Form I-360 VAWA — Self-Petition for Domestic Violence Victims (USCIS)
Download the official form
USCIS publishes Form I-360 as a free PDF. Always download the current version directly from USCIS — third-party copies may be outdated.
- Download Form I-360 (PDF) — official USCIS source
- Download Instructions for Form I-360 (PDF) — read before filling out the form
- File Form I-360 online with USCIS (where supported)
Official USCIS Fee (effective 2024-04-01)
Verified source: Federal Register 2024-01427
Fee: FREE
FREE for VAWA — domestic violence victim self-petition
Verify current fee
⚠️ USCIS fees can change. Verify the current fee before filing at:
- USCIS Fee Calculator — official tool
- USCIS Form G-1055 — full schedule
Form I-360 VAWA: Self-Petition for victims
VAWA (Violence Against Women Act) allows domestic violence/abuse victims to self-petition WITHOUT abuser’s signature or knowledge. This gives immigration independence to victims trapped by status.
Who qualifies
- Spouse abused by US citizen or LPR: legal documented union (marriage), abuse (physical, sexual, emotional, financial control, threats)
- Children of abusive US citizen/LPR — includes adoptive parents
- Parents of abusive US citizen (USC) — abusive child must be adult USC
INCLUDES: men, women, LGBT+, same-sex partners (legal marriage or common-law where applicable), documented/undocumented immigrants
USCIS fee
- FREE for VAWA self-petitions
- NOT required I-864 Affidavit of Support
- USCIS enhanced confidentiality — abuser will NOT be notified
Evidence
- Own identity (passport, birth certificate)
- Abuser’s identity and status (USC: passport/birth cert; LPR: green card)
- Marriage/relationship proof (doesn’t require ongoing, just genuine)
- Abuse evidence: police reports, protection orders, hospital records, injury photos, sworn statements from witnesses (family, friends, neighbors)
- Good character evidence (criminal background check)
USCIS processing time
- About 51.5 months for the VAWA category — USCIS’s own “80% of cases are completed within” figure for I-360 category 135C at Service Center Operations. The live table below is the source of truth; do not plan around the older 18-36-month range, which USCIS has not published for years.
- While waiting, generally can apply for EAD (work permit)
Urgent resources
- VAWA National Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE
- National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV)
- Tahirih Justice Center — pro bono immigration for victims
- CAIR Coalition — DC/MD/VA area
- Local domestic violence shelters
IMPORTANT
- If in immediate danger, call 911
- Law protects victims REGARDLESS of immigration status
- ICE has policy of NOT arresting at courts/DV shelters (some exceptions)
Current USCIS processing times
USCIS publishes 80%-completion processing times per form, category, and service center. Times are updated monthly — verify the live data before relying on a deadline.
The time in which 80% of cases adjudicated in the past six months were completed, by category and office. Data from the official USCIS system (2026-10-03) · verify live
| Category | Office | 80% complete within |
|---|---|---|
| All other special immigrants | Service Center Operations (SCOPS) | 19.5 Months |
| Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) | Service Center Operations (SCOPS) | 52.5 Months |
| Religious workers | Service Center Operations (SCOPS) | 13 Months |
| Afghan or Iraqi Translators and Afghan or Iraqi nationals who worked for on or behalf of the U.S. government | Service Center Operations (SCOPS) | 14.5 Months |
Recursos / Resources
Last verified: 2026-09-10.
General information — not legal advice.
Related procedural information
- Consulate of your country in the US — passport renewal, consular ID, document apostille
- ITIN — file federal taxes without SSN — for people with a US filing or reporting obligation who aren’t eligible for an SSN
- USCIS form library — federal immigration forms (I-130, I-485, N-400, etc.)
- Find an immigration attorney — pro bono lists + AILA + BIA-recognized
- Know Your Rights — ICE encounters — constitutional protections