Written by Emily Yi
In June 2025, Sitara and her husband received their green cards, in the culmination of a years-long process marked by patience and resilience.
Sitara came to the United States nearly two decades ago, in December 2007, to pursue a masters’ degree in computer science.
In May 2010, Sitara successfully completed her degree and was preparing to celebrate her graduation. Then, two days before her graduation ceremony, Sitara survived a terrifying sexual assault.
Despite suffering serious emotional and physical trauma due to the incident, Sitara courageously reported the crime to the police and assisted with the prosecution of the case against her assailant, who was sentenced to eight years in prison.
After graduating, Sitara got a job and an employment-based H1B visa. However, Sitara knew if she lost her job while under H1B status, she would only have 60 days to find another job. Otherwise, she would have to leave the United States.
“Every job, every day, there [was] a fear of getting laid off and [having to] leave everything behind,” Sitara remembers.
In 2015, Sitara heard from a friend that she might be eligible for U Nonimmigrant Status – known colloquially as a “U Visa” – because she had been the victim of a crime. To learn more, she reached out to her court-appointed counselor, who referred her to Immigration Law and Justice NY.
Sitara went to ILJNY’s legal clinic on Long Island, where she met ILJNY attorney TJ Mills. Sitara remembers that when she arrived at the clinic seeking assistance, she was fearful and hesitant to share details of the assault.
Nonetheless, TJ’s kindness and efficiency immediately made a good impression on Sitara. He reviewed Sitara’s documents, informed her that she was eligible to apply for a U Visa, and began the application process immediately. “Once I sent [TJ] my documents, he submitted them within a week,” Sitara remembers.
In November 2019, Sitara and her husband received work authorization under the U visa, and her U visa was finally granted in November 2020. Sitara remembers an immediate sense of relief upon receiving her work authorization: “I have a work permit; I don’t have that 60 day clock ticking.”
U Visa recipients must wait for three years before applying to become a Legal Permanent Resident and obtain a green card. In November 2022, after the required three years was up, Sitara reached back out to TJ to help her apply for a green card.
By this time, Sitara and her husband had moved away from New York, so TJ sent her the required documents through the mail. “Even though [TJ] was very busy, [the process] was smooth.”
After a ten-year-long wait, Sitara and her husband finally received their green cards in June 2025.
“I was extremely happy,” Sitara said. “TJ sent me an email about finally getting approved… after 10 years. I was so happy. Now I don’t have to worry about losing my job or anything. All my stress regarding the immigration process was gone. Now, I can travel back to my country, which I haven’t done for 11 years.”
Now that she has her green card, Sitara is making plans for her and her family’s future. She plans to travel back to India to visit her parents and siblings.
Sitara can also finally pursue her professional ambitions. She works as a software engineer and has been at the same company for six years, but now, she has ambitions to branch out and build a software company of her own.
“[Before], there was always a visa restriction, because my visa was tied to my employer. Now I can build something of my own. I can do something that I’m more interested in without worrying about [my immigration status].”
Reflecting on her decade-long journey with TJ and ILJNY, Sitara said: “TJ is the most kind and generous person we’ve met. He’s been with us in this process for the last 10 years. I can’t imagine another lawyer helping us with such kindness. He’s very prompt – when I ask him something I’m not sure about, he responds immediately. I can’t believe I’ve been so lucky [to have found him].”
After Sitara and her husband received their green cards in June 2025, Sitara sent the following message to TJ, which she would now like to share with all of ILJNY’s supporters:
“We are deeply grateful for your support from the start of our U visa process in 2015 through to receiving our green cards now. Your patience, guidance, and generosity in supporting us all these years without fees have truly changed our lives.
This milestone brings our family peace of mind, opens up more opportunities for us, and gives us a secure future—something we will never forget.”
** To protect Sitara’s privacy, a pseudonym has been used in this story.