VAWA Self-Petition for Domestic Violence Survivors in Corona: Arabic-Speaking Support

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Corona, located in western Riverside County, is home to a growing Arab and Middle Eastern community where cultural expectations around family honor, marital roles, and community reputation can create barriers for domestic violence survivors seeking help. Many immigrant spouses — primarily women but also men — endure physical, emotional, and psychological abuse from their U.S. citizen or permanent resident partners because they believe their immigration status depends entirely on their abuser's willingness to sponsor them. The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) self-petition exists specifically to break this cycle of dependency and abuse. VAWA allows abused spouses, children, and parents of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents to independently petition for their own immigration status without the abuser's knowledge, consent, or involvement. SoCal Immigration Services provides confidential, Arabic-speaking support for domestic violence survivors in Corona seeking VAWA protection. Call SoCal Immigration Services at (714) 421-8872.

Reviewed for accuracy by

Maria Santos

DOJ Accredited Representative • 15+ years experience

Understanding the VAWA Self-Petition: Independence from Your Abuser

The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) was enacted by Congress in 1994 and has been reauthorized multiple times, most recently in 2022. Despite its name, VAWA protections apply equally to men and women — any abused spouse, child, or parent of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident can file a VAWA self-petition regardless of gender. The VAWA self-petition is filed on Form I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant. What makes this petition unique in immigration law is that the abused person files it independently — the abusing citizen or permanent resident spouse is never contacted, never notified, and has no role in the process. This confidentiality protection is a cornerstone of VAWA and reflects Congress's understanding that abusers frequently use immigration status as a tool of control. Many abusers threaten to withdraw immigration petitions, report their spouse to immigration authorities, or refuse to file paperwork if the victim attempts to leave or seek help. VAWA eliminates this leverage entirely. Once the I-360 self-petition is filed, USCIS adjudicates it confidentially. Section 384 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA) prohibits any government agency from disclosing information about a VAWA applicant to the abuser or the abuser's family. This means that even if the abuser contacts USCIS, immigration enforcement, or members of Congress, no agency can confirm that a VAWA petition has been filed. For Arab immigrants in Corona who fear community stigma or family retaliation, this confidentiality protection is essential.

•VAWA allows abused spouses, children, and parents to self-petition for immigration status
•The abuser is never contacted, notified, or involved in the VAWA process
•VAWA protections apply equally to men and women regardless of gender
•Filed on Form I-360 (Petition for Special Immigrant)
•Section 384 of IIRIRA prohibits disclosure of VAWA information to the abuser
•No government agency can confirm a VAWA petition to the abuser or their family
•VAWA eliminates the abuser's control over the victim's immigration status

VAWA Eligibility Requirements: Who Qualifies

To qualify for a VAWA self-petition, you must meet several requirements established by the Immigration and Nationality Act. First, you must have a qualifying relationship with the abuser. Eligible relationships include the spouse of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (including former spouses if the marriage ended within two years due to abuse), the child (unmarried and under 21) of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, and the parent of a U.S. citizen who is at least 21 years old. Second, you must demonstrate that you were subjected to battery or extreme cruelty by the U.S. citizen or permanent resident relative. Battery includes any act of physical violence — hitting, slapping, kicking, choking, pushing, sexual assault, and any other form of physical force. Extreme cruelty encompasses a broader range of abusive behavior including psychological abuse (threats, intimidation, isolation, controlling behavior), emotional abuse (constant degradation, humiliation, verbal attacks), economic abuse (withholding money, preventing employment, controlling all finances), and immigration-related abuse (threatening deportation, hiding or destroying immigration documents, refusing to file immigration paperwork). Third, you must have entered the marriage in good faith, not solely for immigration purposes. This is an important requirement because USCIS wants to ensure that the marriage was genuine at its inception, even if it became abusive. Fourth, you must have resided with the abuser in the United States at some point during the relationship. Fifth, you must demonstrate good moral character, which generally means no significant criminal convictions (with exceptions for conduct related to the abuse).

