VAWA Process/cost help please

[mau101]

Guys i am in middle of divorcing my abusive wife. We have been married for about 3 years. My case is pending (AOS). Lately i realized that she is dating someone else and now start threatening me of deportation. I have been patiently waiting but now i have given up.
I am planning to go for Vawa petition but i would like to know if anyone can help me to find out how much is the cost and what is the process.

I would appreciate all your help.

[Gcvawa2019]

Hi, not sure where you live but i’m in chicago and this is how my vawa went. At the time of filing, i had no work permit, crappy job an abusive husband threatening to take my life and a whole bunch of bills to pay and some of my ex’s debts on top of it. So i couldn’t afford a lawyer asking for $6k to take my case. I got referred to NIJC. Went there for a short interview, explained my situation, talked about my income (you have to make less than -i think, not sure though- 28k or so) and then they tell you if they take your case or not.
they did take my case and about 2-3 months after the original interview with them, i got a pro bono attorney who got all the paperwork ready with me. In addition, you can apply for your government fees to be waived as well.
i had to submit my taxes, my pay checks (to show how much i really make) and then also my bills - to prove that i don’t just sit on a bunch of money trying to rip off the government. I submitted rent bills, electricity, gas, car, insurance etc...
so the vawa process itself doing it this way was pretty much free. I did have to pay for a couple of things (police clearance letters (admin fees), fingerprints, etc.. but it wasn’t a lot)
when my vawa got approved, after 18 months, i was a lot more financially stable and able to hire a regular lawyer and pay all the proper fees for my green card application.
try and see if there’s a similar organization in your area!
good luck with everything.

[balo101]

Hi, not sure where you live but i’m in chicago and this is how my vawa went. At the time of filing, i had no work permit, crappy job an abusive husband threatening to take my life and a whole bunch of bills to pay and some of my ex’s debts on top of it. So i couldn’t afford a lawyer asking for $6k to take my case. I got referred to NIJC. Went there for a short interview, explained my situation, talked about my income (you have to make less than -i think, not sure though- 28k or so) and then they tell you if they take your case or not.
they did take my case and about 2-3 months after the original interview with them, i got a pro bono attorney who got all the paperwork ready with me. In addition, you can apply for your government fees to be waived as well.
i had to submit my taxes, my pay checks (to show how much i really make) and then also my bills - to prove that i don’t just sit on a bunch of money trying to rip off the government. I submitted rent bills, electricity, gas, car, insurance etc...
so the vawa process itself doing it this way was pretty much free. I did have to pay for a couple of things (police clearance letters (admin fees), fingerprints, etc.. but it wasn’t a lot)
when my vawa got approved, after 18 months, i was a lot more financially stable and able to hire a regular lawyer and pay all the proper fees for my green card application.
try and see if there’s a similar organization in your area!
good luck with everything.

How long did the process take? what documents did you send initially and what forms did you send?

[Gcvawa2019]

How long did the process take? what documents did you send initially and what forms did you send?

vawa itself took 18 months. I filed in aug 2017 and didn’t receive my work permit until february 2019, followed by receiving the official approval also in february 2019. In March I filed my i485 and advance parole (with a regular attorney, no longer pro bono). Received my AP in about 2 weeks after i filed and Green card approved/produced 11/1/2019. Traveled with AP in Oct.

documents needed for vawa were supporting docs for the abuse (messages, police report, copy of restraining orders and sworn affidavits from me and friends/employers who knew both of us, also a letter from my counselor with whom i worked after i left my husband)
i had to prove a good faith marriage - once again letters from friends, same address, bills, id with his name on it, pictures, etc
good moral character - police clearance letters from every place where i resided for longer than 6 months in the past i believe 5 years
i had to prove he is a USC - i had a copy of his birth certificate as well as ID and SSC
and then the regular stuff - copies of my i94, copy of my passport, birth certificate, my ssc, marriage license and everything else that is normally required
and finally - to get the fees waived i had to show how much i was making and what i was spending my money on - rent, utility bills, food, car, insurance etc

