WomensLaw serves and supports all survivors, no matter their sex or gender.

Legal Information: Federal

Immigration

View all
Laws current as of May 29, 2024

If I am married, can I still qualify as an “abused child”?

In order to qualify for a self-petition as the abused child of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, you must be unmarried at the time of filing the self-petition and remain unmarried until it has been approved. If you are the child of an abusive U.S. citizen, you can get married after your self-petition is granted. However, getting married will increase the wait time for your green card when you apply to adjust your status.1 If you are the child of an abusive LPR and want to adjust status, you cannot marry until after your green card is approved, unless the abuser becomes a U.S. citizen (naturalizes).2

1 See US Department of State visa bulletin   
2 See INA 203(a)

© 2008–2024 WomensLaw.org is a project of the National Network to End Domestic Violence, Inc. All rights reserved. This website is funded in part through a grant from the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. Neither the U.S. Department of Justice nor any of its components operate, control, are responsible for, or necessarily endorse, this website (including, without limitation, its content, technical infrastructure, and policies, and any services or tools provided). NNEDV is a 501©(3) non-profit organization; EIN 52-1973408.