PeaceLoveFreedom

I am literally freaking out guys. Could this be a glitch? How did I apply for the whole packet last year in May and my I360 just got approved like now… 14 months???? Isn’t God good? I’m stunned. Now I have to  look forward to an interview or request for medicals. I’m thankful for the support I get here and I pray you get the same or better luck in your processing. I will update if there are changes to mine.
Timeline Case is approved (I130) 05/17/2021 Filed new petition on 05/10/2021 Received by uscis 06/15/2021 Receipts got to me on 06/24/2021 Received Biometrics app notice 07/21/2021 Biometrics 08/03/2021 Case updated to show fingerprints were taken 09/10/2021 Prima Facie letter 09/13/2021 Card is being produced (I765) 02/15/2022 Case is approved (I765) 02/16/2022 Case is approved (I131) 02/16/2022 Case is approved (I360) 07/27/2022  

Hi All,
 
First of all I wanted to thank you all so much for keeping me sane! For giving me strength reading your stories throughout the years and so much knowledge to deal with my case, which helped me correct my own lawyer.
 
My advise is be your own lawyer as well, even though you have hired one. Do the research, check what the lawyer has filed/written on your behalf etc.
 
Unfortunately my lawyer messed up my case so badly that she put even wrong dates on my case on top of everything and I had to deal with a very brutal prima fascia, to the point of almost loosing the case.
In addition, I had to wait after my divorce was finalized to apply for VAWA (orders from my lawyer) when the law states you can apply even when you are still married with the abusive spouse.
She also told me to never travel with a pending VAWA because it's considered as abandoning the case. I listened to her and lost so much through the years, including my mom almost dying for weeks in the hospital.
I could go on and on, but the lesson I learnt from you all is never give up and better days will come.
 
Please see below my timeline.
Filed in New York
June 2019 Filed I360 & I 485 
Multiple EADs, Travel permit, etc
I-360 approved July 2022
 
 
Good luck to everyone, stay strong!

Dear family,
My VAWA journey is over after a little less than 3 years. Nov 2019 filer, I360 approved Dec 2021. Very mixed feelings, not so ecstatic as I expected I'm gonna be. Totally calm actually... Maybe due to the fact I've been waiting for this for almost 13 years...
Anyway, I want to say thank you you all for your kind words and encouragement and advice during this journey. I did everything myself (with a 100% help on here) no attorney involved at all. Thank you @sandranj , @Stillwinning!!!😊, @Demise, @Pinkrlion@shiva32 and all others members of this forum that I forgot.
After all I can say this place is amazing. I knew nothing about VAWA when I joined - now I know more than some lawyers 😁. Keep supporting each other - it's hard to describe what this community did for me - I'm ready to give my share back.
I went through it all, horrible marriage, Stokes, I130 denial, life threatening assault, hospital etc etc but back stronger than ever. Never ever give up!!! There is always a hope! Once I read God only throws on us what we can take.  In October 2019 I lost everything: status, wife, job, business equipment, place to stay - basically my whole world collapsed. Everybody turned back on me - everybody stopped answering my phone calls.  Almost 3 years later everything turned around. A lot of people wrote here - God works in mysterious ways and it's definitely true. 
Had an interview on Friday for like 45 min. Very nice officer - but first question was like:
So tell me - how come you have I360 - it's usually for women? But after reading here for years I knew what to say and I pointed him to my affidavit and said I really can't go through all of that again... Then later I explained a new moments that are still going on after filing I360.
He was curious why my addresses don't match at all (ID, VAWA, IRS, USCIS, car registration joint with abuser) nothing actually matches. He was surprised but my explanation was perfectly logical and he was like Oh - WOW - you`ve been through a lot. 
When did you have last contact with your wife, did you file for divorce, how long did you date before getting married, did you ever get arrested and I485 questions. Gave him medical and last 3 year taxes, marriage certificate certified copy and that's it. He handed me  that piece of paper that says your case is under review, we can not make a decision at this moment and will let you know if we need anything from you bla bla
I left field office feeling after like a stroke hitting 3 red lights in a row (thank God Chicago downtown doesn't have red light cameras) and took me a whole day to get myself together. I thought oh God they are gonna keep me waiting for weeks now... (Chicago is notorious for that) At 23:15 Lawfully app started blinking and I was like - oh not that stupid sh*t again with  their commercials etc  but I opened it  and here we go...
 
 

Yes, In the secondary inspection. Miami Airport.

Was this asked in the secondary inspection? 
Which Airport was that?

I'm guessing they wanted a foreign one and you didn't provide it. 

