Asylum and domestic violence
If you fear going back to your country because of domestic violence, asylum may be part of your case. The law on that question has changed several times in recent years, so we do not analyze it on this site. Our asylum practice covers it on asylumadvocate.com, and the same attorneys handle both.
Current as of October 2026. We re-check this page every quarter and after any change in the law.
Why this page is short
Everything on this site is checked against the statute and the regulations before it is published. Asylum claims based on domestic violence turn on decisions that have been issued, vacated and reissued, and a summary here would go stale between reviews. One accurate source is safer than two that disagree.
What to look at here first
Asylum is about danger in another country. Most of this site is about status in this one. If the person hurting you is a U.S. citizen or green card holder spouse or parent, read the VAWA self-petition. If they are not, domestic violence is a qualifying crime for the U visa. If you are in removal proceedings, start at VAWA in immigration court. Which of these fits, and whether more than one does, is decided at the consultation.
Read next: other paths compared, the U visa, or VAWA in immigration court.
The lawyers who will handle your case
One of them calls you back, privately, on your terms.
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.