Matter of AA
N/AOUTCOME: VAWA Grant; I-485 Adjustment of Status Grant; Federal Mandamus Lawsuit Victory
Male client arrived to the United States with a visitor visa and applied for adjustment of status after marriage to a U.S. citizen. Unfortunately, during the marriage, client was subjected to abuse by ... his U.S. citizen spouse. The U.S. citizen spouse withdrew the marriage petition and during divorce proceedings filed a restraining order against client despite being the abuser. During the course of divorce proceedings we filed a VAWA (Violence Against Woman Act) self petition along with an adjustment of status application. After responding to a very lengthy RFE (Request for Evidence), the VAWA petition was approved. Through extensive documentation, we were able to prove the marriage was in good faith and bona fide (despite only being married for several months) and more importantly there was abuse to rise to the standard of VAWA. The issues did not stop there. USCIS then started to delay the processing of his Adjustment of Status (Form I-485). We therefore filed a Federal Mandamus lawsuit in Federal Court against USCIS to expedite the processing. Ultimately, USCIS expedited processing and the client was granted his lawful permanent resident status (green card)
