VAWA, Part 27

[Milka10 1]

Hi everyone , I’m a 2018 vawa filer , i360 got approved in 2020, and I just got notification my I 485 interview is ready to be scheduled ( no dates nothing yet) NYC office 

1) do you know how long it takes to schedule in interview after such notice in NyC 

2) how to proper change the address for vawa applicant as I sent them multiple times ar11 and then through congress - still nothing has been changed 

3) I never received any medical request - I sent them medical back in 2018 so I assume it’s expired at this point 

4) anyone recently had an interview in nyc ? What questions they usually ? even if it says “ready for an interview “ can they still approve without interview or now interview is mandatory for i485.  ( I remember they used to approve without interview ) 

5) I see over the news lots of arrests at the immigrations hearings , can they arrest and deport right at the interview? I mean I have no criminal records or anything like that , just watching the news and see what’s happening lately , so have no idea what to expect 

thank you everyone 

Sandra , may I schedule a consultation with you ? If yes , how may I contact you ? 

@Sandra G.

[balo101 689]

1 hour ago, Milka10 said:

Hi everyone , I’m a 2018 vawa filer , i360 got approved in 2020, and I just got notification my I 485 interview is ready to be scheduled ( no dates nothing yet) NYC office 

1) do you know how long it takes to schedule in interview after such notice in NyC 

It depnds on how busy field service is and what did you apply i-485?

2) how to proper change the address for vawa applicant as I sent them multiple times ar11 and then through congress - still nothing has been changed 

I would say make the Info pass appointment

3) I never received any medical request - I sent them medical back in 2018 so I assume it’s expired at this point 

4) anyone recently had an interview in nyc ? What questions they usually ? even if it says “ready for an interview “ can they still approve without interview or now interview is mandatory for i485.  ( I remember they used to approve without interview ) 

Yes they can still do it. 

5) I see over the news lots of arrests at the immigrations hearings , can they arrest and deport right at the interview? I mean I have no criminal records or anything like that , just watching the news and see what’s happening lately , so have no idea what to expect 

I doubt that would be the case with you since you have approved VAWA. 

 

When did you apply for i-485? It has been 5 years since you VAWA approved. You should have gotten your green card by now. Were you in removal proceedings?

 

[Milka10 1]

4 minutes ago, balo101 said:

 

No I was never in the removal or anything like that , no criminal records , not sure why it took so long , when I reached out to congress they were getting responses as pending background check 

[balo101 689]

4 minutes ago, Milka10 said:

No I was never in the removal or anything like that , no criminal records , not sure why it took so long , when I reached out to congress they were getting responses as pending background check 

When did you apply for it? Also if i were you i would make the appointment to the office and i would take new medical with me. 

[TBoneTX 47,498]

Sunday means it's time for our Official Weekly VAWA-Thread Joke:

===========================================
DAD JOKES

 

I taught my kids about democracy tonight by having them vote on which movie to watch and pizza to order.  I then picked the movie and pizza because I'm the one with the money.

 

"How do you explain this 4-year gap in your resumé"

"That's when I went to Yale."

"That's impressive.  You are hired."

"Thanks!  I really need this Yob."

 

A good wife will always be by your side during bad times... mostly to remind you that none of this would have happened if you'd just listened to her.

 

When you ask me what I'm doing today, and I say "Nothing," it does not mean that I'm free.  It means that I'm doing nothing.

 

One big difference between men and women is that if a woman says, "Smell this," it usually smells nice.

 

Can you all please stop asking Santa for the perfect man?  I nearly got kidnapped 3 times today.

 

When I was young, I was scared of the dark.  Now, when I see my electric bill, I'm scared of the lights.

 

"Dad, did you go to the same school as me?"

"Yes, the same school as you, only 35 years ago.  Why do you ask?"

"Well, Mrs. Johnson said today that she hasn't seen an idiot like me in 35 years."

 

[Milka10 1]

On 6/20/2025 at 3:21 PM, balo101 said:

When did you apply for it? Also if i were you i would make the appointment to the office and i would take new medical with me. 

Yes I was thinking same about meds just to have it with me 

[MadeStrong 9]

Hello everyone,

 

Thank you all for your incredibly helpful comments in this group. I truly appreciate the support and insight shared here, and I pray that everyone still waiting on a decision receives good news soon.

