VAWA
VAWA Self-Petition
Confidential self-petition on Form I-360 by an abused spouse, child, or parent of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, seeking immigrant classification independent of the abuser under the Violence Against Women Act.
A VAWA petition is built under the any-credible-evidence standard, usually without the documents an ordinary family case would have — because the abuser holds them. Confidentiality is a legal requirement here, not a preference, which is why portal access is granted per person and every look at the file is logged.
The document checklist
What the client is asked for — before you have to ask twice.
A new VAWA starts with this checklist already on the case. Your client sees it in the portal in their own language, uploads from their phone, and each item flips to received as it arrives.
Required
9 items- Form I-360, signed
- Applicant's personal declaration
- Proof of the abuser's U.S. citizen or LPR status
- Proof of the qualifying relationship
- Evidence of battery or extreme cruelty
- Evidence of joint residence with the abuser
- Good moral character evidence
- Proof of your U.S. residence
- Certified English translations
If it applies
5 items- Evidence of a good-faith marriage (spouse cases)
- Documents for derivative children
- Psychological or counselling evaluation
- Work permit request (filed with the petition)
- Immigration court documents (if you are in proceedings)
What the evidence is measured against
An evidence map, criterion by criterion.
Attest reads every document on the case and maps it to the elements below — marking each one supported or a gap, and citing the page it relied on. A gap is stated plainly rather than papered over.
Where these cases get RFE’d
The grounds USCIS comes back on.
When a notice does arrive, upload it — Attest extracts each request, maps it against what you already have on file, and drafts a cited response plan. The response deadline it finds is docketed only after you confirm it against the notice page itself.
Abuser's status not established
Status has to be shown without the abuser's cooperation — often the hardest single element.
Battery or extreme cruelty insufficiently documented
The declaration stands alone where an evaluation or an affidavit could corroborate it.
Joint residence not documented
No lease, mail, or third-party statement placing both parties at one address.
Good-faith marriage evidence thin (spousal petitions)
Commingling evidence is sparse because the abuser controlled the accounts.
Good moral character not established
A record entry with no explanation, or the required declarations missing.
Qualifying relationship or timing issues
The relationship's timing relative to the abuse or a divorce is unclear on the record.
Bring a VAWA case you already have open.
Nothing to migrate. Upload the file you’re working on and see a cited evidence map against these criteria.
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