Challenges to the proof of violence, and social stigma for ethnic migrant women in the current Victims of Family Violence (VFV) visa policy in Aotearoa New Zealand

INTRODUCTION: Applications for the victim-survivor family violence visa (VFV) are low from Middle Eastern, African, and Latin American (MELAA) communities compared to other groups. This does not reflect the number of family violence experiences in these communities reported by community-based practitioners (Ayallo, 2019); rather, low application numbers reflect cultural factors that impact the ability of ethnic victim-survivors1 to access this visa policy.APPROACH: Data were drawn from a study exploring the cultural contexts within which ethnic migrant women engage with the VFV visa policy. The study used narrative inquiry and semi-structured interviews to explore 20 participants' experiences with the VFV visa policy process. Participants included 10 victim-survivors and 10 supporting non-medical practitioners.FINDINGS: Analyses showed that victim-survivors face significant barriers in accessing this visa. P roving violence and an inability to return to their country of origin due to social stigma are complex and challenging factors for ethnic migrant women. The cultural reasons discussed in this article include that psychological abuse is dominant, violence occurs transnationally, and the social stigma experienced extends well beyond the victim-survivors' individual and immediate circumstances.IMPLICATIONS: Given the potential of this visa policy initiative to provide safety for victim-survivors, recommendations for change are proposed for compassionate approaches.