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Immigration Practice Resources

Search immigration practice advisories, sample filings, manuals, brief banks, and government guidance from trusted practitioner sources.

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Immigrant Legal Resource Center Practice manual Mar 27, 2026

VAWA: Recent Significant Updates and Practice Tips

In December 2025, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) updated its policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual for Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) self-petitioners. According to USCIS, the updated policy guidance clarifies policies and requirements for those seeking protection as VAWA self-petitioners. Several of the revisions and clarifications implemented through these updates narrow how someone can demonstrate VAWA eligibility, expand USCIS’s officers’ discretion, and subjec

Naturalization VAWA / U / T USCIS Direct PDF
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ASISTA Resource directory Mar 24, 2026

Advisories, Newsletters, Q&A

ASISTA and its partners create extensive practice advisories about policies and procedures related to VAWAs, U and T visas and more. Please see below.

VAWA / U / T Family-based practice USCIS Immigration court Direct PDF
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ASISTA Practice advisory Feb 3, 2026

Policy Alert: Policy Manual Updates for VAWA

Reviews USCIS policy-manual updates issued on December 22, 2025 affecting VAWA adjudication and flags the practical consequences for current filings.

VAWA / U / T Family-based practice USCIS Cross-forum
Open source Record
NIWAP Library Amicus brief Feb 1, 2026

BIA Amicus Invitation 2016-0609

Arkansas 2015 U and T visa certification law requiring that each law enforcement agency in the state adopt a policy for the completion and signing of T and U certifications within 30 days of receiving the request.

BIA appeals Children and SIJS BIA Direct PDF
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NIWAP Library Amicus brief Feb 1, 2026

Nvart Idinyan (formerly Nvart Huckfeldt) (August 9 2005) Board of Immigration Appeals

Nvart Idinyan (formerly Nvart Huckfeldt) (August 9 2005) Board of Immigration Appeals. The National Network to End Violence Against Immigrant Women, represented by Crowell and Moring, filed this amicus in support of the immigration judge’s finding that plaintiff qualified for cancellation of removal under VAWA and refuting DHS assertion that once a victim reached a “safe house” she should no longer have access to VAWA provisions. (Crowell and Moring, Pro Bono)

Removal defense BIA appeals VAWA / U / T Immigration court BIA Direct PDF
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NIWAP Library Amicus brief Feb 1, 2026

Perales v. Ashcroft, (2003) U.S. Court of Appeals 10th Circuit

Perales-Cumpean, A76 386 969, Board of Immigration Appeals (2001), U.S. Court of Appeals 10th Circuit (2003). Amicus brief discussing the any credible evidence standard and the definition of battery or extreme cruelty in an immigrant rape and domestic violence victim’s Violence Against Women Act suspension of deportation case (National immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild, BIA, Arnold and Porter, Pro Bono 10th Circuit)

Removal defense BIA appeals Federal court BIA Court of appeals Direct PDF
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ASISTA Practice advisory Jan 1, 2026

ASISTA VAWA Age-In Rule

Explains the statutory age-in rule for VAWA derivatives and offers practical guidance on preserving derivative eligibility as children age out.

VAWA / U / T Children and SIJS Family-based practice USCIS Cross-forum
Open source Record
Immigrant Legal Resource Center Practice advisory Dec 16, 2025

Pros and Cons of Applying for a U Visa

Under the current administration there has been much discussion about whether filing a U nonimmigrant status (“U visa”) petition is risky considering the long processing times, the lack of protection given to applicants while they wait for relief, and the increased enforcement climate. This advisory will lay out some of the main “pros” and “cons” to applying for U nonimmigrant status as they exist now, to help practitioners explain to prospective applicants how to weigh benefits and risks and ma

Consular practice VAWA / U / T Cross-forum Direct PDF
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NIWAP Library Amicus brief Jul 14, 2025

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Koch Foods

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Koch Foods. NIWAP Inc. collaborated with Latino Justice, the law firms of Arnold and Porter and Procopio, and Legal Momentum to submit an amicus brief to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in an interlocutory appeal of a Federal District Court decision to allow an employer who employed supervisors who perpetrated rape, sexual assault, felonious assault, extortion, sexual harassment and other discrimination against workers to use civil court discovery in a

Employment VAWA / U / T BIA Federal district court Direct PDF
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NIWAP Library Amicus brief Jun 18, 2025

Aylaliya Assefa Birru v. Barr

Aylaliya Assefa Birru v. Barr (January 11 2021) 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. NIWAP, represented by Baker McKenzie, is lead amicus in a brief on behalf of an immigrant domestic violence victim who is seeking relief under the Violence Against Women Act’s domestic violence victim waiver in her VAWA cancellation of removal case. The Board of Immigration Appeals and the immigration judge denied her the ability to present evidence of waiver eligibility.

Removal defense VAWA / U / T Immigration court BIA Direct PDF
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