4 years of silence,  nothing came in, only 1 rfe for background local police,  other than that nothing, just website updates,  will wait for letter and will talk to the lawyer to see what's up

@NiceGuyXLE Did you get an RFE or a NOID? If so what did that say, chances are that you didn't provide the evidence they asked for or you didn't argue well enough in the cover letter. The problem with USCIS is that sometimes you have to walk them through the evidence and the narrative like you would a 5 year old child. I did that when I got RFE'd. I submitted everything I possibly could, dismissed all the concerns as total BS in slightly nicer terms (I disagree with the assertion that...), and cited an exhibit at the end of every sentence.

Did not had any prima face, EAD was approved,  not sure the reason, got update on the website 

Re-apply.
 
My case was denied when I used an Attorney and approved when I re-applied on my own. 😀 The Attorney wasted my time. Finding a good VAWA attorney is hard. Most of them move files and act as a middle man with no strategic benefit whatsoever. 
 
What I did differently: took two weeks to read my declaration from the lens of an outsider/critic looking for loopholes, and found many. Then I took my time to re-write it in my own words, raw emotions, showing my vulnerability through that experience, etc.
 
Its not over. Time has passed. Years have gone by but I didn’t stop living my life to the fullest. Count your blessings and try again.
 
Feel free to reach out if you need a second look at your declaration. I’m inconsistent with this forum but can help. Good luck. 

I put the paper work together and sent last weekend. Received a notification that my RFE has been received and they'd send a decision or let me know if they need anything else. By the way, I fired my attorney and updated my safe mailing address. Thanks fam, I appreciate you all.

You should file the following:
I-360 - VAWA petition ($0)
I-485 - Application for adjustment of status ($1,225)
I-765 - Application for employment authorization (category code (c)(9)( )) ($0 if you paid the I-485 filing fee)
I-131 - Application for travel document (advance parole) ($0 if you paid the I-485 filing fee)
I-864W - Exemption from an affidavit of support ($0)
I-693 - Medical examination / vaccination record, has to be filled, signed, and sealed by a certified civil surgeon (you can send this one later, either they will interview you and tell you to bring it with you, or they'll waive the interview and RFE you for it) ($0 but a civil surgeon will charge you for it) 
You either need to include a personal check, money order, or a cashier's check to pay for the I-485 filing fee, or seek a fee waiver using form I-912. If you seek a fee waiver for I-485, for renewal I-765 and I-131 you will either need to pay the filing fees or seek another fee waiver using another form I-912.
Because this gets send straight to a service center you cannot use form G-1450 to pay with a card.
 
You can also include G-1145 ($0) so they'll email and text you when they get your packet.
 
 
I-944 no longer exists, even while it existed VAWA applicants were exempt from it.
G-28 doesn't apply in this case, this is for when you have a lawyer.
 

you should enter on H1b and not use AP. I have personally done that while my I-485 and I-130 were in progress, I do not see how the Vawa would even effect anything here. your first attorney probably lacks experience with H1b and employment based cases.

First and foremost, your attorney has a legal obligation to contact and inform you of an RFE and deadline, so if they had your tel number and address , that is accomplished by a quick phone call w a voicemail and mailing you a copy of the RFE , to the address attorney has on record for you. 
 
Immediately try sending an email or letter to your attorney asking why you did not get any notice from their office regarding RFE and deadline ( this is so you have proof of the BS response they gave you) AND directly ask them HOW they advise you to proceed . Any response or no response ( in writing via email or letter , will help you in the long run) .
 
By the looks of it , attorney made some errors/ left blanks on app / form , itself , and your RFE effectively asks that you address EACH point as if you are pleading your case now ( so go through fine comb what evidence originally submitted and respond to how it validates your claim ..plus add/ supplement  a few things to each category, example how does hospitalization at Medstar tie in to abuse, if any friends / family witnessed abuse get a letter stating so. …
 
At issue here is that you MUST respond to the RFE , with or without your attorney’s help . 
 

That actually is my plan. Having read previous threads here for so long, I am confident I can handle it. I do not intend to let my attorney handle this anymore, she has proven to be incompetent. Thanks for that link, I am less tense.

Here's my journey, When i started my journey i was lost i did not what to do. Even after filling vawa my abuse continued it did not stop for me what i did when i was helpless i kept on writing to vermont and inquired about my case through congress because i knew i deserve nothing but victory. Truth will always have victory i believed in my GOD AND HE LOOKED AT ME TODAY. 
June 27, 2022 New Card Is Being Produced April 1, 2022 We received your correspondence for Form I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant. January 26, 2021 We received your response for Form I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant. December 21, 2020 We sent a request for additional evidence for your Form I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant. October 9, 2020 We received your Form I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant.

Hi I've been silently yet religiously following the treads since part 23. 
The posts help me working up the courage to get my life back, so thank you all 🙏 
Here I have some questions about traveling, hope you can enlighten me with your insight. 
 
