MDIVANI CORPORATE IMMIGRATION LAW FIRMPro Bono Program

Free Legal Services Provided to the Survivors:

I-360 petitions based on Domestic Violence Under the Violence Against Women Act, U Visa petitions, Applications for green cards, naturalization applications, requests for replacement green cards and citizenship certificates for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault

Why We Do Pro Bono Work:

From Mdivani Corporate Immigration Law Firm Attorney, Leyla McMullen: “When I applied to law school, as part of my application I was asked to write an essay about why I wanted to be a lawyer. As a first generation immigrant (I moved to the US from Argentina when I was 13 years old) one of the things I mentioned I wanted to do with my law degree was to provide free legal help to new immigrants who did not speak English fluently. My essay was chosen by a KU Law donor who provided funds for me to have a full ride scholarship. I have never forgotten the amazing opportunity I was given. I am now blessed to work at a law firm where pro bono work is valued and encouraged, so now I get to give back to the community and make good on the things I said I would do with my law degree.
It is important to point out that when we help a victim of a crime attain her legal status, we are not only helping that person, but we are also helping our community as a whole. For example, last month, I had the honor of working with a very brave rape victim. This woman’s testimony will help prosecutors put away a very dangerous man who has been charged with more than sixteen felonies. She is helping make our community safer, and I am happy to be the attorney who gets to help her attain legal status so she can be in the United States legally to testify in court.”

Services for Battered Women and Children under the Violence Against Women Act

In 2017, Mdivani Corporate Immigration Law Firm provided free legal services to four immigrant women survivors of domestic violence in applying for legal status in the United States under the Violence Against Women Act.

WHAT WE FILED ON BEHALF OF SURVIVORS:

• I-360 VAWA petitions

• I-485 Applications for Green cards based on VAWA petitions

• I-131 Travel Documents to enable a client to see family she has not seen in several years

• I-765 Employment Authorization Documents to enable our clients to work legally in the United States

• I-751 petition to remove conditions on a Lawful Permanent Resident card after client left the abuser who abused her and threatened to kill her.

RESULTS:

• One survivor received a VAWA-based green card for, granting her the indefinite right to live and work in the U.S. as a lawful permanent resident with her young child

• One survivor received a year-long extension on her conditional green card based on the I-751 filing

U Visas and U-Based Green Cards for Victims of Violent Crimes

In 2017, we provided free legal services to fifteen immigrant victims of crimes falling within the U Visa category, including women and children.

WHAT WE FILED ON BEHALF OF SURVIVORS:

• I-918 U Visa petitions and extensions , we filed four petitions along with several petitions for derivative children of the victims

• I-192 Application for Advance Parole

• I-485 Application to Adjust Status for two survivors of domestic violence

• I-131 Application for Travel Permission for two clients

• I-765 Employment Authorization Documents for our clients to work legally in the United States for three clients, one with deferred action based on U Visa Cap

• We responded to extensive Requests for Evidence for several of petitions.

  RESULTS:

• USCIS approved one U Visa-based Green Card for a survivor of domestic violence.

• USCIS approved one U Visa Petition, granting a survivor of domestic violence four years of eligibility to live and work in the United States and the opportunity to file for a green card

• USCIS approved several work permit applications for abused women placed in deferred action while their U Visa Petition is pending.

Replacement Applications

• We filed an I-90 to replace a victim’s stolen green card, as without this, she cannot travel live comfortably

• We filed an N-565 to replace a victim’s stolen certificate of citizenship—without this certificate she cannot get a passport, driver license, or other necessary items, and the client received her certificate after 10 months of navigating USCIS requirements.