VAWA, Part 27

[Lumit 5]

Good morning everyone,

I came back to say thank you to this community. My VAWA was approved last month(23 days ago) after my case had been pending since 2019. I had to create a new account because my old one is locked, but I didn’t want to miss the chance to express my gratitude.

There was a lady here (I can’t remember her name) who advised me in 2022 to apply for a C09 work permit, which after few days was approved. I knew nothing about it at the time, but because of that advice I was able to start working again and move out of depression. She truly changed my life.

And of course, @Makanaki—you are such a gem. Thank you so much for your guidance.

Now I have a couple of questions:

In 2019, while submitting VAWA, My attorney told me that my previous I-485 had been denied and advised me to file a new one, which we did. Before filing the new i-485, I had submitted an I-290B to challenge the earlier denial of i-485. USCIS never responded to that I-290 for a long time, but right after my VAWA approval last month, I received an email saying my I-290B has been routed back to my local office and that it may take 30 days for them to receive it and 90 days for an officer to review it.

My questions are:

1. Since we already filed a new I-485, is there any chance I could receive a refund for that filing if the original one is reopened?

2. Why would USCIS route the I-290B back to my old local office when I’ve already moved to another state? How does that process work?

Thank you again to everyone who helped me during this journey. I’m truly grateful.

[Makanaki 149]

1 hour ago, Lumit said:

Hey Makanaki,

I just wanted to say thank you. Around November 2025, I asked you a few questions and you gave me some helpful tips that eventually led to my VAWA approval last month.

My case had been pending since 2019, so this approval means a lot to me. I’m now waiting for my I-485, but I truly appreciate the guidance you shared.

You’re such a gem. Thank you so much, and God bless you!

Oh wow! This is a wonderful news to wake up to on a Saturday morning! Congratulations! Got bless you too @Lumit and everyone on this platform! 

[Rhema1 593]

3 hours ago, Lumit said:

Good morning everyone,

I came back to say thank you to this community. My VAWA was approved last month(23 days ago) after my case had been pending since 2019. I had to create a new account because my old one is locked, but I didn’t want to miss the chance to express my gratitude.

There was a lady here (I can’t remember her name) who advised me in 2022 to apply for a C09 work permit, which after few days was approved. I knew nothing about it at the time, but because of that advice I was able to start working again and move out of depression. She truly changed my life.

And of course, @Makanaki—you are such a gem. Thank you so much for your guidance.

Now I have a couple of questions:

In 2019, while submitting VAWA, My attorney told me that my previous I-485 had been denied and advised me to file a new one, which we did. Before filing the new i-485, I had submitted an I-290B to challenge the earlier denial of i-485. USCIS never responded to that I-290 for a long time, but right after my VAWA approval last month, I received an email saying my I-290B has been routed back to my local office and that it may take 30 days for them to receive it and 90 days for an officer to review it.

My questions are:

1. Since we already filed a new I-485, is there any chance I could receive a refund for that filing if the original one is reopened?

2. Why would USCIS route the I-290B back to my old local office when I’ve already moved to another state? How does that process work?

Thank you again to everyone who helped me during this journey. I’m truly grateful.

Congratulations for the approval 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉 

You are facing this situation  because you didn't cancelled the form I-290B after filing the new form I-485.

The vawa approval triggered your form I-290B to be considered.

But along the way, one form got to be cancelled.

Just wait and see how this goes before taking any action.

But one form must leave way to the other one because you can't proceed with two forms I-485 concurrently.

The recent vawa approval much be linked to only one form I-485.

[Lumit 5]

22 minutes ago, Rhema1 said:

Congratulations for the approval 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉 

You are facing this situation  because you didn't cancelled the form I-290B after filing the new form I-485.

The vawa approval triggered your form I-290B to be considered.

But along the way, one form got to be cancelled.

Just wait and see how this goes before taking any action.

But one form must leave way to the other one because you can't proceed with two forms I-485 concurrently.

The recent vawa approval much be linked to only one form I-485.

Thank you so much, Rhema. I didn’t realize that I was supposed to cancel the old I-290B, but now I know and I’ll make sure to advise others as well.

I just pray it doesn’t prolong the process. I’m really hoping to finally complete this journey and move forward with my life.

