Immigration and family violence

Immigration issues play a significant role in the lives of women experiencing partner abuse. Uncertain immigration status can make women particularly susceptible to abuse by men who exploit that uncertainty as a tactic of power and control (Ministry of Women’s Affairs, 2007b). Women in the following situations are particularly at risk:

• Women who establish a relationship in their home country and immigrate to New Zealand with their partner, and the partner is the principal applicant for residency.
• Women who come to New Zealand and get residence independent of the men with whom they form relationships.
• Women whose applications for residence depend on the sponsorship of a partner who is a New Zealand resident or citizen. These women are especially vulnerable as they cannot talk to their own family and cannot return to their home country when abuse happens. There is a myth in Asian cultures that women married to men in a Western country are protected by law, respected by their husband and given all the freedom they want. Therefore, parents back home have difficulty accepting violence against their married daughters.
• Undocumented women, who are women on visitor’s permits; student visas; and those awaiting confirmation of refugee status (ie asylum seekers) etc.

It is important to tell women about their rights according to the Residence Policy for Victims of Family Violence (Immigration New Zealand, 2015).