WISE Act

This bill expands immigration help for people who survive domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and other gender‑based violence. It includes special protections for spouses and children who came to the U.S. with, or to join, a main visa holder and were abused by that person .

It lets these family members extend their permission to stay (at least as long as the main visa holder’s original time, or 3 years), get a work permit, and, in some cases, apply for a green card if they qualify or if the government finds it’s needed for humanitarian reasons, family unity, or the public interest. Children are protected from “aging out,” and a late filing up to age 25 can still count if abuse caused the delay. Protection continues even if the abuser dies, loses status, or the relationship ends because of the abuse. Good‑faith marriages that later turn out invalid because of bigamy can still qualify. Some close family of the survivor can also get status to avoid extreme hardship. Requests are handled under existing self‑petition procedures, and these options don’t block other paths they may be eligible for .

Key points

• Who is affected: Noncitizen spouses and children who depended on a main visa holder and suffered abuse, including those in good‑faith marriages later found invalid, or where the abuser died or lost status .
• What changes: Extended stay, work permits, possible path to a green card, age‑out protections, and relief for certain close family; does not block other immigration options .
• How it’s handled: Uses existing self‑petitioning processes for survivors.