For refugees and asylees

People who fear, or have experienced, persecution in their home country — because of their race, religion, nationality, political public opinion, or membership in a particular social group — can seek protective covering in the United States by applying for a visa from overseas ( to come as refugees ) or from within the United States ( to remain as asylees ). once they have physically lived in the United States for at least one year since receiving refugee status or mental hospital, they may apply for a permanent resident calling card. Children and spouses ( and in some cases, other family members ) of refugees and asylees may besides seek protection in the United States under these programs and finally apply for a green card .

For human-trafficking victims

Victims of homo traffic who are living in the United States — whether legitimately or unlawfully ( in other words, “ undocumented ” ) — may apply for a T visa to stay in the United States for up to four years. As a discipline of the T visa, however, they must help to investigate and prosecute perpetrators of human traffic ( unless the victim is under historic period 18, in which case they need not help with such efforts ). To qualify for a permanent wave house physician card, the applicant must have physically lived in the United States for one of the surveil periods, whichever is shorter :

• Three years since receiving a T visa
• The duration of an investigation or prosecution of human trafficking

They must besides meet other eligibility requirements. These include, for example, demonstrating “ good moral quality ” ( meaning they have not committed certain crimes, such as imposter, prostitution, or murder ) from the meter they received a T visa until they ’ re approved for a green wag. As another case, they must demonstrate to the U.S. government that they would suffer extreme adversity involving severe harm if they were required to leave the United States. ( USCIS provides the full list of eligibility criteria. ) Certain family members will besides be eligible to apply for their own green cards vitamin a farseeing as both those relatives and the victim satisfy all requirements .

For crime victims

Victims of “ hearty physical or mental mistreat ” who are living in the United States — whether legally or unlawfully ( in other words, “ undocumented ” ) — may seek protection by applying for a U visa. To obtain a U visa, the victim ’ south application must be certified by a law enforcement agency. Like recipients of T visa ( see above ), an applicant for a U visa must besides agree to help investigate and prosecute people who commit certain crimes, such as kidnap, intimate assault, and agony.

To qualify for a green menu, however, the applicant will need to fulfill other eligibility requirements, including the following examples :

• They must have physically lived in the United States for at least three years since receiving a U visa.
• They must not have left the United States from the time they applied for a green card until USCIS has approved (or denied) their application.
• They must not have refused to help investigate or prosecute certain crimes from the time they received a U visa until USCIS approves (or denies) their green card application.

The victim ’ sulfur children, parents, siblings, and spouse will besides be eligible to apply for their own green cards arsenic hanker as both those relatives and the victim satisfy all requirements .

For abuse victims

Victims of domestic ferocity ( battery or extreme cruelty ) may apply for a green calling card that would allow them to seek easing through the Violence Against Women Act ( VAWA ). Although this law was created to benefit women, it applies to both women and men, and both parents and children, who are victims of abuse.

An misuse victim may apply for a permanent wave house physician circuit board on their own — without the cognition or license of their abusive relative, who can include :

• A current or former spouse who is a U.S. citizen or green card holder
• A parent who is a U.S. citizen or green card holder
• A child who is a U.S. citizen

USCIS will not notify the abusive relative of the application in decree to keep the victim safe. ( Full eligibility requirements are detailed on the USCIS web site. ) IMPORTANT: If you or person you know is experiencing domestic abuse now, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline right away at 1-800-799-7233 or 1-800-787-3224 ( TTY ). You ’ ll be able to talk with person about available resources, such as shelters, genial health concern, and legal aid. The hotline besides provides data about green cards through VAWA .