Our firm recently assisted a client who experienced abuse from a U.S. citizen spouse. We filed both the VAWA self-petition and the Adjustment of Status application at the same time. The VAWA petition was approved in March 2025 and his green card was approved earlier this month.

Our client had entered the U.S. illegally and had been placed in removal proceedings. He filed an asylum application in immigration court and was awaiting his merits hearing. He met and married a U.S. citizen whom he lived with for a period of time.  His U.S. citizen spouse subjected him to various forms of verbal, emotional, and psychological abuse and they eventually divorced. 

When he approached our firm, we screened him for VAWA and Adjustment of Status. We filed the Adjustment of Status application concurrently with the VAWA petition. Once the VAWA petition was approved, our client used that approval to ask the immigration court to terminate his removal proceedings.  The judge terminated proceedings based on the approved VAWA self-petition. Nearly a year later, our client was scheduled for the Adjustment of Status interview. 

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Our team met with our client for an interview preparation about a week before his interview. We gave him homework and instructed him to be familiar with his applications, particularly because the applications were filed years before the interview and he may have needed to refresh his memory. Our team also prepared an e-binder for him to print and take with him to the interview. This contained all the documents that may be referenced at the interview and those he should review prior to the interview. We provided a list of the original documents needed for the interview as well as any updated materials that might be helpful. 

During our preparation, we reviewed when to arrive, what to wear, what to expect when entering the building, where to check-in and meet the attorney, as well as what it would be like when facing the USCIS officer. We focused on the eligibility requirements, understanding the questions fully before answering, and highlighting facts that make him eligible for the requested benefit.

The interview only lasted about 15 or 20 minutes. Because the VAWA petition had already been approved, the interview focused on identity verification, admissibility, and standard eligibility questions—not re-examining the abuse claim. The client was asked information about his entry to the U.S., his employment history, and his address history. USCIS approved his green card application the same day and we received a 10-year green card in the mail within 2 weeks.

With preparation and guidance from our team, the client attended the interview confidently. The interview went smoothly, and the Adjustment of Status was approved.

This case shows that while VAWA approval is a major milestone, proper preparation for the Adjustment of Status interview is still essential. Applicants who work with experienced counsel have a better chance of moving successfully from VAWA approval to permanent residence.

If you or someone you know needs assistance with a VAWA petition or Adjustment of Status, contact us at 703-348-1663 for a consultation.

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