NIJC Procedural Manual For VAWA And Appendices

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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.

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.

VAWA Pro Bono Manual

Last Updated: 2025-03-03
A pro bono attorney manual on legal immigration protections for immigrant survivors of domestic violence under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)

Training for Attorneys: Representing Immigrant Survivors of Domestic Violence: (VAWA), March 2025

Last Updated: 2023-03-09
NIJC prepares pro bono attorneys to assist immigrant survivors of domestic violence who are eligible to petition for protection under the VAWA. This training also includes practical tips for trauma-informed lawyering with survivors of domestic violence.

Working with Clients and Interpreters

General information from NIJC experts to support pro bono attorneys in working with clients and interpreters on VAWA cases.

Working Remotely with NIJC Pro Bono Clients

Last Updated: 2025-03-03
This document contains general practice tips for working with NIJC pro bono clients via remote communication.

Guidelines for VAWA Initial Client Interviews

Last Updated: 2025-03-03
This document provides guidelines for how pro bono attorneys should conduct the initial interview with their VAWA clients. 

Working with Interpreters

Last Updated: 2025-03-03
Many of NIJC's pro bono cases require the use if an interpreter. This document lists a few basic tips to consider while engaging with an interpreter.

General Overview

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

VAWA: Legal Citations

Last Updated: 2021-02-25
A list of legal citations relevant to the VAWA application.

NIJC Pro Bono Project: VAWA Self-Petitions

Last Updated: 2024-08-14
An overview of NIJC's VAWA Pro Bono Project and pro bono representation in self-petitions under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).

FAQ: VAWA

Last Updated: 2019-07-08
FAQ: VAWA

Adjustment of Status (I-485) Process Flow Chart

Last Updated: 2019-07-01
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.

VAWA (I-360) Process Flow Chart

Last Updated: 2019-07-01
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

Preparing the Supporting Documents

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

NIJC List of documents for VAWA I-485 Interview

Last Updated: 2019-07-15
NIJC List of documents for VAWA I-485 Interview

NIJC List of documents for VAWA I-485

Last Updated: 2019-07-15
NIJC List of documents for VAWA I-485

NIJC List of documents for VAWA I-360

Last Updated: 2019-07-15
NIJC List of documents for VAWA I-360

List of documents for I-765

Last Updated: 2019-07-15
List of documents for I-765

Legal Citations and USCIS Memos relating to VAWA petitions

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

INA § 212 (2010), Inadmissibility

Last Updated: 2021-02-25
The law regarding inadmissibility, INA § 212 (2010)

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

Last Updated: 2021-02-25
The law regarding adjustment of status: INA § 245(a) (2010) 

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

Last Updated: 2021-02-25
The law relating to good moral character, INA § 101(f) (2010)

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

Last Updated: 2021-02-25
The text of regulations regarding VAWA: 8 C.F.R. § 204.2(2010)

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

Last Updated: 2021-02-25
The legal citation providing statutory eligibility for VAWA: INA § 204 (2010).

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

Last Updated: 2019-06-21
Revocation of VAWA-Based Self-Petitions (I-360) (Dec. 15, 2010).

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

Last Updated: 2019-06-21
Adjustment of Status for VAWA Self-Petitioner who is present without inspection (Apr. 11, 2008).

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

Last Updated: 2019-06-21
USCIS Memo Non-Disclosure and Other Prohibitions with Battered Aliens IIRIRA 384

Samples Documents and Forms for VAWA Application

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

Sample: VAWA Cover letter, I-485 – March 2025

Last Updated: 2025-03-03
Sample: VAWA Cover letter, I-485. Updated March 2025.

Sample: VAWA Cover Letter, I-360 – March 2025

Last Updated: 2025-03-03
Sample: VAWA Cover letter, I-360. Updated as of March 2025.

Sample: EOIR FOIA Request Cover Letter

Last Updated: 2021-02-25
A sample cover letter to request an EOIR FOIA.

Sample: Cover Letter for VAWA I-765

Last Updated: 2019-07-15
Sample: Cover Letter for VAWA I-765

Sample Index: VAWA Self-Petition

Last Updated: 2019-07-15
Sample index of documents in support of client’s self-petition pursuant to the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)

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

Last Updated: 2019-06-21
Request to Hold I-485 in Abeyance for a VAWA application.

Employment Authorization Application (Form I-765)

Last Updated: 2019-06-19
Link to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services form and instructions to apply for employment authorization.

Guidelines

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

Guidelines for Letters from Friends or Family Who Provide Affidavits

Last Updated: 2019-06-21
Guidelines for letters from friends or family of survivors of domestic violence who provide affidavits.

Guidelines for Mental Health Professionals and Counselors Who Provide Affidavits

Last Updated: 2019-06-21
Guidelines for mental health professionals and counselors who provide affidavits of immigrant survivors of domestic violence.

Translation Templates

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

Translation Form: Marriage Certificate

Last Updated: 2020-05-07
A template to translate a foreign marriage certificate.

Translation Form: Divorce Decree

Last Updated: 2020-05-07
A template to translate a foreign divorce decree.

Translation Template: Birth Certificate

Last Updated: 2020-05-07
A template to translate a foreign birth certificate.

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