VAWA I-360 | Petition for Amerasian or Special Immigrant

VAWA I-360, Petition for Amerasian or Special Immigrant, is designed for foreign nationals wishing to begin the green card (lawful permanent residence) application process within one of the below “special immigrant visa” categories.

Qualifications

An Amerasian (born after Dec. 31, 1950, and before Oct. 23, 1982)
A self-petitioning spouse or child of an abusive U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident under VAWA
A self-petitioning parent of an abusive U.S. citizen under VAWA
You properly file Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status
You are physically present in the United States at the time you file your Form I-485
You are eligible to receive an immigrant visa
An immigrant visa is immediately available to you at the time you file your Form I-485 and when USCIS makes a final decision on your application
None of the bars to adjustment of status apply (depending on how you entered the United States or if you committed a particular act or violation of immigration law, you may be barred from adjusting status. However, VAWA self-petitioners and beneficiaries are exempt from all of these bars to adjustment)
You are admissible to the United States for lawful permanent residence or eligible for a waiver of inadmissibility or other form of relief
You merit the favorable exercise of USCIS' discretion
A special immigrant. A special immigrant is one of the following:
Panama Canal company employee, Canal Zone government employee, or U.S. government in the Canal Zone employee
Physician licensed and practicing medicine in a U.S. state as of Jan. 9, 1978
International organization or NATO-6 employee or family member
Juvenile who needs the protection of a juvenile court because they have been abused, neglected or abandoned by a parent
U.S. armed forces member
Afghan or Iraqi national who worked for or on behalf of the U.S. government as a translator
Iraqi national who worked for or on behalf of the U.S. government in Iraq
An Afghan national who worked for or on behalf of the U.S. government or the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan
Broadcasters for the United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM) or for a USAGM grantee

What You'll Need

Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) Petitioners

Birth certificate or other evidence of age
A court order or administrative documents that establish eligibility for SIJ classification
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) consent (if applicable)

VAWA I-360 Self-Petitioners

Evidence of the abuser's U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent resident status
Marriage and divorce decrees, birth certificates, or other evidence of your legal relationship to the abuser
One or more documents showing that you and the abuser have resided together, such as employment records, utility receipts, school records, hospital or medical records, birth certificates of children, mortgages, rental records, insurance policies, or affidavits

Afghanistan or Iraq Nationals Supporting the U.S. Armed Forces as a Translator

A copy of your passport or birth certificate showing you are a national of Afghanistan or Iraq
A favorable written recommendation from the chief of mission or a general or flag officer in the U.S. armed forces unit that you supported
Evidence you worked directly with the U.S. armed forces or under the chief of mission authority as a translator or interpreter for a period of at least 12 months
Evidence that you cleared any required background checks as determined by the chief of mission or the general or flag officer in the U.S. armed forces unit that you supported

Iraq Nationals Employed by or on Behalf of the U.S. Government in Iraq

A copy of your passport, birth certificate, or national identification card showing that you are a national of Iraq. If the document is in a foreign language, you must provide a certified English translation
A positive recommendation from your senior supervisor or the person currently occupying that position (or a more senior person if your senior supervisor has left the employer or has left Iraq) confirming employment of at least one year between March 20, 2003, and Sept. 30, 2013
Proof the chief of mission or their designee conducted a risk assessment

Afghan Nationals Employed by or on Behalf of the U.S. Government, the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), or Successor Mission in Afghanistan

A copy of your passport, birth certificate, or national identification card showing that you are a national of Afghanistan
A positive recommendation from your senior supervisor or the person currently occupying that position (or a more senior person if your senior supervisor has left the employer or has left Afghanistan) confirming employment of at least one year between Oct. 7, 2001, and Sept. 30, 2015, or at least two years of employment for applicants who submit applications for chief of mission approval on or after Oct. 1, 2015

Broadcasters

The job title and a full description of the job to be performed
Your broadcasting expertise, including how long you have been performing duties that relate to the prospective position, or a statement as to how your necessary skills make you qualified for the position

Questions? Contact us.

Whatever your immigration issue may be, we are here to help. Our team of attorneys and staff work hard to help you reach your goals.

FAQs

Is there a fee to file the VAWA I-360?

Yes, there is an $435 filing fee for the VAWA I-360. However, you are exempt from paying the fee if you are:

An Amerasian
A self-petitioning abused spouse or child of a U.S. citizen or permanent resident under VAWA
A self-petitioning abused parent of a U.S. citizen under VAWA
A Special Immigrant Juveniles
An Iraqi national who worked for or on behalf of the U.S. government in Iraq
An Afghan national who worked for or on behalf of the U.S. government in Afghanistan

How can I file my VAWA I-360 form?

You can file your form online or by mail. Filing online allows you to:

Pay your filing fee online
Check the status of your case
Receive notifications and case updates
View personalized case completion date estimates
Respond to requests for evidence
Manage your contact information, including updating your address

You can create an account to file online. You can also mail your form to your region’s designated USCIS office.

Of course, you can choose to manage your case independently. However, working with immigration experts can help you navigate the process and provide guidance throughout.

Do I need legal representation to file?

You may be represented, at no expense to the U.S. government, by an attorney or other duly authorized representative. Your representative must submit Form G-28, Notice of Entry or Appearance as Attorney or Representative. Your representative may also submit Form G-28 at the time of your interview.

Why should I work with ImmigrationUSA?

Immigration issues can be quite complicated. Combine that with the current rate of change in U.S. policies, it can be hard to keep up. Our team puts their experience to work for you and your particular situation. We work hard to stay on top of policy changes and are prepared for changes down the line. We offer patented online software, MyEsq, that streamlines the filing process and makes our knowledgeable team of lawyers just a click away.

Latest News

Stay up-to-date on the latest developments in U.S. Immigration.

Federal Appeals Court to Review DACA Case Arguments

•

October 10, 2024

A federal appeals court will hear arguments about the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

No Extension for Parole Program for Nationals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela

•

October 9, 2024

The parole program for people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela will not be extended, per DHS.

Texas Public Charge Lawsuit Dismissed for Lack of Standing

•

October 8, 2024

A federal judge in Texas dismissed a lawsuit that argued the state could deny permanent residency to immigrants who use certain public benefits, known as the "public charge" rule.

Updated Guidance on EB-1 Evidence Requirements

•

October 3, 2024

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) updated its guidelines for evidence types for EB-1 visas.