[Meingandu 15]

13 hours ago, Lumit said:

Good morning everyone,

I came back to say thank you to this community. My VAWA was approved last month(23 days ago) after my case had been pending since 2019. I had to create a new account because my old one is locked, but I didn’t want to miss the chance to express my gratitude.

There was a lady here (I can’t remember her name) who advised me in 2022 to apply for a C09 work permit, which after few days was approved. I knew nothing about it at the time, but because of that advice I was able to start working again and move out of depression. She truly changed my life.

And of course, @Makanaki—you are such a gem. Thank you so much for your guidance.

Now I have a couple of questions:

In 2019, while submitting VAWA, My attorney told me that my previous I-485 had been denied and advised me to file a new one, which we did. Before filing the new i-485, I had submitted an I-290B to challenge the earlier denial of i-485. USCIS never responded to that I-290 for a long time, but right after my VAWA approval last month, I received an email saying my I-290B has been routed back to my local office and that it may take 30 days for them to receive it and 90 days for an officer to review it.

My questions are:

1. Since we already filed a new I-485, is there any chance I could receive a refund for that filing if the original one is reopened?

2. Why would USCIS route the I-290B back to my old local office when I’ve already moved to another state? How does that process work?

Thank you again to everyone who helped me during this journey. I’m truly grateful.

Congratulations!!! It feels so good hear good news. You filed in 2019, such a long journey kudos to you to hang in there for so long and did not lose hope. Go get the 485 issue sorted out and come back with another good news.

Edited yesterday at 01:00 AM by Meingandu

[shiva32 255]

On 2/3/2026 at 11:07 PM, TBoneTX said:

Yee-HAAAAA!   

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

Let us know when it happens, and give us a full report!

Your gracious words and sincere appreciation will make all contributors here feel good, and you give hope to everyone who's still waiting.   

 

On 2/4/2026 at 6:22 PM, shiva32 said:

Here's my timeline: 

Divorced US citizen spouse in December 2017. 

Filed I-360 on Nov 12, 2019

Filed I485/ C31 EAD / AP in Feb 2020 (Stupid lawyer filed C31 instead of C9, and I didnt know EAD codes, didnt know about this VJ forum either)

On H1b status since 2014, H1b 6 years expired in May 2020. Out of status / Period of authorized stay since then. 

Amended EAD petition to C9 and filed expedite request for same in mid-may 2020. 

C9 EAD approved June 4, 2020. 

Biometrics done in Oct 2020. 

I485 case transferred to NBC for "faster processing" on September 30, 2020

Filed C9 EAD / AP Renewal petition in February 2021. 

Initial Advance Parole (from Feb 2020 application) approved in June 2021. 

C31 EAD production update - Nov 1st, 2021. 

C31 card delivered to attorney's office on Nov 8, 2021. 

I-360 case approved status update - Nov 22, 2021. 

No RFE throughout.  

Senator's office confirmed via congressional inquiry that the St. Louis office has received the I485 file and is currently awaiting interview scheduling - March 7, 2022

C9 EAD renewal card production case update - July 20, 2022 (took them just 17 months to process)

C9 EAD / AP renewal approval case update on both cases on July 21, 2022.

Combo card delivered to attorney's office on July 27, 2022

Medical exam RFE Drama: Second congressional inquiry sent in early July 2022 for I485. USCIS responded on 8/12/22 to this congressional inquiry that they issued an RFE on 5/24/22 and were waiting for my response. My lawyer denied receiving RFE and there was no such update on online USCIS portal. Lawyer's old firm was safe mailing address on my case. Lawyer changed firms a year after I hired her but did not change mailing address for my case with USCIS, she said she had a deal with her old firm to forward all her clients' mail to her new firm. Old firm denied receiving RFE. Sent another congressional inquiry requesting copy of RFE on 8/17/22. I also got medical exam done on 8/17/22 as I assumed RFE was for medical exam (thanks for this forum's insights.) Yelled at lawyer and threatened her with dire consequences. On 8/18/22 my lawyer's old firm finally found scanned copy of RFE in their "archived scans" (whatever the duck that is) and emailed it to me. It was indeed RFE requesting medical exam. On 8/20/22 I mailed medicals sealed packet with copy of RFE to St. Louis field office. Also sent a notarized letter with the packet - updating safe mailing address to my home address and informing St. Louis field office that I fired my lawyer. Sent similar letter to Vermont Service Center on the same date. 

