VAWA, Part 27

[OldUser 11,145]

2 hours ago, Meingandu said:

 

 

Calling uscis is the best way and it’s effective immediately on address change. 

Calling does not guarantee agent won't say: "Yeah, I updated it" without updating it. You do not have any proof of changing address with calls. It is not the right thing to do when updating address. Just send AR-11 with proof of delivery and then can call on top if you wish. But actual written form is needed go update address properly.

[Rhema1 511]

5 minutes ago, Rebirth said:

Problem no dey finish 

 

For those of us from the list of newly-added partial ban, those it impact naturalization? People from the initial list have been taken out of oath ceremonies and had their interviews cancelled. Im wondering if the partial ban would be managed differently. My fear is applying and my application getting stuck in ‘a decision cannot be made’ bla bla bla 

For now, we do not have too much informations how those newly partial banned countries will play out.

But at time goes, we will know more better.

So, as it stands, it's only for US travel entry and some type of Visa I guess.

[Meingandu 13]

5 hours ago, OldUser said:

Calling does not guarantee agent won't say: "Yeah, I updated it" without updating it. You do not have any proof of changing address with calls. It is not the right thing to do when updating address. Just send AR-11 with proof of delivery and then can call on top if you wish. But actual written form is needed go update address properly.

That may be true but with my personal experience we wasted a month and a half to update the address. AR-11 was sent twice and nothing nada happened. I had to call and make the address update and it was effective immediately since my EAD did actually get delivered to correct address. I made 2 calls first is to make the change and second to confirm the change. The agents does not proceed till you match all details that’s on file as part of validation. I called and gave them the updated address on call 2 and that verified me that it was actually updated. 

[Sandra G. 5,112]

On 12/16/2025 at 8:17 PM, Mahi Bansi said:

 

Hello family,

 

I hope everyone is doing well. I’ve been part of this thread since I filed my application in March 2022, and I truly appreciate how supportive and helpful everyone has been, whether answering my questions or helping calm my anxiety during difficult moments.

 

I’ve had a few anxiety attacks recently due to everything going on, but I discovered that my VAWA petition was approved at the end of September 2025 (never received an RFE). I had stopped checking my case status and focused entirely on work. Unfortunately, the approval notice was mailed to my previous address. I moved about six months ago and submitted an address change, but USCIS never updated it in their system. I’m still in the same county, and the current tenant forwards my mail every three months.

 

Receiving this approval has brought me immense relief, both emotionally and spiritually. Now, my I-485 is still pending. I’ve started checking the status again and will continue to monitor it everyday. It has been almost 90 days since the I-360 approval, and my case has not yet moved to the medical RFE stage, which I expect will come. My I-485 is still at the NBC (was transferred in Jan-205) and has not been transferred to a local field office.

 

I’m wondering whether I should reach out to my congressman for assistance. However, I’m concerned because I currently live in a very red county in Texas, and my congressman is strongly anti-immigrant. I also had an overstay prior to filing my application (I was married to a U.S. citizen but am now divorced). Hence, I’m more worried. 

 

What would you think? @Demise @Sandra G. @balo101 @Rhema1 @TBoneTX Please advise. Thanks!

In New Jersey, USCIS may take up to eight months to schedule a green card interview. If your country is included in the 39-country ban, your I-485 will not be automatically denied or canceled, but processing could be delayed or temporarily put on hold. Although the law permits VAWA applicants from these countries to apply, USCIS may freeze I-485 applications (green card applications) for individuals from high-risk countries. Mail your Form AR-11 to update your address where your case is pending, wait  20 days, and then ask your congressperson to confirm with USCIS that your address has been updated.

Edited Thursday at 06:30 PM by Sandra G.

