How Much Does VAWA Cost?The cost of filing a VAWA (Violence Against Women Act) self-petition depends on whether you are only filing the petition or also applying for a green card. Here’s the breakdown:1. VAWA Petition (Form I-360)Filing fee: FreeThere is no government filing fee for victims of abuse filing under VAWA.2. Green Card Application [...]

 The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) provides vital protection for noncitizen victims of abuse by U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents (LPRs). Suppose you're facing domestic violence, abuse, or extreme cruelty from a U.S. citizen or a green card holder. In that case, VAWA allows you to self-petition for legal immigration status without the abuser’s [...]

 How Hard Is It to Get VAWA Approved?Getting a VAWA (Violence Against Women Act) petition approved can be challenging, but it's entirely possible with the right evidence and guidance. USCIS carefully reviews each case to ensure the applicant meets all legal requirements. The most difficult parts usually involve:Proving abuse (battery or extreme cruelty) without police [...]

Who Qualifies for VAWA? VAWA (Violence Against Women Act) provides immigration protections for certain individuals who have been abused by a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (LPR) family member. Specifically, those who qualify for VAWA self-petition include: Spouses: of U.S. citizens or LPRs who have experienced battery or extreme cruelty. Children: (unmarried and under [...]

How Long Does a VAWA Petition Take? The processing time for a VAWA (Violence Against Women Act) petition, specifically Form I-360 for  VAWA self-petitions, can vary widely depending on the individual case and USCIS workload. On average, USCIS reports that about 80% of VAWA petitions are processed within approximately 41.5 months, which is roughly 3.5 [...]

How Long Can You Stay Out of the Country With a Green Card? As a Green Card holder (lawful permanent resident), you can generally stay outside the United States for up to 12 months without automatically losing your permanent resident status. However, the length and purpose of your trip play an important role in determining [...]

What Is the 10-Year Rule for a Green Card? The term “10-year green card” refers to a Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551) that is valid for 10 years and is issued to individuals who have successfully become unconditional lawful permanent residents of the United States. This typically occurs after removing the conditions from a conditional [...]

What is the 6-Month Rule for a U.S. Green Card? The 6-month rule for U.S. green card holders relates to the length of time you can spend outside the United States without risking your permanent resident status or disrupting your continuous residence, especially important for naturalisation eligibility for green card holders. In general: Trips of [...]

What Evidence Is Needed for Removal of Conditions on a Green Card? To remove conditions on a marriage-based green card, you must file Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence, and submit strong evidence showing that your marriage was entered into in good faith—not solely for immigration benefits. This is a critical step in [...]

What Is the Approval Rate for I-751? The approval rate for Form I‑751 (Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence) is very high, typically around 95–97% for joint petitions filed by married couples, with denials comprising just 3–5% of cases. Key Data & Statistics In Q4 of fiscal year 2023, a total of 119,672 I‑751 petitions [...]