 

I’m hoping to get some clarity on whether it’s better to file for a divorce or seek a declaration of nullity in the case of a bigamous marriage.

 

Backstory: I found out in 2020 that my marriage was bigamous. Since then, I have filed for VAWA and despite some delays, I finally got my green card last year. I’m now at the point where I want to fully separate myself from this individual and am trying to decide which legal route makes more sense, especially with naturalization in mind.

 

Every time I’ve traveled outside the U.S. and returned, I’ve been sent to secondary inspection. The questions almost always revolve around whether I’m still in contact with my ex. During one of my most recent trips, the actually advised me to get a divorce so I could fully cut ties.

 

 @Sandra G. made a comment on a similar post that bigamous marriages can create complications when applying for citizenship. That really got me thinking, and now I’m unsure what the best legal step is in my case.

 

I’d be grateful for any advice or experiences anyone is willing to share. Thank you so much!

[balo101 689]

2 hours ago, MadeStrong said:

Hello everyone,

 

Thank you all for your incredibly helpful comments in this group. I truly appreciate the support and insight shared here, and I pray that everyone still waiting on a decision receives good news soon.

 

I’m hoping to get some clarity on whether it’s better to file for a divorce or seek a declaration of nullity in the case of a bigamous marriage.

 

Backstory: I found out in 2020 that my marriage was bigamous. Since then, I have filed for VAWA and despite some delays, I finally got my green card last year. I’m now at the point where I want to fully separate myself from this individual and am trying to decide which legal route makes more sense, especially with naturalization in mind.

 

Every time I’ve traveled outside the U.S. and returned, I’ve been sent to secondary inspection. The questions almost always revolve around whether I’m still in contact with my ex. During one of my most recent trips, the actually advised me to get a divorce so I could fully cut ties.

 

 @Sandra G. made a comment on a similar post that bigamous marriages can create complications when applying for citizenship. That really got me thinking, and now I’m unsure what the best legal step is in my case.

 

I’d be grateful for any advice or experiences anyone is willing to share. Thank you so much!

I would file for divorce. 

[TBoneTX 47,498]

13 hours ago, MadeStrong said:

I’m unsure what the best legal step is in my case.

File for divorce.

Carry a copy of your divorce certificate with you during travel, to show CBP.

[Demise 1,438]

22 hours ago, MadeStrong said:

Hello everyone,

 

Thank you all for your incredibly helpful comments in this group. I truly appreciate the support and insight shared here, and I pray that everyone still waiting on a decision receives good news soon.

 

I’m hoping to get some clarity on whether it’s better to file for a divorce or seek a declaration of nullity in the case of a bigamous marriage.

 

Backstory: I found out in 2020 that my marriage was bigamous. Since then, I have filed for VAWA and despite some delays, I finally got my green card last year. I’m now at the point where I want to fully separate myself from this individual and am trying to decide which legal route makes more sense, especially with naturalization in mind.

 

Every time I’ve traveled outside the U.S. and returned, I’ve been sent to secondary inspection. The questions almost always revolve around whether I’m still in contact with my ex. During one of my most recent trips, the actually advised me to get a divorce so I could fully cut ties.

 

 @Sandra G. made a comment on a similar post that bigamous marriages can create complications when applying for citizenship. That really got me thinking, and now I’m unsure what the best legal step is in my case.

 

I’d be grateful for any advice or experiences anyone is willing to share. Thank you so much!

 

According to Volume 12, Chapter 3, F, 1, of the policy manual, the 3 year provision does apply to bigamous cases. 

Specifically the "or intended spouse" part which is basically defined as: "who believed that he or she had married a citizen of the United States and with whom a marriage ceremony was actually performed and who otherwise meets any applicable requirements under this chapter to establish the existence of and bona fides of a marriage, but whose marriage is not legitimate solely because of the bigamy of such citizen of the United States".

In simple terms: You got married, you believed you were married, you lived as spouses, but the marriage was illegitimate only because of the abusive USC's bigamy. (INA 101(a)(50) and INA 204(a)(1)(A)(iii)(I)(bb)) 

 

Digging a bit deeper and looking at INA 319(a) (which is what actually covers VAWA naturalization) "or any person who obtained status as a lawful permanent resident by reason of his or her status as a spouse or child of a United States citizen who battered him or her or subjected him or her to extreme cruelty", now we can definitely debate if an intended spouse obtained their status "as a spouse of a United States Citizen" however reading further into INA 204 it does appear so since it does essentially upgrade intended spouses into immediate relatives. In any case, the policy manual (as noted above) does include intended spouses for the 3 year VAWA naturalization.