•Spouse of U.S. citizen or LPR (including former spouse if marriage ended within 2 years due to abuse)
•Child (unmarried, under 21) of abusive U.S. citizen or LPR
•Parent of abusive U.S. citizen who is 21 or older
•Must demonstrate battery or extreme cruelty by the qualifying relative
•Marriage must have been entered in good faith (not solely for immigration purposes)
•Must have resided with the abuser in the United States
•Must demonstrate good moral character (with exceptions for abuse-related conduct)

Evidence Requirements: Building a Strong VAWA Case

The strength of a VAWA self-petition depends heavily on the quality and comprehensiveness of the evidence submitted. Because the abuser is not involved in the process and cannot be interviewed or asked to provide documents, the burden of proof falls entirely on the self-petitioner. USCIS applies a 'any credible evidence' standard to VAWA cases, which means that virtually any type of evidence can be considered — there is no requirement for specific forms of proof such as police reports or medical records, though these are helpful when available. The most important piece of evidence in any VAWA case is the personal declaration — a detailed, first-person account written by the self-petitioner describing the history of the relationship, the abuse suffered, and its impact on the petitioner and any children. This declaration should be thorough and specific, describing particular incidents of abuse with dates, locations, and details about what happened. For Arab immigrants in Corona, the declaration should also explain cultural factors that may have contributed to the abuse or prevented the victim from seeking help earlier, such as family pressure to stay in the marriage, fear of community stigma, language barriers, and isolation from support networks. Supporting evidence falls into several categories: evidence of the qualifying relationship (marriage certificate, joint tax returns, joint bank accounts, photographs, birth certificates of children), evidence of the abuser's citizenship or permanent resident status (copy of passport, green card, naturalization certificate, or birth certificate), evidence of abuse (police reports, protective orders, medical records, photographs of injuries, text messages or emails containing threats, witness statements from friends, family, counselors, or neighbors), evidence of good faith marriage (correspondence, joint leases, shared financial accounts, photographs, testimony from people who know the couple), and evidence of good moral character (background check, tax returns, employment records).

•Personal declaration: detailed first-person account of the relationship and abuse history
•USCIS applies 'any credible evidence' standard — no single type of evidence is required
•Police reports and protective orders (helpful but not required)
•Medical records documenting injuries from abuse
•Text messages, emails, voicemails containing threats or abusive language
•Photographs of injuries, property damage, or living conditions
•Statements from witnesses (friends, family, neighbors, counselors, clergy)
•Evidence of good faith marriage (joint finances, shared address, photographs together)

Prima Facie Determination and Work Authorization

One of the most important immediate benefits of filing a VAWA self-petition is the ability to obtain work authorization quickly through the prima facie determination process. After USCIS receives the I-360 self-petition, the Vermont Service Center (which handles all VAWA cases) conducts an initial review to determine whether the petition establishes a prima facie case — meaning that on its face, the petition appears to meet the basic eligibility requirements. This prima facie determination is not a final approval of the case; it is a preliminary finding that allows the self-petitioner to access certain benefits while the case is fully adjudicated. If USCIS issues a prima facie determination, the self-petitioner receives a Notice of Prima Facie Case (Form I-797) which can be used to apply for certain public benefits and services, including access to domestic violence shelters, legal services, and food assistance programs. More importantly, the prima facie determination makes the self-petitioner eligible to apply for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) using Form I-765 with category code (c)(31). As of 2026, the processing time for the prima facie determination is approximately 3 to 6 months from filing. The EAD application, once eligible, takes an additional 3 to 6 months to process. For domestic violence survivors in Corona who have left their abuser and need to support themselves and their children, work authorization is often the most critical immediate need. SoCal Immigration Services expedites the filing process to ensure that clients receive their prima facie determination and work authorization as quickly as possible.

•Prima facie determination: preliminary finding that the petition appears to meet basic requirements
•Issued approximately 3-6 months after filing the I-360
•Enables application for Employment Authorization Document (EAD) under category (c)(31)
•EAD processing: additional 3-6 months after eligibility
•Prima facie notice (I-797) provides access to public benefits and services
•Access to domestic violence shelters, legal services, and food assistance
•Work authorization is often the most critical immediate need for survivors

