laughingcow1

Thank you for the congrats. I've read horrendous stories about bad attorneys on this forum so I feel so lucky to have a good attorney to help with my case. I don't want to mention the name of his firm here but I feel compelled to share a little information about his firm so that people in need can get affordable, quality help. My attorney is located in Richmond, VA (VAWA is federal case, so it doesn't matter where your attorney is given that the attorney takes your case and is willing to travel). He and his team are all very passionate people, advocates for immigrants, and very responsive to emails and questions. They charge very reasonable fees for the services too. The attorney is fluent in both english and Spanish. Good luck and be patient. 

My I-360 just got approved today. I have a very good lawyer and loads of evidence of abuse. Nonetheless, this forum has been a great help to me. Below is my timeline.

Jun 3 2016: I-360 application received by USCIS

Jun 15 2016: Prima Facie 

Jan 20 2017: Renewed EAD received by me (I had EAD based on previous I-485)

May 22 2017: I-360 approved with no RFE

Hello Sandra, I'm in the process of renewing my EAD. I have my current EAD based on I-130/I-485 application (the Receipt number begins with MSC). Then I filed vawa self-petition based on abuse. Now I have a i-360/I-485 pending. My question is which USCIS office should I send my EAD renewal application to? Should i send it to Vermont Service Center where my i-360 was filed, or should I send it to the Chicago Lockbox where my I-485 was originally filed? Below is the USCIS instruction on EAD filing:

©(9), an alien with a pending or approved VAWA self- petition and you have a pending Form I-485 that was filed with the Vermont Service Center based on this petition.

©(9) AND you filed your Form I-485 with the USCIS Chicago Lockbox facility, and your Receipt Number begins with “MSC.” You must include a copy of the I-797C, Notice of Action, which shows your Form I-485 was accepted;

I was thinking that my I-485 should have been transferred to Vermont Service Center in conjunction to the adjudication of my vawa case. So I need to send the EAD renewal application to Vermont?

Sandra, despite the mental abuse i have been going through, I never though my husband would get physical with me. Last night, as i was packing my things and planning to leave me, he grabbed and scratched my arms to stop me from packing and told me it's not my decision to leave. I called a 24/7 hotline and now i'm staying at a women's shelter until i figure out what to do next. People at the shelter asked my information and took pictures of the bruises on my arms. The bruises look very bad. I'm wondering, if i want to ask the shelter to provide a declaration what are some good points to include that can make my vawa case stronger. Thank you.

laugjngcow1 I am very very against to submit a VAWA case missing documents and waiting to get an RFE. In my opinion, when one VAWA gets an RFE is because the case was badly handled.As I mentioned before answering Lina post describe the courtship in details, tell about the proposal and wedding in details, mention the abuse in details mentioning, at least, month and year that the abuse occurred, describe how you felt after the abuse occurred, explain why you stayed with him after the abuse started.Describe your life and mental state before you met him and after the abuse.Mention who knows about the abuse.Try to finish your affidavit as soon as possible,gather affidavits from your family and friends, attend once or twice per week therapy and in 20 days you will be able to have everything ready.

Thank you Sandra. I'll take your advice. I think i mentioned in my previous post that I would like to change my first name through the court due to religious reason. I wonder if I can do it now and later on bring the court order to my I-485 interview, or do you not advice me to change my name right now.

laughingcow1 you CAN'T postpone the interview because you will file VAWA.The right thing to do is to file VAWA BEFORE the AOS interview. Attend theAOS interview and ask the officer to put on hold your I-485.I would say 90% of the times they put the AOS on hold. Showing up to the interview without having VAWA filed you are risking to have the AOS denied, but if they deniy you file again.You need to be fast because after the denial you will receive a notice to appear in Court for your removal.

Thank you Sandra. I'm working on vawa application now. I have good evidence for bona fide marriage (bank statements, family members' affidavits), My previous boss, my parents and a friend are willing to give statements regarding the abuse (I don't know if I'll have time to gather them before i submit i-360). I'll need to complete a psychological evaluation, which i don't think will get done in time. I think it's best for me to submit i-360 before my i-485 interview and bring the i-360 receipt to the interview to have my i-485 put on hold. I can send in the rest of the document when they issue me RFE. Do you think it's doable?

Also I'm working on my personal statement of the marriage and abuse now. I wonder if you have any tips you can share with me.

Sandra, I have a very urgent question and hope you can help me. I'm in the process of applying for vawa (working on witness statement, psychological evaluation, etc.) it ll take at least a month before I can submit the I-360 period. Meanwhile, I have a I-130/i485 (filed with me abusive spouse) pending and I just found out the interview is scheduled for next month. I wonder what I should do now. Should I reschedule the interview so that I ll have time to file vawa?

I'm new to this forum. The question i have is: I have i-130/i-485 pending but planning to file I-360 (vawa) because i can not bear the psychological, emotional and sexual abuse from my U.S. citizen spouse anymore. At the same time, I want to change my name through the court as well (for religious reason). I wonder if I can take the court order of name change to my I-485 Interview (based on i-360) to have my new name on the green card if it gets approved, or do I need to wait to get the green card (again if it get approved), then file a replacement of the green card with my new name. Thank you