ANNOUNCEMENTS
Democratic candidate Barack Obama announced Sen. Joe Biden as his vice presidential pick. We can thank Sen. Biden for all the broken families, FALSELY ACCUSED AMERICANS, heartbroken dads, and kids in single-parent homes caused by the Violence Against Women Act. This is a wake up call! Fix VAWA now!
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Here are some FAQs that should be helpful in your situation!
1) What exactly is marriage immigration fraud?
2) What are some of the more common signs that I may be a victim of immigration fraud?
3) How can something like this happen? Isn't marital fraud illegal?
4) I am a victim! What should I do now?
a. Get a good divorce attorney! If you can afford it, get a good immigration attorney too.
b. Do not confront your spouse regarding your suspicions. Do not speak to mutual friends about your suspicions. Talk to your lawyer!
c. Keep your legal strategy between you and your lawyer. If you need to talk to someone, do so only to a trusted friend or family member.
d. Do not allow your spouse to provoke you, and do not react to his/her provocations.
e. Do not under any circumstances talk to your spouse, or friends of your spouse, whether on the phone or in person, without a witness present. Do not post any specific information regarding your spouse on the web.
f. If possible, move out of the marital home, and have witnesses available for verification. It is best to establish a temporary residence somewhere else. Do not let your spouse know where you are living. Do not return to the home or your spouse could twist this into a stalking charge.
g. If your spouse has already moved out of the marital home, change the locks. Check with your lawyer about the legality of this first.
h. Secure the bank accounts. Move money ASAP. Get legal advice about possible 50% rule. Get all valuable documents that might be of use in an immigration or divorce case out of your house and locate them to a safe deposit box at a bank or someplace else that is safe.
i. Keep written copies of your exit plan such as an attorney's brief with you at
all times. The attorney's brief should stress the need to separate and make no contact with your spouse, as well as steps that have been taken. These papers can be shown to the police if they show up at your new residence on some false charges made up by your spouse, as well as in court.
j. Keep a paper trail of your exit plan. These are useful at an abuse trial to show your rational and legal reaction to a marriage that needs to be ended. Abusive people do not use rational legal means to exit a marriage. They use intimidation or force to keep a hold on their victim. Act like a law abiding citizen. Do not waiver with your heart, but keep advancing forward using your head.
k. Don't sign anything for your spouse.
l. Record and document everything. If it is legal in your state, carry a tape recorder!
m. Check your state laws regarding legal grounds for an annulment. If allowed, an annulment shows the USCIS that you were defrauded. Follow up with a letter and proof that you've filed for annulment and the final decree of annulment.
n. You must withdraw sponsorship of your spouse as soon as it is evident that things are not right. If you and your spouse have applied for a change of status, and your spouse has not received the 2 year green card, withdraw your application immediately! Send a notarized letter to the USCIS and include as much information as possible. Write a very detailed synopsis of your relationship with your spouse from the first time you got in touch until the present. Be sure to send it so that someone has to sign for your letter. If your spouse's change of status has already been approved, you can still withdraw your support, but this unfortunately does not end your financial obligations.
o. Write your local US Representative and US Senators. Have them send a letter to the USCIS on your behalf.
p. Try to get a contact person at your USCIS local office, and be persistent in forcing them to do something about your claim, with investigation.
q. Do not hide, destroy, damage or take your spouse's immigration documents, passport, etc. This could be used against you in a court of law or with the police.
r. Google your spouse. You would be surprised at what is out there on the web about people.
s. Do a background check on your spouse. It's worth the money.
t. Report any suspicious activity to the FBI or USCIS.
5) I thought VAWA was a domestic law to help abused women. How does it apply to immigration?
6) Do you have any tips for writing letters to different government officials and agencies?
7) I'm afraid that my spouse may take our child out of the country. What can I do?
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TAKE ACTION!
Send a letter to your
Representative and Senators.
Sign our online petition.
(Coming soon)
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