My application was filed in May, and I just received the courtesy receipt copies through my lawyer. 
Last year before sending out the packet, my lawyer suggested me not to travel even WITHIN STATES as I have been out of status. By the time, she said it would be safer for me to travel after receiving the receipt notice. Now having the receipts, she again strongly suggested me to stay put, reasoning "if someone investigates your visa and see you're out of status that could be very unpleasant for you."
 
Will there really be a risk for me to travel within states? 
Doesn't I-485 pending applicants have the legal right to stay in US? So technically I'm no longer out of status? 
 
Since we're on the topic of traveling, I also have some questions regarding the Advanced Parole.
When we sent out the application, we didn't include the I-131 form for AP. At the time, my lawyer told me I have to pay the filing fee around $500-ish, which I did not have, and also I was too scared to be denied entry because of the 10-year ban. Recently, I saw several VAWA petitioners with AP shared that they successfully traveled back without any issue. I haven't been back to my country for 8 years, was in the abusive relationship for 5, and my family had no idea what I had been through. It would really mean a lot if I am able to visit. 
 
My question is-- am I still able to apply for the AP? When should I do so? Do I have to pay for the application?
 
Thank you in advanced! 
 

If you recently put together your VAWA, then you are in an emotional state , just recounting your abuse is triggering enough and without treatment/ therapy you will likely continue to “ feel “ depressed, scared and guilty. 
Guilt, shame , self-doubt and maybe even “ he’s not that bad..” have kept you stuck and accepting circumstances that will NOT change for the better without help…and if you have children, they suffer great harmful collateral damage ( even when not in the direct line of fire from the abuser). 
 
So , I hope you Google some free resources and start helping yourself HEAL and get some treatment so you can GET BETTER and slowly feel better. I know it cannot be easy living together and pretending it’s all normal….. , hiding such a secret ( VAWA filing) and hiding treatment or even attending support groups for Victims of Domestic Violence, but they are the first steps to helping you cope and hopefully change your circumstances for the better.
 
They won’t take his LPR status away ( so don’t hesitate to keep safe and call the police if things get physical ) ..lots of legal maneuvering available to him. He will be OK…but you may not be. 

Personally, I hope you get your VAWA and US Citizenship BEFORE your abuser LPR husband does….but just think USCIS will not discuss/ disclose your VAWA claim with your ABUSER.

 
 

Sorry about how you feel.
I have a very long history with mine as well (decades) so I understand the guilt you feel. Mine is also a green card holder. Don’t feel guilty, what happened happened even if they pretend to change or they eventually change… this vawa petition saves us from the so many uncertainties with spouses that derive pleasure in manipulating and controlling or worse.
this is a safe space (although public) but everyone here understands what it’s like. I was told they do not get to know about your case as long as you do not inform them about it. I doubt it will affect them but if it does, it was bound to happen with or without your application. Do not feel guilty please! You can withdraw if you want to but I wouldn’t because gaslighting is part of the many tricks up his sleeve and I’m done being naïve. It’s taken a while for me to come to this realization but that’s my 2 cents. 🌹🤗

Guess what? Guess what family????? I’m a greencard holder! 
I can’t stand the happiness. I’m levitating! 
 
Thank you for all the support! 
 
November 2018 
VAWA approved August 2021 
Green card approved April 2022

I got a fourth PF few days back and I also got an update on the service request which states 
“The status of this service request is:

USCIS has reviewed your service request. According to our files, your application is pending background checks. Once those pending background checks have been completed, the file will be shipped to the field office in your jurisdiction for the next steps. No further action is needed from you at this time. 

We hope this information is helpful to you and we appreciate your continued patience.”

@sandranj please what does this mean 

sorry that you're going through this. I feel that he's lying to you and making up stories of "immigration" talking to him. He's trying to scare you, which you should also add to your vawa petition, that is how his behavior made you feel (not legal advice but I felt this way too when my ex-husband would threaten to cancel immigration every time we argued). vawa is a long journey but focus on getting yourself to a safe place and then take it one step at a time. hope all goes well for you!
 
also, I want to suggest you remove the screenshots after a while. This is a public forum and if he ends up on this thread, he'll know who you are and all your posts afterwards too
 
others, feel free to comment if you think I'm wrong somewhere

Looking at his email, I guess it is do-or-die now, thank you for your advice. 
@sandranj ok I will do a psychological evaluation for my submission. 
@TBoneTX thank you for your motivation.
 
What do you guys think on his threat? I have not yet filed VAWA and for sure I am feeling afraid now.

You can submit it without living with them but VAWA is not for the light hearted. Consider every other option before you file for it, and record everything. The uncertainty w.r.t VAWA can drive one mad so consider it only as a last resort where you've made up your mind to never ever get back with your spouse again. Most people apply for VAWA with a mindset of do-or-die. We'll also loose over 3-5 years of our lives behind it that were never going to get back. Best of luck and we're here if you need us.