Keep families together, prevent a neighbor's deportation, and protect people seeking safety.

A mother poses and smiles with her three young daughters and a family friend in the lobby of a law firm after winning asylum.

$50

Supports a month of secure phone calls with a lawyer

$100

Provides a legal consultation to keep a family together

$300

Screens 10 people for a workshop to apply for asylum

Collection

NIJC Procedural Manual For VAWA And Appendices

The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) allows immigrant survivors of domestic violence to petition for legal status in the United States without relying on abusive U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident spouses, parents or children to sponsor their Adjustment of Status applications. This page contains information relating to VAWA applications.

02/25/21

NIJC VAWA Training and Procedural Manual

NIJC’s VAWA Self-Petition training and manual provides an overview of the process to prepare a VAWA self-petition and provides basic guidelines for attorneys representing VAWA petitioners. The manual's appendices, listed below, include sample forms and additional resources.

General Overview

General information from NIJC experts to support pro bono attorneys in preparing the VAWA self-petitions.

NIJC Pro Bono Project: VAWA Self-Petitions

VAWA

An overview of NIJC's VAWA Pro Bono Project and pro bono representation in self-petitions under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).

08/14/24

FAQ: VAWA

VAWA

FAQ: VAWA

07/08/19

VAWA (I-360) Process Flow Chart

Child
VAWA

This flow chart diagrams the general process through which a non-citizen who has been subjected to abuse or extreme cruelty by a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (LPR) spouse, parent or child

07/01/19

Adjustment of Status (I-485) Process Flow Chart

U Visa
VAWA

This document provides an overview of the general process for a person with an approve immigrant petition to apply for legal permanent resident status in the United States.

07/01/19

VAWA: Legal Citations

VAWA

A list of legal citations relevant to the VAWA application.

02/25/21

Preparing the Supporting Documents

These section provides the list of documents that are necessary to support each step of the VAWA petition.

NIJC List of documents for VAWA I-360

VAWA

NIJC List of documents for VAWA I-360

07/15/19

NIJC List of documents for VAWA I-485

VAWA

NIJC List of documents for VAWA I-485

07/15/19

NIJC List of documents for VAWA I-485 Interview

VAWA

NIJC List of documents for VAWA I-485 Interview

07/15/19

List of documents for I-765

VAWA

List of documents for I-765

07/15/19

Legal Citations and USCIS Memos relating to VAWA petitions

Legal Citations and USCIS memos relating to VAWA self-petitions.

USCIS Memo Non-Disclosure and Other Prohibitions with Battered Aliens IIRIRA 384

U Visa

USCIS Memo Non-Disclosure and Other Prohibitions with Battered Aliens IIRIRA 384

06/21/19

Revocation of VAWA-Based Self-Petitions (I-360) (Dec. 15, 2010)

VAWA

Revocation of VAWA-Based Self-Petitions (I-360) (Dec. 15, 2010).

06/21/19

Adjustment of Status for VAWA Self-Petitioner Who Is Present Without Inspection (Apr. 11, 2008)

VAWA

Adjustment of Status for VAWA Self-Petitioner who is present without inspection (Apr. 11, 2008).

06/21/19

INA § 204 (2010) (statutory eligibility for VAWA)

VAWA

The legal citation providing statutory eligibility for VAWA: INA § 204 (2010).

02/25/21

INA § 101(f) (2010), Good moral character

VAWA

The law relating to good moral character, INA § 101(f) (2010)

02/25/21

INA § 212 (2010), Inadmissibility

VAWA

The law regarding inadmissibility, INA § 212 (2010)

02/25/21

INA § 245(a) (2010), Adjustment of status

VAWA

The law regarding adjustment of status: INA § 245(a) (2010)

02/25/21

8 C.F.R. § 204.2(2010), Regulations regarding VAWA

VAWA

The text of regulations regarding VAWA: 8 C.F.R. § 204.2(2010)

02/25/21

Samples Documents and Forms for VAWA Application

Sample documents and links to forms to prepare the VAWA self-petition.

Sample Index: VAWA Self-Petition

VAWA

Sample index of documents in support of client’s self-petition pursuant to the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)

07/15/19

Sample: VAWA Cover letter, I-360

VAWA

Sample: VAWA Cover letter, I-360

07/15/19

Sample: Cover Letter for VAWA I-485

VAWA

Sample: Cover Letter for VAWA I-485

07/15/19

Sample: Request to Hold I-485 in Abeyance, VAWA.

VAWA

Request to Hold I-485 in Abeyance for a VAWA application.

06/21/19

Sample: Cover Letter for VAWA I-765

VAWA

Sample: Cover Letter for VAWA I-765

07/15/19

Employment Authorization Application (Form I-765)

Link to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services form and instructions to apply for employment authorization.

www.uscis.gov/i-765

06/19/19

Sample: CBP FOIA Request Cover Letter

U Visa
VAWA

A sample cover letter to request a CBP FOIA.

02/25/21

Sample: EOIR FOIA Request Cover Letter

U Visa
VAWA

A sample cover letter to request an EOIR FOIA.

02/25/21

Sample: USCIS FOIA Request Cover Letter

VAWA

A sample cover letter for a FOIA request from USCIS.

02/25/21

Guidelines

Guidelines for mental health providers and family of survivors in their support of a VAWA self-petition.

Guidelines for Mental Health Professionals and Counselors Who Provide Affidavits

U Visa

Guidelines for mental health professionals and counselors who provide affidavits of immigrant survivors of domestic violence.

06/21/19

Guidelines for Letters from Friends or Family Who Provide Affidavits

U Visa
VAWA

Guidelines for letters from friends or family of survivors of domestic violence who provide affidavits.

06/21/19

Guidelines for Domestic Violence Experts and Counselors for VAWA Affidavits

VAWA

Guidelines for Domestic Violence Experts and Counselors for VAWA Affidavits

02/25/21

Translation Templates

NIJC provides translation samples for birth, marriage and divorce certificates.

Translation Template: Birth Certificate

U Visa
VAWA

A template to translate a foreign birth certificate.

05/07/20

Translation Form: Marriage Certificate

U Visa
VAWA

A template to translate a foreign marriage certificate.

05/07/20

Translation Form: Divorce Decree

U Visa
VAWA

A template to translate a foreign divorce decree.

05/07/20

Tags VAWA