Need VAWA help: A girl in abusive marriage, K1 visa status expired

[Boiler 43,396]

I find this conclusion a little surprising. When my husband had his cr-1 interview, he said they didn't really ask him any questions, it seemed they had already decided to approve the visa ahead of time. I would imagine a k-1 could go the same way? Although probably they are stricter in Pakistan.

It also seems to me that if the description of her situation is close to accurate, she could be considered a victim of human trafficking, and I am surprised to hear that there is no legal protection available for someone who was brought to the country under false pretenses, and then severely abused, regardless of whether she understood that she was participating in fraud. It sounds (again, if her story is true) that she didn't have a lot of choice in either the marriage or the immigration even when she was in her home country. I am also surprised by the number of people saying that she SHOULD be deported, regardless of the circumstance she might face in her home country. Perhaps they just don't believe that severe abuse and human trafficking really exist?

Please note, I am not claiming to be an expert. I am only posing the questions above in an attempt to learn more about the legal implications of the situation.

i went through the K1 process, simply do not believe she could have done clueless.

[abhi_meli 150]

Every story has two sides.It's hard to believe her in laws brought her here to beat her up and hold her against her will.I am sure they are aware of the consequences of domestic violence and holding someone against their will.You better get the true and exact story from her first and then look for the correct advice.

[randomstairs 262]

If you really believe that she's imprisoned as you described it, call the police and if nothing happens contact the FBI. This is no longer an immigration issue. Unlawful imprisonment, slave labor, etc, what are you even thinking? Call the Law.

[MarkPerry 488]

Yup just have her go to Google and type "Where am I right now" and it will tell you specific address.

I just tried it, it only show's city

[Ash.1101 1,755]

I just tried it, it only show's city

Yep, I did too and it only shows the zipcode area, and it's the zipcode area I'm next too, not the one I'm in.

[KierenHby 897]

Don't they hand out those domestic violence pamphlets at the embassy?

Applicant, esp female, is specifically made aware of the information, they get to keep the pamphlet. They're precisely for situations OP described.

Have a feeling we're not getting the full story here

[S Mehdi 5]

I am sorry but i feel this story is flawed. In my honest Opinion, USC specially from Asian countries are usually very skeptical in sponsoring some one from those part of the world. Honestly, think about that gentleman went all the way and filed K-1- which is itself 7-8 months process and then brought her here to just beat her up ? and get himself into domestic violence issues. Seems kind of difficult to swallow. U visa is very difficult to get and since she is on K-1 She cannot change her visa status to F-1. Her best bet is to secure her religious divorce on piece of paper and go back.

I understand where you're coming from - but you'll be surprised if you've seen what I've seen. This is not an isolated incident, this is a pattern. Men with control issues marry a woman back home in Pakistan, pressure, manipulate or love-talk her into filing a wrong visa (such as F1 or K1) to make sure their spouse is not empowered. Some are smart enough to see through the wrong visa, but others, sadly, are very naive. It's not that they bring their wives just to beat them up, they just want a wife that they have complete control over and if they don't like the wife they just imported, they can just ship her back without having to go through a divorce lawsuit.

I even know someone who's parents forced her to drop out of university and told her that the only way she can complete her education is if she agrees to marry a man of their choice and go to the US on a student visa to live with him. It puts you in a tough situation when your own support network gives you a choice between lying to USCIS or forcing you to stop your education, so I'm not going to judge her until we have the full story.

I want to thank everyone for their opinion. It gives me a very clear direction on how to help her out. Maybe she herself wants to go back and maybe it's for the best. I will just try to make sure she is able to figure out her address and we can get the right authorities involved and have justice delivered, whatever it may be.

[Boiler 43,396]

The one thing not mention is contacting the Consulate, perhaps they could help her.

[Sandra G. 5,009]

abhishek_meli clearly you don't understand anything about domestic violence. I advise you, as a domestic violence advocate, to  learn a little bit about DV. When someone posts about being abused, or a third party is helping an abused person, nobody has to hear the other side of the story. When a victim asks for help or calls the cops, we don't have to say "hey I want to speak with the abuser first to hear his side of the story".  Knowledge is power and information is liberating. 

 

Folks I talked to the girl and she was extremely abused and her husband was arrested. She is safe in Pakistan and I am helping her to file Vawa. I bet someone will ask "why does she want to return to the US"? she will return to the U.S because the Law allows an abused person to get GC, that is it, her personal reason is not my business.

 

 

Edited January 1, 2017 by sandranj

[Boiler 43,396]

Does demonstrate what is so wrong with VAWA and the need for reform. I have little hope in that direction..