Resources Safety and your rights
Violence in a couple or family
Where to turn if a partner or relative hits, stalks, controls or threatens you, including in LGBTQ+ relationships.
This is general information, not legal advice: QARAVAN has no lawyers. QARAVAN does not help anyone enter the US and cannot arrange visas, invitations, sponsorship or evacuation. For your own case, talk to a licensed immigration attorney or a representative accredited by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Centers, hotlines and lawyers help with domestic violence, relationship abuse, stalking, sexual violence, elder abuse and trafficking, whatever your sexual orientation or gender identity.
Immigration status should not keep you in a dangerous relationship: survivors have special forms of protection. QARAVAN does not provide legal services; a lawyer can give legal advice on your case.
Start here
- If you are in danger, call 911: the NYPD does not ask victims about immigration status.
- To talk first and make a safety plan, write to the City HOPE line chat in Russian: on.nyc.gov/hotlinechat. You can also call, 24/7: 1-800-621-4673; say “Russian” and ask for an interpreter.
- You can walk into a Family Justice Center (a City center for survivors) on weekdays 9 am to 5 pm: free, confidential, whatever your status.
Decide how it is safest to reach out
If the abuser is nearby or monitors your phone, use chat or text from another device: a friend's phone or one the abuser can't access.
Make a safety plan
A safety plan is a set of steps worked out in advance for when you are in danger. HOPE line counselors and Family Justice Center staff will make one with you.
Prepare copies of your documents
Make paper and digital copies of your passport, EAD, USCIS receipts and court notices. Keep originals you don't need to carry where someone you trust can get to them.
Check your phone for spying, carefully
Don't remove stalkerware in a hurry: it can alert the abuser and raise the danger. First make a safety plan and use another device; later you can factory reset the phone and lock it (Coalition Against Stalkerware advice).
Ask about an order of protection
An order of protection is a court order that protects a survivor. Family Justice Centers and AVP lawyers (an organization for LGBTQ+ people and people living with HIV) give free advice on it; court representation is not guaranteed.
Talk to a lawyer about your immigration status
If you fear your status will stop you leaving the abuser, talk to a lawyer at a Family Justice Center, AVP or Immigration Equality (a legal organization for LGBTQ+ people and people living with HIV).
Who helps survivors of violence and how
| What it offers | How to reach it | |
|---|---|---|
| 911 | Help if the danger is now; the NYPD will come | Phone; say your language and an interpreter joins |
| HOPE Hotline (Safe Horizon) | A round-the-clock conversation, a safety plan, help finding shelter and other services; interpreters in 25+ languages | Chat in Russian: on.nyc.gov/hotlinechat; or call 1-800-621-4673 and say “Russian” |
| Family Justice Center | In one place: a safety plan, an application for shelter, counseling, legal consultations, childcare while you get help; no appointment | Walk in, no appointment: Mon–Fri 9 am–5 pm, in all five boroughs; interpreters on site |
| New York State domestic and sexual violence hotline | Round-the-clock confidential support in most languages | 800-942-6906: say “Russian”; text 844-997-2121, chat on the site |
| National Domestic Violence Hotline | A national hotline for violence in a couple | 800-799-7233: say “Russian”, support in over 200 languages; chat at thehotline.org, text START to 88788, video phone for deaf callers 855-812-1001 |
| NYC Anti-Violence Project (AVP) | Counselors, accompaniment and free legal consultations for LGBTQ+ people and people with HIV | 212-714-1141, the line is in English and Spanish: Mon–Thu 10 am–6 pm, Fri 10 am–2 pm Eastern time; at other times leave a message. For Russian, first write to the HOPE chat |
Walk in on a weekday
All centers are open weekdays 9 am to 5 pm, walk-in, in person or remotely. Help is free and confidential for everyone, whatever their age, status, orientation, income, language, gender identity or health. All services are voluntary: you choose what you need. All centers are wheelchair accessible; if you need accommodations, let them know in advance.
NYC Family Justice Center, Manhattan
Any statusFree
Safety planning, emergency shelter applications, counseling and mental health services, legal advice (orders of protection, custody, divorce, housing, immigration; court representation not guaranteed), meetings with the NYPD, the sheriff and prosecutors, child care. Interpreters on site. Accessible entrance: 10 Hogan Place, around the corner to the left of 80 Centre Street. Walk in, no appointment needed. To reach a center by phone, call 311 and say “Russian”.
NYC Family Justice Center, Brooklyn
Any statusFree
The same services: a safety plan, shelter, counseling, legal consultations, childcare; interpreters on site. Walk in, no appointment needed. To reach a center by phone, call 311 and say “Russian”.
NYC Family Justice Center, Queens
Any statusFree
The same services: a safety plan, shelter, counseling, legal consultations, childcare; interpreters on site. Walk in, no appointment needed. To reach a center by phone, call 311 and say “Russian”.
NYC Family Justice Center, Bronx
Any statusFree
The same services: a safety plan, shelter, counseling, legal consultations, childcare; interpreters on site. Walk in, no appointment needed. To reach a center by phone, call 311 and say “Russian”.
NYC Family Justice Center, Staten Island
Any statusFree
The same services: a safety plan, shelter, counseling, legal consultations, childcare; interpreters on site. Walk in, no appointment needed. To reach a center by phone, call 311 and say “Russian”.
