From VAWA Approval to a Green Card: Adjustment Requirements, Exemptions and Waivers, Confidentiality Protections, and Distinctions from Related Procedures

Related category codes

Each code page shows its own review status; candidate content is not upgraded to reviewed because of this article.

• IB6
• IB7
• IB8
• B26
• B27
• BX6

Related articles

• Family-Based ImmigrationVAWA Self-Petition Overview: Who Can Petition IndependentlyPeople abused by a U.S. citizen or permanent resident spouse or parent, as well as parents abused by an adult U.S. citizen child, may self-petition using Form I-360.Protection and SurvivorsVAWAI-360Self-Petitioning
• Family-Based ImmigrationI-751 Removal of Conditions: Joint Filing, Death of a Spouse, and Three Types of WaiversThree types of waivers—extreme hardship, termination of the marriage for reasons other than death, and battery or extreme cruelty—and individual filing upon the death of a spouse.Family Changes and ChildrenConditional ResidentI-751Waivers
• Family-Based ImmigrationBarriers to Adjustment of Status Within the United States and Waivers of Inadmissibility: 245(c), Entry Without Inspection, 245(i), I-601AThe immediate-relative exemption from status-violation bars does not waive the unlawful-presence bars to admission; the 245(i) grandfathering provision; qualifying relatives for I-601A do not include children.Process and Sponsorship245(i)I-601AUnlawful Presence

All official sources

• USCIS · Green Card for VAWA Self-PetitionerSupports: Covered abusers; no need for the abuser's knowledge or consent; I-485 requirements; exemption from all adjustment bars; the public charge and entry-without-inspection provisions do not apply.Official update 2026-06-26 · read 2026-10-10 UTC
• USCIS · Abused Spouses, Children and ParentsSupports: VAWA allows persons abused by U.S. citizen or permanent resident relatives to self-petition independently, without relying on the abuser to file a petition.Official update 2026-06-26 · read 2026-10-10 UTC
• USCIS · Visa Availability and Priority DatesSupports: Immediate relatives are not subject to numerical limits; annual limits of approximately 226,000 for family-based immigration and 140,000 for employment-based immigration; priority dates, per-country limits, and the two charts.Official update 2025-01-24 · read 2026-10-10 UTC
• USCIS · I-601, Application for Waiver of Grounds of InadmissibilitySupports: General application form for a waiver of inadmissibility.Official update 2026-10-07 · read 2026-10-10 UTC
• USCIS · Affidavit of SupportSupports: Persons subject to I-864 and exemptions (40 quarters, children automatically acquiring citizenship under INA 320, approved widow/widower I-360 petitions, approved abused-spouse or abused-child I-360 petitions, etc.); circumstances terminating obligations; divorce does not terminate obligations; joint sponsors and substitute sponsors; 125% (100% for active-duty military personnel sponsoring spouses or children); asset calculations; beginning 2026-10-01, only the 08/24/26 edition is accepted.Official update 2026-09-04 · read 2026-10-10 UTC
• U.S. Code (GovInfo 2024 edition) · 8 U.S.C. 1367 – Penalties for disclosure of informationSupports: An adverse admissibility/deportability determination may not be based solely on information supplied by an abusive spouse or parent (or family members living with them); disclosure of information about protected persons is also restricted.Official update not stated · read 2026-10-10 UTC
• USCIS Policy Manual · Vol. 1, Part A, Ch. 7 – Privacy and ConfidentialitySupports: Address changes and related matters for persons protected under 8 U.S.C. 1367 must follow separate procedures.Official update 2026-10-02 · read 2026-10-10 UTC
• U.S. Code (GovInfo 2024 edition) · 8 U.S.C. 1229b(b)(2) – Special rule for battered spouse or childSupports: Special “cancellation of removal” provisions for persons abused by U.S. citizen/permanent resident spouses or parents, granted at the discretion of the Department of Justice (immigration courts).Official update not stated · read 2026-10-10 UTC
• USCIS Policy Manual · Vol. 6, Part I, Ch. 5 – Waiver of Joint Filing RequirementSupports: Grounds for waiver: deportation would result in extreme hardship; a good-faith marriage terminated for a reason other than death; battery or extreme cruelty by a spouse in a good-faith marriage (including abuse of children); a request may be made at any time up to a final deportation order; grounds may be changed or added.Official update 2026-10-02 · read 2026-10-10 UTC
• USCIS · Green Card Eligibility CategoriesSupports: Official groupings and brief eligibility requirements for family-based, employment-based, special immigrant, refugee/asylee, T/U, VAWA, and other categories.Official update 2026-09-04 · read 2026-10-10 UTC
• USCIS · Victims of Human Trafficking: T Nonimmigrant StatusSupports: A principal T applicant may petition for derivative T status for qualifying family members.Official update 2025-12-22 · read 2026-10-10 UTC
• USCIS · Victims of Criminal Activity: U Nonimmigrant StatusSupports: A principal U applicant uses I-918 Supplement A to petition for derivative U status for qualifying family members.Official update 2025-12-22 · read 2026-10-10 UTC