# Violence in a couple or family

Source: https://www.qaravan.org/resources/safety/violence-and-abuse/

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](tel: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](https://on.nyc.gov/hotlinechat). You can also call, 24/7: [1-800-621-4673](tel:18006214673); 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.

## First steps

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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).
5. 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.
6. 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).

## Where to turn for what

Who helps survivors of violence and how

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## Family Justice Centers in the five boroughs

1. 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 status Free 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](tel:311) and say “Russian”. [nyc.gov](https://www.nyc.gov/site/ocdv/programs/family-justice-centers.page) 80 Centre Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10013 Mon–Fri 9 am–5 pm
- NYC Family Justice Center, Brooklyn Any status Free 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](tel:311) and say “Russian”. [nyc.gov](https://www.nyc.gov/site/ocdv/programs/family-justice-centers.page) 350 Jay Street, 14th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201 Mon–Fri 9 am–5 pm
- NYC Family Justice Center, Queens Any status Free 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](tel:311) and say “Russian”. [nyc.gov](https://www.nyc.gov/site/ocdv/programs/family-justice-centers.page) 126-02 82nd Avenue, Kew Gardens, NY 11415 Mon–Fri 9 am–5 pm
- NYC Family Justice Center, Bronx Any status Free 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](tel:311) and say “Russian”. [nyc.gov](https://www.nyc.gov/site/ocdv/programs/family-justice-centers.page) 198 E. 161st Street, 2nd Floor, Bronx, NY 10451 Mon–Fri 9 am–5 pm
- NYC Family Justice Center, Staten Island Any status Free 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](tel:311) and say “Russian”. [nyc.gov](https://www.nyc.gov/site/ocdv/programs/family-justice-centers.page) 126 Stuyvesant Place, Staten Island, NY 10301 Mon–Fri 9 am–5 pm

## Hotlines

- NYC HOPE Hotline (Safe Horizon) Any status Free For survivors of partner or family violence, any crime or sexual violence: safety planning, shelter, other services. The chat at [on.nyc.gov/hotlinechat](https://on.nyc.gov/hotlinechat) is in Russian too. On the phone, say “Russian”: interpreters in 25+ languages. TTY [1-866-604-5350](tel:18666045350). [1-800-621-4673](tel:18006214673) (HOPE) [safehorizon.org](https://www.safehorizon.org/hotline) 24/7
- New York State (NYS) Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline Any status Free 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](tel:8449972121). [800-942-6906](tel:8009426906) (text [844-997-2121](tel:8449972121)) [opdv.ny.gov](https://opdv.ny.gov/survivors-victims) 24/7
- 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](tel:8558121001). [800-799-7233](tel:8007997233) [thehotline.org](https://www.thehotline.org/)

## If you are LGBTQ+ or live with HIV

- NYC Anti-Violence Project (AVP) Any status Free 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](https://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. [212-714-1141](tel:2127141141) (hotline in English and Spanish) [avp.org](https://avp.org/get-help/) 55 Exchange Place, Suite 404, New York, NY 10005 (walk-in Tue–Wed 12–4 pm, may be canceled) hotline Mon–Thu 10 am–6 pm, Fri 10 am–2 pm Eastern time
- 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. [immigrationequality.org](https://immigrationequality.org/legal/legal-help/)
- 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](tel:988) and say “Russian”. [1-866-488-7386](tel:18664887386) [thetrevorproject.org](https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help/) 24/7

## Immigration protection for survivors

1. 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](tel:8003540365), Russian available) can tell you where to find a lawyer.
2. 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.
3. 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

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## More materials

- NYC HOPE Resource Directory Any status A directory of City services for survivors of domestic and gender-based violence: [nyc.gov/hopeservices](https://nyc.gov/hopeservices). [nyc.gov](https://www.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. [stopstalkerware.org](https://stopstalkerware.org/stalkerware-detection-removal-and-prevention/)

## Glossary: definitions of special terms and abbreviations

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[All pages: Safety and your rights](https://www.qaravan.org/resources/safety/)

**Sources, checked November 2026**

- [safehorizon.org/hotline](https://www.safehorizon.org/hotline)
- [thetrevorproject.org/get-help](https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help/)
- [immigrationequality.org/legal/legal-help](https://immigrationequality.org/legal/legal-help/)
- [nyc.gov/site/ocdv/programs/family-justice-centers.page](https://www.nyc.gov/site/ocdv/programs/family-justice-centers.page)
- [opdv.ny.gov/survivors-victims](https://opdv.ny.gov/survivors-victims)
- [thehotline.org](https://www.thehotline.org/)
- [avp.org/get-help](https://avp.org/get-help/)
- [nyc.gov/hopeservices](https://www.nyc.gov/hopeservices)
- [stopstalkerware.org/stalkerware-detection-removal-and-prevention](https://stopstalkerware.org/stalkerware-detection-removal-and-prevention/)
- [stopstalkerware.org](https://stopstalkerware.org/)
- [on.nyc.gov/hotlinechat](https://on.nyc.gov/hotlinechat)