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Chapter: 1400 Technical Requirements Program: MFAM 9 1430.0113 Battered (MFAM) A battered spouse or child, or parent or child of a battered person with a petition pending under Section 204(a)(1)(A) or (B) or 244(a)(3), as determined by USCIS are defined as noncitizens who are, or have been battered or subjected to extreme cruelty in the United States by a family member with whom they reside. This includes a noncitizen whose child or a noncitizen child whose parent has been abused. The phrase battered or subjected to extreme cruelty includes, but is not limited to, being the victim of any act or threatened act of violence.

Noncitizens who claim to be battered must satisfy all of the following requirements:

1. Show that noncitizen has an approved or pending petition which makes a prima facie case for immigrant status in one of the following categories:

a. a Form I-130 filed by their spouse or the child's parent; b. a Form I-130 petition as a widow(er) of a U.S. citizen; c. an approved self-petition under the Violence Against Women Act (including those filed by a parent; or d. an application for cancellation of removal or suspension of deportation filed as a victim of domestic violence.

2. The noncitizen, the noncitizen's child or the noncitizen child's parent has been abused in the U.S. under the following circumstances:

a. The noncitizen has been battered or subjected to extreme cruelty in the U.S. by a spouse or parent of the noncitizen, or by a member of the spouse's or parent's family residing in the same household if the spouse or parent consent to the battery or cruelty. b. The noncitizen's child has been battered or subjected to extreme cruelty in the U.S. by a spouse or parent of the noncitizen, or by a member of the spouse's family residing in the same house if the spouse or parent consents to the battery or cruelty, and the noncitizen did not actively participate in the battery or cruelty. c. The parent of a noncitizen child has been battered or subjected to extreme cruelty in the U.S. by the parent's spouse, or by a member of the spouse's family residing in the household as the parent, if the spouse consents to or allows such battery or cruelty.

1. The battered noncitizen, child, or parent no longer lives in the same household as the abuser(s).

2. There is a substantial connection between the battery or extreme cruelty and the need for public assistance.

Proof of the battered status includes:

1. individual’s statement for proof of no longer living with the abuser and direct connection between battery and need for public assistance, 2. approved petitions or orders granted by USCIS, 3. restraining order or criminal conviction against the abuser, 4. charges brought about that lead to the conviction of the abuser, or 5. credible evidence of the abuse which includes but is not limited to, reports or affidavits from law enforcement, judges or other court officials, medical personnel, school officials, social workers, mental health providers, other social service agency personnel, legal documents, residence in a battered spouse shelter or similar refuge, photographs of the injuries, or sworn affidavits from friends, family members, or other third parties with personal knowledge of the battery or cruelty.