Confidentiality Protections: No Contact with Your Abuser

The confidentiality protections in VAWA cases are among the strongest in all of immigration law, and they are designed to ensure that the abuser cannot interfere with or retaliate against the self-petitioner for seeking immigration relief. Under Section 384 of IIRIRA, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), USCIS, ICE, CBP, and all other government agencies are prohibited from making any disclosure of information about a VAWA applicant to the abuser, the abuser's family members, or the abuser's attorneys. This prohibition extends to confirming or denying the existence of a VAWA petition, revealing the petitioner's address or location, sharing any information from the VAWA file, and responding to inquiries from the abuser about the petitioner's immigration status. If a government employee violates this confidentiality requirement, they are subject to disciplinary action, and the disclosure may be grounds for reopening the case if it resulted in adverse consequences for the petitioner. Additionally, VAWA includes a prohibition on the use of information provided by the abuser to make adverse determinations about the self-petitioner. This means that if the abuser contacts USCIS, ICE, or any other agency to report the self-petitioner as being out of status, having a criminal record, or having committed immigration fraud, the government cannot use that information against the VAWA petitioner unless the information was obtained independently through a non-prohibited source. For Arab immigrants in Corona, this confidentiality protection addresses one of the most common fears: that the abuser will find out about the immigration filing and retaliate through family networks, community pressure, or direct violence.

•Government agencies cannot confirm or deny the existence of a VAWA petition
•No disclosure of petitioner's address, location, or case information to the abuser
•Prohibition extends to the abuser's family members and attorneys
•Government employees face disciplinary action for unauthorized disclosures
•Information provided by the abuser cannot be used against the VAWA petitioner
•The abuser cannot interfere with the petition through reports to immigration authorities
•Confidentiality protections apply from filing through final adjudication

Including Children in Your VAWA Petition

VAWA self-petitioners who are parents can include their unmarried children under 21 years of age as derivative beneficiaries in their I-360 petition. This means that the children receive the same immigration benefits as the principal self-petitioner, including eventual lawful permanent resident status, without the need for a separate petition. The children do not need to have been individually abused — they benefit from the parent's self-petition based on their relationship to the abusing relative. This is particularly important for Arab families in Corona where the abuser may be the father of the children. Even if the abuse was directed solely at the spouse, the children are included as derivatives. Additionally, children who were themselves directly abused by a U.S. citizen or permanent resident parent can file their own independent VAWA self-petitions. A child's self-petition does not require the non-abusive parent's involvement or knowledge. In situations where both the spouse and children are abused, the family can file a single I-360 with the children listed as derivatives, or the children can file separate petitions — the appropriate strategy depends on the specific circumstances. For children approaching age 21, timing is critical because they must be unmarried and under 21 at the time the self-petition is filed. The Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) provides some protections against aging out during processing, but filing before the child turns 21 is strongly recommended. SoCal Immigration Services carefully evaluates each family's situation to determine the optimal filing strategy that protects every family member.

•Unmarried children under 21 can be included as derivative beneficiaries
•Children do not need to have been individually abused to be included
•Children receive the same immigration benefits as the principal self-petitioner
•Directly abused children can file independent VAWA self-petitions
•A child's self-petition does not require the non-abusive parent's involvement
•Children approaching 21 should file quickly to avoid aging out
•CSPA provides some protection against aging out during processing

Timeline and Processing: What to Expect After Filing

Understanding the VAWA processing timeline helps domestic violence survivors in Corona plan their lives and manage expectations during what is often an extremely stressful period. The VAWA self-petition process involves several stages, each with its own processing time. After the I-360 is filed with the USCIS Vermont Service Center, the first milestone is the prima facie determination, which is typically issued within 3 to 6 months. Following the prima facie determination, the self-petitioner can apply for work authorization (EAD), which takes an additional 3 to 6 months to process. The full adjudication of the I-360 self-petition currently takes approximately 12 to 24 months from filing to final approval. During this period, USCIS may issue a Request for Evidence (RFE) asking for additional documentation to support the petition. If the I-360 is approved, the self-petitioner's next step depends on their individual circumstances. If an immigrant visa number is immediately available (which is currently the case for spouses of U.S. citizens), the self-petitioner can file Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence (adjustment of status), concurrently or sequentially. For self-petitioners who are spouses of permanent residents, there may be a waiting period for a visa number to become available, depending on the visa bulletin. The I-485 processing adds another 12 to 18 months to the timeline. In total, the VAWA process from initial filing to green card issuance typically takes 2 to 4 years. The filing fee for Form I-360 is $0 for VAWA self-petitioners — there is no government fee for filing the self-petition. The I-485 adjustment of status fee is $1,440 as of 2026, though fee waivers are available for VAWA applicants who demonstrate inability to pay.

