Visa Lawyer Blog
New changes are being implemented for certain self-petitioners filing immigration petitions under the Violence Against Women Act, also known as VAWA.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that beginning in December they will be conducting in-person interviews for select VAWA self-petitioners who have an I-360 and I-485 application pending.
Not all self-petitioners will be required to attend an interview. Self-petitioners who have filed a stand-alone I-360 will not be interviewed.
USCIS expects to continue to adjudicate the majority of VAWA cases without the need for an interview.
Why has this change been made?
An increase in the volume of immigration petitions filed under the VAWA program, along with a surge in VAWA-related fraud reported in the states of New York, Massachusetts, and Maryland has led to this policy change.
While no plans are currently being made to expand interviews to a broader pool of VAWA self-petitioners, the incoming Trump administration may consider this in the future.
How will I know if I am required to attend an in-person interview?
VAWA self-petitioners who are required to attend an interview, will receive an interview notice by mail at the safe address they have provided. Legal representatives will also be notified by mail.
Please note that a self-petitioner’s selection for an interview is not a negative indicator and does not suggest a case will receive an unfavorable outcome.
What happens if I do not attend my interview?
A self-petitioner who does not appear for a scheduled interview may have their petition denied. Please ensure that you follow the rescheduling instructions on your interview notice if you cannot attend on the scheduled date and time.
Conclusion
If you have a pending I-360 and I-485 application, be aware that you may be selected for an in-person interview. Once the President elect takes office on January 20th it is likely that his administration will require in-person interviews for all green card applications, including employment-based applicants and VAWA self-petitioners.
We will continue to monitor any upcoming policy changes and report them on our blog.
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Helpful Links
- USCIS Now Requires Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record to be Submitted with Form I-485 for Certain Applicants
- All About the COVID-19 Vaccine Waiver and Success Story: Vaccine Waiver Based on Religious Belief or Moral Conviction
- December Visa Bulletin
- Adjustment of Status Filing Dates from Visa Bulletin
- USCIS Processing Times
- Immigrant Visa Backlog Report
- DOS Visa Services Operating Status Update
- ImmigrationLawyerBlog
- ImmigrationU Membership
- Success stories
- Youtube channel
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