeals to the Board of Immigration Appeals, motions to reopen, U visas, family immigration, asylum and citizenship. Most of it runs on short clocks.
Where our attorneys are admitted
A VAWA self-petition goes to USCIS, a federal agency, so it does not depend on the state you live in. The state and federal admissions matter when your case also touches a state court, a federal lawsuit or an appeal.
| Court or bar | Mikhail Usher | Alexander Susi | Mitchell Bromberg |
|---|---|---|---|
| State bars, year admitted | |||
| New York | 2012 | 2022 | 2024 |
| New Jersey | 2011 | 2023 | 2023 |
| Florida | 2013 | – | – |
| Pennsylvania | – | 2023 | – |
| Federal district courts | |||
| Eastern District of New York | Admitted | Admitted | Admitted |
| Southern District of New York | Admitted | Admitted | – |
| District of New Jersey | Admitted | Admitted | Admitted |
| Middle and Southern Districts of Florida | Admitted | – | – |
| Middle District of Pennsylvania | – | Admitted | – |
| Federal courts of appeals | |||
| First Circuit | Admitted | – | – |
| Second Circuit | Admitted | Admitted | – |
| Third Circuit | Admitted | – | – |
| Immigration | |||
| Board of Immigration Appeals and the immigration courts (EOIR) | Admitted | Admitted | Practices there: removal defense, bond, appeals |
Admission years and courts as listed on each attorney's profile. A dash means not listed, not a limit on whether we can take your case.
New York State and federal courts
Federal court Six district courts, three circuits
Florida Admitted since 2013
What representation actually looks like
Hiring a lawyer for a VAWA case means trusting strangers with the worst part of your life. Here is what you can expect from us, from the first call to the card.
You talk to an attorney, not a call center
The person who calls you back is a lawyer who handles these cases. You choose the number, the time, and whether we may leave a message. You tell what happened once, in your language, at your pace. You can stop, take a break, or come back to it another day. Then we tell you plainly which path fits, what it needs, and what could go wrong.
Meet in our Sheepshead Bay office, by phone, or by video, whichever is safest for you. The first conversation is free and confidential.
Your declaration, written with you
The heart of a self-petition is your own statement. We draft it with you, from your words, and read it back to you in your language before anything is signed. Then we build the evidence around it from what you do have: records, messages, people who saw what happened. If the abuser kept the documents, we work around that. See any credible evidence.
We do the paperwork, the translations and the filing. You are not handed forms to fill in alone.
We stand next to you
If you are in removal proceedings, we handle the immigration court side as well: VAWA cancellation, a motion to reopen an old order, bond if you are detained. We prepare you for every hearing, we are there with you, and the court provides an interpreter in your language.
If USCIS calls you for an interview on your petition or green card, we prepare you beforehand and come with you. An interview is not in itself a bad sign.
A private call
At the number and the time you chose. Free and confidential.
A plan and a price
Which path fits, what it needs, and a flat legal fee confirmed in writing before any work begins.
Your declaration
Drafted with you from your own words, read back in your language.
Filing
We assemble and file the self-petition. The abuser is not told.
Updates on your terms
News reaches you only through the contact you picked.
Questions from USCIS
If USCIS asks for more, we answer it, within the deadline.
Work permit and card
The green card application, any waivers, and the interview, with us beside you.
My story is a 9year journey … but I am happy to announce that Mr usher met me when I was denied the 2nd time after a stoke interview plus a toxic marriage , my son was taken away from me and I was a money cow . He assured me he will help me out of my situation and Glory be to God after a long wait , I had my interview and he was there by my side and he assured me everything was going to be fine …I got my green card approved few hours after the interview . He is the real deal and I appreciate you Mr usher , thanks so much brother.
Mr. Usher holds a 9.7 rating on Avvo and an average of 4.9 out of 5 across 120 client reviews there, as displayed on September 17, 2026, and the Avvo Clients' Choice Award for 2024. More on the client reviews page.
The same three lawyers, start to finish
How we work on VAWA cases
- You decide how we reach you. You give us a safe number or email and a safe time. We do not leave a message unless you say we can, and we never contact the abuser, the abuser's lawyer or the abuser's family.
- An attorney handles the case. Staff support the work, but the legal theory, your declaration, the evidence plan and every response to USCIS are attorney work.
- We look at the whole picture first. A VAWA filing can touch a criminal case, a protective order, a divorce or a custody case. If there has been an arrest, read arrested or charged and talk to your criminal lawyer before you write anything down.
- We tell you the weaknesses. Including anything in your record that changes the answer, and including when another path, such as a U visa or the I-751 abuse waiver, fits your facts better.
- We charge flat fees and confirm them in writing. Our legal fee for a VAWA I-360 self-petition is $9,000, depending on the complexity of the case. Government filing fees are not our fees, and we say which is which every time money comes up. See fees.
- We say no. If the case belongs with a different firm, or if there is no route left, we tell you rather than taking a retainer.
Where the rest of the practice lives
Usher Law Group handles immigration, family law, criminal defense, civil and commercial litigation, employment law and consumer protection. Each of these sites covers one part of that work, and each is run by the same attorneys.
Usher Law Group, P.C. Family law, divorce and custody, criminal defense, and every other practice area.
Visit →visa4love.comFamily immigrationThe ordinary marriage and family petition, when there is no abuse and both spouses file together.
Visit →immigrationtrial.comRemoval defenseDeportation defense in immigration court: every defense and every form of relief the judge can grant.
Visit →asylumadvocate.comAsylumAsylum, withholding of removal and protection under the Convention Against Torture.
Visit →icebail.comDetention and bondBond hearings and federal habeas corpus for a person held in ICE custody.
Visit →myimmigrationplea.comCriminal pleasWhat a criminal charge or plea does to immigration status, before it is entered and after.
Visit →uscisdelay.comUSCIS delayA writ of mandamus in federal court when USCIS sits on a petition for too long.
Visit →immigrationlawinsider.comImmigration blogThe firm’s blog on asylum, immigration court and changes in immigration policy.
Visit →singleasap.comUncontested divorceFlat-fee uncontested divorce in New York, New Jersey and Florida.
Visit →Talk to us privatelyThis siteTell us a safe number and a safe time. An attorney calls you back. Free and confidential.
Ask for a call back →Read next: Mikhail Usher, client reviews, fees, or ask for a private call back.
Talk to a lawyer privately. You decide how we reach you.
Tell us a safe number or email and a safe time, and whether we can leave a message. We never contact the person who hurt you, and we never call from a number or send anything that names this site. The first conversation is free and confidential, in English, Russian, Spanish or Uzbek, with a live interpreter for any other language.