Pro Bono Report 2017
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4
Lawyers
1
Law Clerks
22
6
Countries
Clients Served
Jamaica, Haiti, Mexico, Nigeria, China, and the Philippines
2017 was the 18th year for MDIVANI CORPORATE IMMIGRATION LAW FIRM PRO BONO PROGRAM provided free legal services to immigrant women and children who are victims of domestic violence and other violent crimes, based on referrals from domestic violence shelters in Kansas and Missouri.
Business Immigration Attorneys Mira Mdivani, Danielle Atchison, Leyla McMullen, and Mason Ellis worked with women and children referred by local domestic violence shelters and assistance programs to ensure that these immigrant survivors have access to high quality legal representation in obtaining and maintaining legal status in the United States to enable them to break the cycle of violence. Below are some of our 2017 Pro Bono numbers and services at a glance:
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.
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.
Community Outreach re. Domestic Violence and Immigrant Women & Children
Mdivani Corporate Immigration Law Firm Attorneys held a several hour-long outreach program in 2017 to educate the community about options for immigrant women and children victims of domestic violence.
They visited a local domestic violence shelter to train over 20 advocates on how to recognize, triage, and work with attorneys on these cases.
They teach the subject at UMKC School of Law and provide continuing legal education (CLE) to practicing attorneys about the program and this area of the law.
What Our Pro Bono Clients Say
“Thanks again from bottom of my heart for all you have done to help me. May God bless you with more than you have done for me. I promise I will pay it forward.”
— Pro Bono Client
“’The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.’ Thank you guys for helping me and others. I am very happy and will never forget you all.”
— Pro Bono Client
“I just want to say that thanks your all helped for me this “case “ Also , thank that you give me the nice “chocolate“ is the first gift during the Christmas holidays. I really like it so much. I won’t forget what your all helped, you all are amazing and nice people. god bless you all.”
— Pro Bono Client
“Thank you for your willingness to come out and provide annual trainings to [our] advocates. We too value our partnership with Mdivani Law Office and the services you provide to our clients. We think you all are amazing!”
— Pro Bono Client
“I received your email today and wanted to inform you about that. I take this opportunity to thank you for this hard work done for me. I couldn’t hold my tears today when I got the message. And I am still at Hope House and waiting for the baby, i will go on labor anytime soon. Always very sick, and swelling. In another side, Hope House is helping me to attend college for an associate degree in surgical technologist. I Love the medical field. I still believe that America will still give me the opportunity to succeed. That’s have always been my main interest : taking opportunity to change my situation. As I have been extended to stay in United State i will take the opportunity to start working and go back to school at the same time. And start my professional career in the next 2 years. Thank you very much for everything. My advocate and I will call you if we don’t understand something.“
— Pro Bono Client
“Thanks you for being so patient. Thank you very much for helping me understand my right. That was all for today. I hope you have a wonderful evening. May God bless you and protect you. Talk to you soon”
— Pro Bono Client
Special Thanks
We want to extend a special thank you to staff and leadership at Kansas City Metro area domestic violence shelters, SAFEHOME and HopeHouse, for partnering with us in bringing legal status to immigrant survivors.
The information on this website is for general information purposes only, it is not legal advice applicable to a specific situation. Viewing it does not create an attorney-client relationship.
© Mdivani Corporate Immigration Law Firm, LLC