[Youngseattle 8]

Aloha: 

it has been long time for this vawa journey, but it is really worth the waiting. Thanks TboneTX, I remember we were in vawa part 10, at that time it was 2012, at the beginning my case got denied in 2013 due to lack of enough evidence. I refiled it in 2016 in New Zealand with more details evidence, waiting for 18 months, my case got approved in 2018, got i551 immigration visa interview in US consulate General in New Zealand in Feb 2021 due to pandemic, finally got my green card in Hawaii in April 2021, thanks god I can work as engineer again! In August 2024 I become US citizen in Hawaii🤣 in my citizenship ceremony immigration director gave my US citizen certification, she also mentioned my US immigration journey last over 10 years, it is a long journey but the result is worth for all the waiting, god bless America 🇺🇸 

[TBoneTX 48,711]

3 hours ago, Youngseattle said:

I remember we were in vawa part 10, at that time it was 2012

Wow -- good memory!  And you just got your first VJ upvote.   

3 hours ago, Youngseattle said:

In August 2024 I become US citizen in Hawaii

Yee-HAAAAA!    

[Note to T-B.'s self:  Jokes worked again back then... jokes worked again back then...]   

[Youngseattle 8]

Aloha: 

sorry I didn’t update my status very often, I am busy doing my engineering job, you know I am a family man, feeding the family members and buying the land and houses, you heard about that Hawaiian sold land inch by inch not acre by acre! 
for those people not yet got Vawa results , just hang in there, took more time to prepare your documents, that is the most important things to do. If possible got help from attorney and social workers, seek their professional help. After Vawa approved you still need wait 3-5 years to apply US citizenship. Life is a journey, enjoying it and think positively.  Remember when I did my I-551 immigration visa interview in US consulate General in New Zealand, immigration officer ask me I want to stay in New Zealand or USA, I said I belong to America, although I am just a small fish living in big fish’s world, I prefer to live in ocean (USA), instead of lakes(New Zealand)🤣

 

mahalo 

[TBoneTX 48,711]

It's Sunday -- time for another approval-evoking*, good-news-prompting* Official Weekly VAWA-Thread Joke:

     *that is, if correlation = causation

===========================================
DEFAMATION OF CHARACTER

 

A woman was sued by a man for defamation of character.  He charged that she had called him a pig.  She was found guilty and was fined.

 

After the trial, the woman asked the judge, "Does this mean that I can't call Mr. Johnson a pig?"

 

The judge said that this was true.

 

"Does this mean that I can't call a pig 'Mr. Johnson'?" asked the woman.  The judge replied that she could indeed call a pig "Mr. Johnson" with no fear of being charged with a crime.

 

The woman turned, looked directly at Mr. Johnson, and said, "Good afternoon, Mr. Johnson."

 

[Mahi Bansi 16]

On 12/18/2025 at 12:24 PM, Sandra G. said:

In New Jersey, USCIS may take up to eight months to schedule a green card interview. If your country is included in the 39-country ban, your I-485 will not be automatically denied or canceled, but processing could be delayed or temporarily put on hold. Although the law permits VAWA applicants from these countries to apply, USCIS may freeze I-485 applications (green card applications) for individuals from high-risk countries. Mail your Form AR-11 to update your address where your case is pending, wait  20 days, and then ask your congressperson to confirm with USCIS that your address has been updated.

Thank you so much, everyone! @Sandra G. I live in Texas. My I-485 is still transferred to NBC from VSC (happened in Jan-2025) and has not yet been transferred to local FO (in Texas). Do you know how much I might have to wait to get a RFE for medicals or will I have an interview or will be waived? @TBoneTX thank you for educating me that the local congressman works with their office in Washington DC. I'm just worried that as he's so anti-immigrant and I have a prior overstay, if he will make it tough for my I-485 process instead. @Rhema1 and @balo101 Thank you so much for your kind words. Yes, the hard part is over. I just want to get my I-485 approved now so that I can travel as I'm avoiding travel right now. Hope this is done in the next 3-6 months. Will keep everyone updated  

[TBoneTX 48,711]

10 hours ago, Mahi Bansi said:

thank you for educating me that the local congressman works with their office in Washington DC. I'm just worried that as he's so anti-immigrant and I have a prior overstay, if he will make it tough for my I-485 process instead.

You'd be dealing with his "immigration liaison" staff person.  The Congressman himself wouldn't have a clue that you contacted his office.