Immigration

After your attorney files your self-petition, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) sends a receipt to the address you provided on your application. That receipt will tell you what date USCIS received your application.

Be sure to use a safe address where the abuser will not get the mail and where you can be sure that you will receive it. USCIS may later request additional evidence from you so it’s very important to use an address where you will be sure to receive mail. Many people use their lawyer’s office address. If you have a lawyer or DOJ accredited representative, tell them right away if you need to change your address. They can write to USCIS on your behalf.

If you want to change your address by yourself, you can call USCIS at 1-800-375-5283. When you call, you will need to answer questions to verify your identity. To help you answer the questions, have copies of your receipt notice (Form I-797) and application materials in front of you when you call. If USCIS cannot verify your identity over the phone, you will be able to make an appointment at a USCIS field office to verify your identity and update your safe address. If you have a removal (deportation) order or have been in the United States for less than two years, speak to a lawyer or DOJ accredited representative before appearing at a USCIS field office.

If USCIS believes that you would meet all VAWA self-petition requirements if all of the information in your application were true, it will issue an “establishment of prima facie case” notification. This notice is a letter that you may be able to use to get certain public benefits, depending on your state’s laws. Please consult with an attorney familiar with public benefits for immigrants to determine what public benefits you may be eligible for. The notice of prima facie case does not mean that USCIS has approved your VAWA self-petition.