"The information provided in this manual is intended for individuals, in particular women and girls, who are in the United States and who fear they will suffer harm in the form of domestic violence by an intimate partner (husband, boyfriend, partner) if they are forced to return to their country of origin. This fear may be based on abuse by an intimate partner that occurred in your home country. Or it may have occured in the U.S., if the abuser is now in your home country or may soon return there.
This manual may be used by individuals in removal proceedings as a defense to deportation in immigration court, or by those who wish to affirmatively apply for asylum at the Asylum Office, bringing themselves to the attention of U.S. immigration authorities. Your immigration options, and the arguments you make to apply for asylum or other immigration options, may vary depending on your situation.
This manual aims to help individuals who do not have an attorney ('pro se'). However, if you have the opportunity, we recommend that you consult with an attorney or other legal representative about your particular circumstances if you can."
