Dear Survey-taker:
This is the second of two surveys in which we are seeking your help to gather information on work authorization delays and their consequences. As a service provider for immigrant survivors of violence, we know you have witnessed first-hand how delays in access to work authorization affect immigrant survivors and their children.
The first part of this survey, which seeks to understand how long it takes crime victims to attain work authorization in recent years, is available here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/work-authorization-timing
In this survey, we seek your help in gaining a better understanding of:
• how victims survive economically while their work authorization is pending,
• how lack of work authorization affects their ability to leave abusive situations,
• how the delay in obtaining work authorization affects victims’ and their children’s safety,
• whether and how the wait for work authorization hinders victims who want custody of their children,
• whether lack of work authorization impedes victims’ ability to participate in social assistance programs, victims’ services, and daily activities that foster healing, independence and their ability to economically sustain themselves and their children,
• and how lack of access to work authorization and gaining access to work authorization affect the victim’s criminal and civil justice system participation.
VAWA 2013 requires DHS to report to Congress on the time periods between victims’ filing of VAWA, U and T visa applications and granting work authorizations. Your participation in this survey will assist in informing DHS, DOJ, Immigration Courts, Congress, and the White House about the importance of immigrant crime victims’ access to work authorization and the need to grant immigrant crime victims access to deferred action and work authorization within 6 months (but preferably within 90 days) of the victim’s filing for immigration relief.
We thank you in advance for taking the time to participate in this survey. We will distribute the results widely: to you, your organization, and to government agencies. The knowledge we gain from this survey, regarding how delays in access to work authorization affect immigrant victims and their economic survival, will assist police, prosecutors, attorneys, and advocates working with immigrant victims to improve safety and case planning.