8/23/22 - Fedex confirmed delivery of medicals packet to St. Louis Field Office. 

8/26/22: Case update on I485: New Card Is Being Produced

8/29/22:  On August 29, 2022, we approved your Form I485, APPLICATION TO REGISTER PERMANENT RESIDENCE OR ADJUST STATUS

9/3/22 green card delivered to attorney's office (they didn't change safe mailing address despite my written requests to FO AND VSC.) 

9/6/22 VSC returned AR11 and my letter requesting safe mailing address change. In their letter they said something to the effect of "you can do this online, we wont do it via snail mail request etc." Just posting as an FYI, its weird. Also received I485 approval notice on the same date. 

9/23/25 Submitted N400 application online. Biometrics reused. 

1/5/26 Interview scheduled notice

2/3/26 N400 interview date. Officer was very kind and polite, asked only for the following docs: green card, passport (expired and current one), driving license. He did not ask to see any other documents. I had brought two binders with all of my originals / certified documents with copies. I also had my lawyer with me. Officer asked how I got LPR, I said through VAWA. He did not ask any questions about abuse / VAWA. Went through civics and English test, no issues. He did some data entry, and then said I was pretty much approved but supervisor needed to approve something and to please wait a minute. 30 seconds later he said the supervisor approved the thingy on the computer. He asked me to cross check my name and other details that would go on the passport, and I did that. He then gave me the N652 form where he had marked the option that my application was "recommended for approval."  Status changed on same day to:  

1. We recommended that your Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, be approved. Your case was submitted for quality review.

2. Oath Ceremony Will Be Scheduled

Had Oath Ceremony on 2.20.26 and received my Naturalization certificate. Applied for US passport (expedited) the same day and it arrived on 3.5.26. Now moving on to the bureaucratic process of surrendering Indian passport and applying for Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) status. To all who are in the VAWA process, I want you all to know:  you are in the right forum. During the VAWA process I had grave doubts and many times I didn't think this path was possible for me. The knowledge and support I found here gave me hope, empowered me to fight for my rights, and saved me from losing my job. Special thanks to @Demise for her sage advice and counsel when i needed it most.  

[TBoneTX 49,425]

18 hours ago, Lumit said:

My VAWA was approved last month(23 days ago)

Yee-HAAAAA!   

 

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

1 hour ago, shiva32 said:

Had Oath Ceremony on 2.20.26 and received my Naturalization certificate. Applied for US passport (expedited) the same day and it arrived on 3.5.26.

Yee-HAAAAA!   

 

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

[TBoneTX 49,425]

Our jokes are so effective at evoking approvals and good news (that is, if correlation = causation) that we enthusiastically present Sunday's Official Weekly VAWA-Thread Joke:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

OBSERVATIONS

 

My phone has this cool app that shows me what I look like as an old person.  It's called "camera."

 

Some angry woman with road rage just yelled out her window, "I'm gonna make your life a living hell!"

I yelled back, "Thanks, but I'm not looking for a relationship right now."

 

At my age, to see the Northern Lights, all I have to do is stand up too fast.

Sometimes, I even get a total eclipse!

 

My therapist said I should get an emotional-support animal, so I got a chicken.

Deep-fried, came with a milkshake.  Feeling better already!

 

Edited yesterday at 07:44 AM by TBoneTX

[Rhema1 593]

9 hours ago, shiva32 said:

 

Had Oath Ceremony on 2.20.26 and received my Naturalization certificate. Applied for US passport (expedited) the same day and it arrived on 3.5.26. Now moving on to the bureaucratic process of surrendering Indian passport and applying for Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) status. To all who are in the VAWA process, I want you all to know:  you are in the right forum. During the VAWA process I had grave doubts and many times I didn't think this path was possible for me. The knowledge and support I found here gave me hope, empowered me to fight for my rights, and saved me from losing my job. Special thanks to @Demise for her sage advice and counsel when i needed it most.  

Whaooh and whaooh!

So happy for you @shiva32

Big congratulations 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉 

Kudos to @Demise for always having correct insights 👍