vawa journey, newbie

[bestgirlever 12]

Hi everyone, first I'm very excited to be here, a friend introduced me to this site and she told me how helpful ya'll are. I need help I'm on my vawa journey, I have an attorney who seems like all she care about is her money and isn't really paying attention to my case.I filed for vawa august 2012 after a traumatic marriage to an abusive husband who actually refused to complete my filing after I got an EAD, we missed my interview and so I had to file vawa with the help of a former colleague who told me about it. I had moved out and my EAD has expired, I'm out of work and its not been easy but I will make it through, he promised me I will suffer if I leave and so I have promised myself to prove him wrong. Well I got an RFE in july 2013 and I sent all the documents they requested for to proof Good faith marriage, Good moral character, evidence of abuse(pics, emails etc)and we mailed it in on sept 5. To my surprise I checked my case status online on october 09th and it says another RFE has been mailed out to me that day! I'm confused pls has anyone ever had rfe twice with vawa? What could they possibly be asking for again? I heard vawa is difficult I just didn't know its this long and stressful. Its hell still trying to get over a serious abuse and trying to survive without a job now dealing with vawa struggles make it worse. Also we just got an extension for prima facie instead of the normal 180days, this 3rd one was for 60days only. Pls anyone with any news or idea on this will be much appreciated!

Thank you so much

[Pitaya 2,577]

~Moved from Introducing our Members to Effects of Major Family Changes on Immigration Benefits Forum~

~VAWA proceedings~

[bestgirlever 12]

I'm not sure what that means

[howtosurvive 43]

Hi. I've gone through the vawa process. I applied in February my receipt sare is February 19, 2013. I had my interview on October 8, 2013. I was approved with only security yes and no questions less than 5 minutes. My case was physical abuse. Never knew about vawa before my lawyer told me. I got married after a year of dating and as soon as we moved in I got pregnant and the abuse started. I got no rfe and my caee went fast faster than I expected. Didnt even had a valid passport because I was expecting the vawa part to take about a year but it took less than 6 months and my aos interview took less than two months from the vawa approval date. Very quick. I never filed any paper works with my husband because I wasn't in any rush. If u need my help pm me.

[bestgirlever 12]

Omg I need your help, you applied in febraury 2013 and got interviewed by october? No rfe? How did you do it? Mine is over a year and I just got another rfe(even though I'm yet to see-it in the mail but the status on uscis website says it was mailed out on 09th oct) I'm new-here so I gotta figure out how to pm you here. Thank u for the reply though

[SingleDad2usc 71]

Mine was same dates as howtosurvive's, and was approved even faster. Then EAD card only took 1 month; but absolutely no move to local office or date for AOS... Howtosurvive, did your I-485 application go in together with I-360?

OP seems likely a short step away from approval, but that lawyer is bad news

[belinda63 3,041]

Single Dad your VAWA was approved? Not prima facia but approved?

[bestgirlever 12]

I appreciate your replies guys. SingleDad2Usc..did you have a child? Cos at this point I think if you guys had a child then it makes approval easier but if you didn't then they tend to delay. But I'm just as worried as anything cos I added every docs they requested or in the first rfe. Police report, 911 report, medical report, DV record,wedding pics, insurance, phone bill,therapy report you name it. Just so sad at the situation of things

[SingleDad2usc 71]

Not sure if having children matters to them, but child abuse does. And battery of course...Approval was in record time, Belinda; and as many others here, I wish I knew of VAWA sooner. It seems only victims who find themselves in a shelter are being properly advised.

But again, OP - even attorneys who don't charge VAWA clients, do not get RFEs. See if you can proceed without that attorney from approval point

[bestgirlever 12]

Ok- thank u I never knew about vawa until while I was at the hospital in a coma the DV wing of the hospital told me briefly and an option for. Shelter. My attorney charges me depite the fact that she knows I'm jobless yet she isn't really useful like I said so I will definitely proceed alone without and attorney after I receive an approval just like you advised cos its a waste of money.

I appreciate your reply

[bestgirlever 12]

Pls what documents did you attach to your application? Did you use an attorney? I didn't file EAD and i485 together though my attorney said its best to wait until vawa approval before filing for them: and I read here that some people actually filed all at the same time. So confused

[howtosurvive 43]

Its ok to file both if your case if u know that u have all the evidence to support your claim. I file both.having a child dontt make a difference. If u submitt every thing at once they will approve ur case the first time they read it but rfe delays your case so A good lawyer advises you to submit an approvable case in the beginning because rfe delays the process.

[SingleDad2usc 71]

My personal opinion: attorneys go by previous years, when there were more denials - thus they advise NOT to file I-485 prematurely. This year, I hardly heard of any denial. So my advice is to file I-485 and I-765 without further wait (don't forget 3 more forms, as Sandranj always explains).

As to your troubles at HRA office: read up on my thread on benefits. It turned out I was wrongly treated by HRA workers over 8 years! Don't make my mistake of trusting whatever they say. If you're in need, you CAN get assistance. Speak to pro-se attorneys at Fair Hearing offices, they'll either advise you or they will even represent you

[bestgirlever 12]

Its ok to file both if your case if u know that u have all the evidence to support your claim. I file both.having a child dontt make a difference. If u submitt every thing at once they will approve ur case the first time they read it but rfe delays your case so A good lawyer advises you to submit an approvable case in the beginning because rfe delays the process.

Yes, that's why I'm dissapointed at my lawyer she probably has too many cases so she doesn't even pay attension to personal details. Also at the time I filed, my abusive ex was constantly searching my bags, seizing my phone and breaking my laptop so I didn't have access to information and he never allowed me to drive any of the two cars or even buy one,he takes me to work and pick me up just so I won't even have any freedom.I secretly left work on my break in a taxi to go get copies of our marriage certificates or even meet with my lawyer and ran back to work before closing time.so I really didn't have access to my medical, dental insurance and car of which he was a beneficiary.that's explains the first rfe but I'm really worried about this 2nd rfe cos I'm now on my own and was able to make calls and got all docs and pics to them. Is it safe to apply for i765 ead and i485 GC now that vawa approval is still pending or just wait for approval as my attorney insisted? Thanks- a lot

[bestgirlever 12]

My personal opinion: attorneys go by previous years, when there were more denials - thus they advise NOT to file I-485 prematurely. This year, I hardly heard of any denial. So my advice is to file I-485 and I-765 without further wait (don't forget 3 more forms, as Sandranj always explains).

As to your troubles at HRA office: read up on my thread on benefits. It turned out I was wrongly treated by HRA workers over 8 years! Don't make my mistake of trusting whatever they say. If you're in need, you CAN get assistance. Speak to pro-se attorneys at Fair Hearing offices, they'll either advise you or they will even represent you

Thanks- singleDad2Usc..I'm searching for your post can't find it yet.the lady handling the benefits looked so confused and had NO IDEA how to handle the vawa case seeking benefit.after I waited for soo long as she said she had to go consult with her superior, she came back and said I'm not qualified for food stamps, cash assistance or anything since I have not lived in US for 5years or have a green card, which made me ask: what exactly are the benefits we can get with prima facie if we can't get something as simple as a food stamps to eat? I told her "ma'am if I had a green card I won't be here though cos I'm hardworking and would have gotten a job and continue to pay taxes rather than get food stamps". She was still too confused on how to even handle the case I just left. Its sad that this long wait puts someone in a helpless situation.