ABSTRACT
This chapter opens with a description of the different types of immigration processes related to the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Clinical vignettes illustrate the critical elements involved in each process for survivors of domestic violence seeking related immigration benefits that provide support to the victim as they leave what is often a cycle of violence and/or abusive behavior. The subsequent section details the process of evaluating the psychological trauma the applicants experienced, including the psycholegal questions to be addressed in the written report. It also delves into what constitutes extreme cruelty, coercive control, and the various forms of abuse often seen in undocumented immigrants who are victims of intimate partner violence. The chapter closes with specific instructions on how to write a report to be included with a VAWA application.
