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 subject self-petitioners to increased scrutiny.
This practice alert will highlight some of the updates and changes implemented with the December 2025 policy manual update. It is important to note that these changes went into effect immediately, on December 22, 2025, and apply to all pending and future cases.