[balo101]

vawa itself took 18 months. I filed in aug 2017 and didn’t receive my work permit until february 2019, followed by receiving the official approval also in february 2019. In March I filed my i485 and advance parole (with a regular attorney, no longer pro bono). Received my AP in about 2 weeks after i filed and Green card approved/produced 11/1/2019. Traveled with AP in Oct.

documents needed for vawa were supporting docs for the abuse (messages, police report, copy of restraining orders and sworn affidavits from me and friends/employers who knew both of us, also a letter from my counselor with whom i worked after i left my husband)
i had to prove a good faith marriage - once again letters from friends, same address, bills, id with his name on it, pictures, etc
good moral character - police clearance letters from every place where i resided for longer than 6 months in the past i believe 5 years
i had to prove he is a USC - i had a copy of his birth certificate as well as ID and SSC
and then the regular stuff - copies of my i94, copy of my passport, birth certificate, my ssc, marriage license and everything else that is normally required
and finally - to get the fees waived i had to show how much i was making and what i was spending my money on - rent, utility bills, food, car, insurance etc

So with the i-360 did you send original pictures or copies. Did you send all the proofs with i-360?
With you AP did you travel while your i-360 was approved and i-485 was pending?

[Gcvawa2019]

So with the i-360 did you send original pictures or copies. Did you send all the proofs with i-360?
With you AP did you travel while your i-360 was approved and i-485 was pending?

I sent some original pics and some that i just printed out. Most of the stuff were copies except the police clearance letters and the letter from my counselor. And yes you send the complete everything you have when submitting i360. When/if it gets approved and you decide to file i485, you pretty much just fill out the i485 with the i360 approval notice and a copy of everything you’ve already submitted before. Plus a medical exam.
you can always submit i360 & i485 together. However, i was advised not to do it. It’s safer to start with i360 because if it were to get denied, they do not automatically put you in removal proceedings. However if you submit these two together and your i360 gets denied, it automatically means your i485 gets denied.
Yes. I traveled outside the US with the i360 approved and i485 pending.

[balo101]

I sent some original pics and some that i just printed out. Most of the stuff were copies except the police clearance letters and the letter from my counselor. And yes you send the complete everything you have when submitting i360. When/if it gets approved and you decide to file i485, you pretty much just fill out the i485 with the i360 approval notice and a copy of everything you’ve already submitted before. Plus a medical exam.
you can always submit i360 & i485 together. However, i was advised not to do it. It’s safer to start with i360 because if it were to get denied, they do not automatically put you in removal proceedings. However if you submit these two together and your i360 gets denied, it automatically means your i485 gets denied.
Yes. I traveled outside the US with the i360 approved and i485 pending.

Thank you so much. That really helped me alot. I had so much confusion which is cleared now. I just can not afford a lawyer. I really appreciate that. God Bless you!!!

[Gcvawa2019]

Thank you so much. That really helped me alot. I had so much confusion which is cleared now. I just can not afford a lawyer. I really appreciate that. God Bless you!!!

I hope it was at least somewhat helpful. I couldn’t afford one back then either but try to look up if there’s any kind of non profit organization in your area who offer help with such cases. If you want, you can send me your email address and later today i can send you a list of everything i submitted.

[balo101]

I hope it was at least somewhat helpful. I couldn’t afford one back then either but try to look up if there’s any kind of non profit organization in your area who offer help with such cases. If you want, you can send me your email address and later today i can send you a list of everything i submitted.

this is my email [email protected]
That's really nice of you!!

[Gcvawa2019]

this is my email [email protected]
That's really nice of you!!

I sent it just now. Check your inbox for VAWA petition requirements. Might be in the junk folder. I hope it helps you at least a bit and you’ll manage to file the i360 and get your gc!

[balo101]

I sent it just now. Check your inbox for VAWA petition requirements. Might be in the junk folder. I hope it helps you at least a bit and you’ll manage to file the i360 and get your gc!

Got it. Thank you so much.