 

Like all in all, I don't think it'd really matter if you get a divorce or an annulment but just err on the side of caution and get a divorce. 

Edited June 24 by Demise

[MadeStrong 9]

23 hours ago, balo101 said:

I would file for divorce. 

Thank you so much. 

12 hours ago, TBoneTX said:

File for divorce.

Carry a copy of your divorce certificate with you during travel, to show CBP.

Thank you so much. Will do.

[MadeStrong 9]

3 hours ago, Demise said:

 

According to Volume 12, Chapter 3, F, 1, of the policy manual, the 3 year provision does apply to bigamous cases. 

Specifically the "or intended spouse" part which is basically defined as: "who believed that he or she had married a citizen of the United States and with whom a marriage ceremony was actually performed and who otherwise meets any applicable requirements under this chapter to establish the existence of and bona fides of a marriage, but whose marriage is not legitimate solely because of the bigamy of such citizen of the United States".

In simple terms: You got married, you believed you were married, you lived as spouses, but the marriage was illegitimate only because of the abusive USC's bigamy. (INA 101(a)(50) and INA 204(a)(1)(A)(iii)(I)(bb)) 

 

Digging a bit deeper and looking at INA 319(a) (which is what actually covers VAWA naturalization) "or any person who obtained status as a lawful permanent resident by reason of his or her status as a spouse or child of a United States citizen who battered him or her or subjected him or her to extreme cruelty", now we can definitely debate if an intended spouse obtained their status "as a spouse of a United States Citizen" however reading further into INA 204 it does appear so since it does essentially upgrade intended spouses into immediate relatives. In any case, the policy manual (as noted above) does include intended spouses for the 3 year VAWA naturalization.

 

Like all in all, I don't think it'd really matter if you get a divorce or an annulment but just err on the side of caution and get a divorce. 

Thank you. I’ll file for a divorce. Thanks again.

[Sandra G. 5,102]

On 6/23/2025 at 10:44 AM, MadeStrong said:

Hello everyone,

 

Thank you all for your incredibly helpful comments in this group. I truly appreciate the support and insight shared here, and I pray that everyone still waiting on a decision receives good news soon.

 

I’m hoping to get some clarity on whether it’s better to file for a divorce or seek a declaration of nullity in the case of a bigamous marriage.

 

Backstory: I found out in 2020 that my marriage was bigamous. Since then, I have filed for VAWA and despite some delays, I finally got my green card last year. I’m now at the point where I want to fully separate myself from this individual and am trying to decide which legal route makes more sense, especially with naturalization in mind.

 

Every time I’ve traveled outside the U.S. and returned, I’ve been sent to secondary inspection. The questions almost always revolve around whether I’m still in contact with my ex. During one of my most recent trips, the actually advised me to get a divorce so I could fully cut ties.

 

 @Sandra G. made a comment on a similar post that bigamous marriages can create complications when applying for citizenship. That really got me thinking, and now I’m unsure what the best legal step is in my case.

 

I’d be grateful for any advice or experiences anyone is willing to share. Thank you so much!

If it was the abuser who committed bigamy, the victim will not have any problems during the naturalization process.

 

[TBoneTX 47,498]

It is Wednesday, and therefore time for our Semiofficial Semiweekly VAWA-Thread Joke:

 

===========================================

FUNNY SIGNS

 

Without freedom of speech, we would not know who the idiots are.

 

Beware of the dog.  The cat is not trustworthy either.

 

NOTICE:  Thank you for noticing this new notice.  Your noticing it has been noticed (and will be reported to the authorities).

 

Slow Down.  The cop hides behind this sign.

 

Warning:  Please look under your vehicle for penguins.

 

Do not breathe under the water.

 

This is a private sign.  Please do not read.

 

[MadeStrong 9]

17 hours ago, Sandra G. said:

If it was the abuser who committed bigamy, the victim will not have any problems during the naturalization process.

 

Thank you!