J, a migrant woman, endured abuse throughout marriage, which escalated after her pregnancy. She was subjected to physical, economic, emotional, and sexual abuse, including rape and coercive control by her husband. J met the perpetrator while on holiday in the UK, and their relationship continued long-distance before they married on her home island. After moving to the UK, J was coerced into selling her house, and her husband spent the proceeds, leaving her financially dependent. Following threats to kill from her husband, J fled with her three-month-old son and contacted the police. Social services intervened, and J and her son were placed in safe accommodation. As a migrant woman, J faced additional challenges due to her insecure immigration status. With the completion of her Migrant Victims of Domestic Abuse Concession (MVDAC) application, she gained the right to claim benefits and apply for housing. Although J was relocated to another area for her safety, welfare calls and referrals ensured she could access support in her new location. An application for her indefinite leave to remain (ILR) was successfully submitted, and she has now been granted permanent residency. J is beginning to rebuild her life in safety, free from violence and control, with the necessary support to secure stability for herself and her child.
J’s account underscores the additional barriers to support migrant victim-survivors with insecure immigration status encounter. It demonstrates the life-saving importance of ‘by and for’ service intervention & the vitality of the combined MVDAC-DVILR model in ensuring safety. #16CaseStudiesFor16Days