Q: abusive spouse threatening to sue me and take away my citizenship
Question
I’m from Brasil, I got married at 18 from tourist visa and got citizenship, now at 25 I want to leave my husband and he threats
Hi, I got married very young when I was 18, I met someone online when I was 17 and he led me to come to USA and get married because we were in love although he always used my family for money and then he made me work 3 jobs while I paid all bills. We fought for years and he never changed so I decided to leave him. I am 25 currently and he is 37. I was from Brasil and here on tourist visa when he asked me to marry. I’ve had citizenship for 3 years now. Because I want to leave and he doesn’t want me to, and I’ve got approved for an apt on my own, and I always pay our rent , now he won’t have someone to pay his rent , he is threatening to take away my citizenship. He claims I filled for unemployment under his name and used the money , I’ve filled for both of us due to covid19 and the money was used with his consent to pay bills. Should I worry ?
A:
Hi, your citizenship cannot be taken away for leaving an abusive situation. Do not be afraid to contact the police.
VAWA protects women who are abused (verbally, physically, emotionally, economically) by US citizen spouse. so even if you didn’t have papers, you can still leave and self petition for Greencard.
** not legal advice.
A: Go to a woman’s shelter and tell them your story. They will place you with legal counsel who can advise you of your rights for free.
A:
more info needed.
contact a lawyer tomorrow.
if you have your citizenship, he can not take it away.
explain to your lawyer what happened with the filing for both.
it sounds like you are making some money, but if not, women's shelters are usually able to direct you to a lawyer.
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