savannah

Hi y'all!

My interview went well. I have been meaning to write about my experience so here it goes.

My interview was scheduled for 9.30am. I got there at 9.00 with my attorney and waited until 11.30am when we were called. The interviewer was really nice. She swore me in then asked the "no" questions. She then asked for my original birth certificate, marriage certificate, tax transcripts for last year and a letter from my job. She told me that my security checks had been completed and I was approved. She asked if I had any questions, had none so she asked us to step outside for a minute. We waited about half hour then she called us back into her office and stamped my passport. I was very very happy.....UNDERSTATEMENT OF THEYEAR!!

I got the welcome letter on 9/22/08. On 9/23/08 I got the approval email from cris and 9/26/08 I got the card production email from cris too.

I'm expecting my card this week and can't wait to go visit my family too and start a new life faaaaar from my husband.

I followed this forum for years before I got the courage to apply for Vawa and would like to thank all who contribute. It really helps to see that others who have been in your situation overcame their obstacles.

Thanks!!!

There is no interview for VAWA.

I filed for vawa in may08. It was approved in july08. my interview is scheduled for sept08.

Wow! That's efficient! Are you sure you didn't make a typo? I'm impressed. I applied for mine on April 7th 08. I got my prima facie on April 14th. I haven't heard anything yet. I'm still waiting......

Could you tell me what kind of evidence you had? Did you use a lawyer? I didn't have a lot of evidence. Mine was filed in a hurry cuz my husband had threatened to call USCIS. I just wanted it on record. Was yours a straightforward approval or did you get an RFE. How long had you been married? Did you have any kids?

Thanks

I used a lawyer from catholic charities. We've been married for 6yrs but have been living together for 10years. Have no kids because he does not want me to lose my figure. At first not having kids hurt me alot (clock ticking and all) but now I'm glad i didn't bring an innocent child into this hell.I did not have any police reports (although police have been called to our house on several occassions by neighbours and I refused to press charges) or order of protection. We are still living together but I have been working for a while with social services to plan my escape. It's not as easy to leave as everyone thinks. He's threatened to kill my family membrs if I leave. It's not really fair for me to ask family members to uproot their spouses & kids from all they know and go into hiding because I want to be free.

The evidence I had was:

letters from neighbours from all three former apartments about abuse they've witnessed.

letter from our last landlord saying he had to ask us to leave cause neighbours were scared of him.

letters from my family members about abuse they've witnessed towards me and abuse he's subjected them to.

report from my therapist about me treatment. ..have been going for 2 years.

husbands criminal records. he'd been convicted of trying to kill his last wife. spent 15yrs in jail in total for those assaults. also tried to strangle a galpal but she didn't press charges. just left town.

letter from the exwife detailing her experience living with him

my detailed declaration explaining the abuse and our life together.

I was a little worried because i didn't have any police reports but i did explain that i was scared to call the police because of his threats. from living wih him i know that he does not make empty threats. everything he's threatened me he would do , he has done. he is not scared of going to jail and in fact the only thing he regrets about his 15yrs in jail is that his exwife is still alive.

I was also worried that they would question why i'm still living with him after all that but my lawyer and therapist have told me (what my gut told me) that abused women are more likey to be killed when they are leaving or shortly after leaving their abusers. the officers at the vawa unit know about that.

I did not get a rfe. my lawyer was also very impressed by the speed of the approval 2 months. Though she had told me that it would not take more than 6 months.

Hope this helps you. What evidence did you send with your appication? How long are you married?

I filed for vawa in may08. It was approved in july08. my interview is scheduled for sept08.

Just want to say hope you get a reply soon. I know how stressful it is with domestic violence and vawa (although my vawa took couple of months only). My interview is coming up too..I hope the officer has a chance to read the file before I get there;) You would think that they would do that before calling you into the office!

Hello,

I filed I-360 on 05/21/08. It was approved on 07/22/08. I have been scheduled for an interview at federal plaza on 09/17/08 based on a I485 that has been pending since 03/08/07.

I have a question about the medical exam. I had done the medical on 11/2006. I heard that its only valid for one year. i have not received a notice to do another medical and my interview is around the corner. Did you have to do another medical before you went for your adjustment interview?

I have addressed this post to vawa 2006 because i noticed that you are from nyc too. But if anyone else knows the answer please help. I do not want any more RFE's from uscis...my journey has been too long 6yrs..even though the vawa part of it was very, very fast.

Thanks

Savannah

05/05/2003 - filed i485

11/2006 - sent rfe for medical

11/2006 - biometrics 485

03/08/07 - interview 485. case pending.

05/21/08 - filed vawa i360

07/22/08 - vawa approved

09/02/08 - biometric for 485

09/17/08 - interview for 485 scheduled.