NYC HOPE Hotline (Safe Horizon)
Any statusFree
For survivors of partner or family violence, any crime or sexual violence: safety planning, shelter, other services. The chat at on.nyc.gov/hotlinechat is in Russian too. On the phone, say “Russian”: interpreters in 25+ languages. TTY 1-866-604-5350.
New York State (NYS) Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline
Any statusFree
Confidential 24/7 support in most languages (on the phone, say “Russian”): call, text or chat. If calling isn't safe, text 844-997-2121.
National Domestic Violence Hotline
Any status
A national hotline for violence in a couple, support in over 200 languages: a call (say “Russian”), chat on the site or a text with the word START to 88788; video phone for deaf callers 855-812-1001.
NYC Anti-Violence Project (AVP)
Any statusFree
Helps LGBTQ+ people and people affected by HIV who survived any violence: hate, partner, sexual, dating, institutional, in all five boroughs. For Russian, first write to the HOPE chat: on.nyc.gov/hotlinechat. The AVP hotline is in English and Spanish: Mon–Thu 10 am–6 pm, Fri 10 am–2 pm Eastern time; at other times leave a message and they call back within two business days. The website form is not working now. Counseling, advocacy and free legal advice (orders of protection, custody, divorce, immigration, housing, name changes, help for victims in criminal court); a legal intake is usually set within a week through the hotline.
Immigration Equality
Any status
A legal organization for LGBTQ+ people and people living with HIV who need immigration help. Requests go through the confidential website form; replies can be slow because demand is high.
The Trevor Project
Under 25
24/7 support for LGBTQ+ people under 25 in crisis: call, text START to 678-678, or chat. The line is in English; for Russian, call 988 and say “Russian”.
Talk to a lawyer before you choose
USCIS handles all these applications. Decide with a lawyer what fits you: Family Justice Centers and AVP give legal advice, and the City's MOIA line (800-354-0365, Russian available) can tell you where to find a lawyer.
U visa: the cap and the waiting list
By law no more than 10,000 U visas a year go to principal applicants (no cap for family members). Once the cap is reached, USCIS keeps a waiting list: people on it get deferred action or parole and can ask for a work permit.
T visa: the law-enforcement declaration
A law-enforcement declaration (Form I-914 Supplement B) is optional: other evidence, such as police reports or court documents, can be used instead.
Kinds of immigration protection for survivors
| Who it is for | What is needed | What it gives | |
|---|---|---|---|
| U visa | Survivors of certain serious crimes, such as domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking, who help law enforcement in the detection, investigation or prosecution of the crime | A signed certification from a law enforcement agency (in New York City, District Attorneys, the NYPD and other City agencies accept such requests) | Temporary, renewable status for up to 4 years, the right to apply for a work permit and for temporary status for certain family members, a path to a green card and eligibility for some benefits in New York State |
| T visa | Survivors of a severe form of human trafficking who complied with any reasonable request for assistance from law enforcement or qualify for an exemption or exception | Form I-914, Application for T Nonimmigrant Status, with your own statement describing the trafficking, and evidence that you helped law enforcement or qualify for an exemption or exception; a law-enforcement declaration is optional | Temporary status for an initial period of up to 4 years, eligibility for a work permit and for certain federal and state benefits, and status for certain eligible family members |
| A self-petition under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) | Spouses and children of U.S. citizens and green card holders and parents of U.S. citizens over 21 who suffered abuse; available regardless of sex, gender identity or sexual orientation | You can file it yourself, without the abuser’s knowledge, consent or participation | A chance to get immigration status without the abuser’s participation |
| Asylum | LGBTQ+ people and people with HIV who fear returning to their country because of persecution based on sexual orientation, gender identity or HIV status | A separate asylum application | Protection from removal to a country where you face persecution |
NYC HOPE Resource Directory
Any status
A directory of City services for survivors of domestic and gender-based violence: nyc.gov/hopeservices.
Coalition Against Stalkerware
Any status
How to find stalkerware, remove it and protect yourself. Removal can alert the abuser, so make a safety plan first and use a safe device.
- Family Justice Center
- A City center where survivors of violence can get support, legal consultations and other services in one place without an appointment.
- Safety plan
- A course of action thought through in advance in case of danger: where to go, whom to call, what to take.
- Order of protection
- A court order that protects a survivor from the abuser.
- AVP
- The NYC Anti-Violence Project, a community organization that helps LGBTQ+ people and people affected by HIV who have lived through violence.
- U visa
- A visa for people who suffered certain serious crimes in the U.S. and help law enforcement.
- T visa
- A visa for survivors of human trafficking.
- VAWA
- The Violence Against Women Act, a law under which abused spouses and children of U.S. citizens and green card holders, and parents of U.S. citizens over 21, can file a petition themselves.
- USCIS
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the federal agency that handles asylum, green card, work permit and other immigration benefit applications.
- Stalkerware
- A spying program on a phone with which someone secretly watches a person.
- TTY
- A text telephone for people who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech difficulties.
All pages: Safety and your rights
Sources, checked November 2026
- safehorizon.org/hotline
- thetrevorproject.org/get-help
- immigrationequality.org/legal/legal-help
- nyc.gov/site/ocdv/programs/family-justice-centers.page
- opdv.ny.gov/survivors-victims
- thehotline.org
- avp.org/get-help
- nyc.gov/hopeservices
- stopstalkerware.org/stalkerware-detection-removal-and-prevention
- stopstalkerware.org
- on.nyc.gov/hotlinechat