You May Have More Options Than You've Been Told
If you've been afraid to ask for help — afraid you don't qualify, afraid it's too late, afraid of saying the wrong thing — this page is for you. We work with people in exactly that position every day. The first step is a free conversation. Nothing more.
What Humanitarian Immigration Relief Covers
Humanitarian immigration law exists for people who cannot pursue a standard visa or green card path — people fleeing persecution, surviving violence, or living in fear. These cases are not about paperwork or technicalities. They are about your safety, your family, and your future.
We handle the full range of humanitarian relief categories, including:
- Asylum and withholding of removal
- U visas for survivors of crime
- T visas for survivors of human trafficking
- VAWA self-petitions for survivors of domestic abuse
- Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS)
You do not need to know which category applies to you before you call. That is our job.
One Deadline You Cannot Afford to Miss
If you entered the United States and believe you may qualify for asylum, there is a one-year filing deadline from your date of arrival. Many people do not know this rule exists — and missing it can close the door on asylum relief entirely. If you have been in the US for less than a year, or if you are unsure how long you have been here, contact us now. Do not wait.
If You've Been Here for Years, You May Still Have Options
Asylum is not the only path. Several humanitarian categories — including U visas, T visas, VAWA, and SIJS — are available to people who have lived in the United States for years. The length of time you have been here does not automatically disqualify you. What matters is your specific situation. We have helped long-term residents find relief they did not know existed.
The Humanitarian Relief Categories We Handle
Asylum is available to people who have suffered persecution — or have a well-founded fear of persecution — based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. Withholding of removal is a related form of protection for those who do not qualify for asylum but face a clear probability of harm if returned to their home country. Both require careful case preparation and, in many situations, must be filed within strict deadlines.
Asylum and Withholding of Removal
Asylum is available to people who have suffered persecution — or have a well-founded fear of persecution — based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. Withholding of removal is a related form of protection for those who do not qualify for asylum but face a clear probability of harm if returned to their home country. Both require careful case preparation and, in many situations, must be filed within strict deadlines.
U Visas and T Visas
The U visa is available to survivors of certain crimes — including assault, domestic violence, sexual abuse, and other serious offenses — who have cooperated or are willing to cooperate with law enforcement. The T visa is available to survivors of human trafficking. Both pathways can lead to lawful status and, eventually, a green card. If you have been a victim of a crime in the United States, you may qualify even if you have never reported it to police. We can walk you through what cooperation means and what your options are.
VAWA Self-Petition and Special Immigrant Juvenile Status
VAWA — the Violence Against Women Act — allows survivors of abuse by a US citizen or lawful permanent resident spouse, parent, or child to file a self-petition without the abuser's knowledge or involvement. Special Immigrant Juvenile Status is available to children and young adults who have been abused, neglected, or abandoned and have been subject to state court proceedings. Both categories exist because the law recognizes that some people cannot safely pursue immigration relief through the person who was supposed to sponsor them.
How We Prepare Your Case
Your story matters — and how it is presented matters just as much. We work with you to build a complete, accurate, and well-documented case before anything is filed. That means preparing your personal declaration, identifying supporting evidence, and making sure every form and filing reflects your situation correctly. You do not go in alone. We prepare everything together, and nothing is submitted until you understand and agree with what is being filed.
Why Clients Trust Us with Cases Like These
We understand what it means to navigate an unfamiliar system in a country that is not the one you grew up in. That lived experience is not separate from our legal work — it is part of how we approach every case. We know that calling an attorney for the first time takes courage, especially when you are not sure whether you qualify or what might happen next.
Our firm serves clients across California and New York, with offices in Oakland, Culver City, and Springfield Gardens, Queens. We offer virtual consultations for clients who cannot come in person, and we handle humanitarian immigration cases nationally. If you are Spanish-speaking, you will work with an attorney in your language from the first call to the last filing.
Questions We Hear Often
I've been in the US for more than a year. Can I still apply for asylum?
It depends on your situation. The one-year filing deadline applies to affirmative asylum applications, but there are recognized exceptions — including changed circumstances in your home country and certain personal circumstances that delayed your ability to file. Other humanitarian categories, such as U visas, T visas, VAWA, and SIJS, are not subject to the one-year asylum rule at all. The only way to know what applies to you is to have your case assessed by an attorney.I'm afraid that if I come forward, immigration will find out and deport me. Is it safe to talk to you?
What you share with us in a consultation is protected by attorney-client privilege. We are not required to report your immigration status to anyone. Many of the people we help are undocumented, and we handle those conversations with complete discretion. Coming in to talk does not trigger any enforcement action.I was a victim of a crime but I never reported it to the police. Can I still apply for a U visa?
Possibly, yes. The U visa requires a certification from a law enforcement agency confirming that you were helpful, are being helpful, or are likely to be helpful in the investigation or prosecution of the crime. That certification does not require that you have already filed a police report — it depends on your willingness to cooperate going forward. We can explain the certification process and help you understand whether this path is realistic in your case.Do you have Spanish-speaking attorneys?
Yes. We serve Spanish-speaking clients across all of our practice areas and locations. You are welcome to conduct your entire consultation and case in Spanish.What does a humanitarian immigration consultation cost?
The initial consultation to assess your humanitarian immigration eligibility is free. We review your situation, identify what relief categories may apply, and explain what the process would look like — before any fees are discussed. If we can help you, we will tell you exactly what it would cost to move forward.
Ready to Find Out What Options You Have?
You cannot know what relief is available to you until someone who knows the law looks at your situation. That conversation is free, it is confidential, and it carries no obligation. Call us, email us, or fill out the contact form — and we will take it from there.