•Prima facie determination: 3-6 months after I-360 filing
•Work authorization (EAD): additional 3-6 months after prima facie
•Full I-360 adjudication: 12-24 months from filing to final approval
•I-485 adjustment of status: additional 12-18 months after I-360 approval
•Total timeline from filing to green card: approximately 2-4 years
•I-360 filing fee for VAWA: $0 (no government filing fee)
•I-485 filing fee: $1,440 (fee waivers available for VAWA applicants)

How SoCal Immigration Services Supports Corona Domestic Violence Survivors

SoCal Immigration Services provides comprehensive, confidential, and culturally sensitive support for domestic violence survivors in Corona seeking VAWA protection. Our Arabic-speaking staff understands the unique cultural dynamics that affect Arab and Middle Eastern domestic violence survivors, including fears about family honor, community judgment, children's relationships with extended family, and financial dependency. We approach every case with sensitivity, respect, and an unwavering commitment to the client's safety and confidentiality. Our VAWA services begin with a confidential consultation where we assess eligibility, explain the process, and develop a filing strategy. We then work with the client to prepare a comprehensive I-360 petition package, including a detailed personal declaration, evidence of the qualifying relationship, evidence of abuse, evidence of good faith marriage, and evidence of good moral character. We coordinate with domestic violence service providers in the Corona and Riverside County area to connect clients with emergency shelter, counseling, safety planning, legal advocacy, and financial assistance. We handle all communication with USCIS, respond to Requests for Evidence, track processing times, and keep clients informed at every stage. For clients with children, we develop strategies to protect every family member's immigration status. We also assist with related immigration matters such as U-visas for crime victims, T-visas for trafficking victims, and protective orders. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence in Corona and needs immigration help, call SoCal Immigration Services at (714) 421-8872. All consultations are completely confidential.

•Arabic-speaking staff with cultural understanding of Middle Eastern family dynamics
•Completely confidential consultations and case handling
•Comprehensive I-360 petition preparation including personal declaration
•Coordination with domestic violence service providers in Corona and Riverside County
•Emergency shelter, counseling, and safety planning referrals
•RFE response, case tracking, and client communication at every stage
•Related services: U-visas, T-visas, protective orders, and family law coordination

FAQFrequently Asked Questions

Q:Can men file VAWA self-petitions, or is it only for women?

A: Despite its name, the Violence Against Women Act applies equally to men and women. Any abused spouse, child, or parent of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident can file a VAWA self-petition regardless of gender. Male victims of domestic violence have the same rights and protections under VAWA as female victims.

Q:Will my abusive spouse find out that I filed a VAWA petition?

A: No. VAWA has the strongest confidentiality protections in immigration law. No government agency — not USCIS, ICE, CBP, or any other — can confirm or deny the existence of your VAWA petition to your abuser, their family, or their attorney. Your abuser will not be contacted, notified, or involved in any way.

Q:I don't have police reports or medical records of the abuse. Can I still file?

A: Yes. USCIS applies an 'any credible evidence' standard to VAWA cases. Police reports and medical records are helpful but not required. Your detailed personal declaration describing the abuse, along with other evidence such as text messages, witness statements, photographs, and counselor letters, can establish your case. Many successful VAWA petitions are approved without police reports.

Q:What if my spouse already withdrew the immigration petition they filed for me?

A: You can still file a VAWA self-petition even if your spouse withdrew their I-130 petition, refused to file a petition, or never filed one at all. VAWA exists specifically for situations where the abuser uses immigration status as a tool of control. Your eligibility does not depend on any prior petition filed by the abuser.

Q:How long does the VAWA process take from filing to getting a green card?

A: The total process typically takes 2-4 years. The prima facie determination takes 3-6 months, work authorization takes an additional 3-6 months, full I-360 approval takes 12-24 months, and adjustment of status (I-485) takes another 12-18 months. For spouses of U.S. citizens, the process may be faster because visa numbers are immediately available.

Q:Is there a filing fee for the VAWA self-petition?

A: No. The I-360 VAWA self-petition has no government filing fee. The later I-485 adjustment of status application has a fee of $1,440 as of 2026, but fee waivers are available for VAWA applicants who demonstrate financial hardship. SoCal Immigration Services can help you apply for fee waivers.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information about immigration services in Corona and does not constitute legal advice. SoCal Immigration Services is a document preparation company, not a law firm. For legal advice specific to your situation, please consult with a licensed immigration attorney.

Published: February 20, 2026Last Updated: February 20, 2026

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