Checklist of Required Initial Evidence for Form I-360 (for informational purposes only)

Did you provide the following?

• Birth certificate or other evidence of age;
• A court order or administrative documents that establish eligibility for SIJ classification; and
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) consent (if applicable).

Did you provide the following?

• Evidence of the abusive relative’s U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent resident status;
• Evidence of a qualifying relationship that demonstrates a familial, legal relationship to the abusive U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, such as marriage certificates, divorce decrees, or birth certificates;
• Evidence that you and the abuser are currently residing together or have resided together at any time in the past, such as leases, deeds, mortgages, or rental agreements listing the you and the abuser; utility invoices, bank statements, or financial documents listing a common address; school records listing the parent and address of record; medical records; insurance policies; income tax filings; or affidavits;
• Evidence of abuse committed by the U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident during the qualifying relationship, such as reports and affidavits from police, judges, other court officials, medical personnel, school officials, clergy, social workers, or other social service agency personnel, or any other credible evidence of abuse. If you have an order of protection, or have taken other legal steps to end the abuse, you should submit copies of those court documents;
• If you are 14 years of age or older, evidence of good moral character, such as affidavits and a local police clearance or state-issued criminal background check or similar report from each locality or state in or outside the United States where you have resided for 6 or more months during the 3-year period immediately before you filed your self-petition; and
• If you are a self-petitioning as a spouse, submit evidence showing you entered your marriage in good faith, such as insurance policies showing one spouse has been listed as the other spouse’s beneficiary; joint property leases, income tax forms, or bank statements; evidence of courtship, a wedding ceremony, shared residence, and other shared experiences.

As a VAWA self-petitioner, you may submit any credible evidence relevant to the eligibility requirements for the self-petition, in place of the suggested evidence. USCIS will determine what evidence is credible, and weight to be given that evidence, in our sole discretion.

Did you provide the following?

• A copy of your passport or birth certificate showing you are a national of Afghanistan or Iraq;
• A favorable written recommendation from the Chief of Mission or a general or flag officer in the U.S. armed forces unit that you supported;
• Evidence you worked directly with the U.S. armed forces or under Chief of Mission authority as a translator or interpreter for a period of at least 12 months;
• Evidence that you cleared any required background checks as determined by the Chief of Mission or the general or flag officer in the U.S. armed forces unit that you supported; and
• A Form I-360 petition that you signed in Part 11., Item Number 6.

Did you provide the following?

• A copy of your passport, birth certificate, or national identification card showing that you are a national of Iraq. If the document is in a foreign language, you must provide a certified English translation;
• A positive recommendation from your senior supervisor or the person currently occupying that position (or a more senior person if your senior supervisor has left the employer or has left Iraq) confirming employment of at least 1 year between March 20, 2003, and Sept. 30, 2013;
• Proof the Chief of Mission or their designee conducted a risk assessment;
• A copy of your Chief of Mission’s approval;
• A copy of the front and back of your Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record, if you are physically present in the United States; and
• A Form I-360 petition that you signed in Part 11., Item Number 6.

If you are a surviving spouse or child of a deceased Iraq national employed in this capacity (sometimes called the “principal”), you must submit evidence of your qualifying relationship with them and evidence that the relationship existed at the time of their death.

Did you provide the following?

• A copy of your passport, birth certificate, or national identification card showing that you are a national of Afghanistan;
• A positive recommendation from your senior supervisor or the person currently occupying that position (or a more senior person if your senior supervisor has left the employer or has left Afghanistan) confirming employment of at least 1 year between Oct. 7, 2001, and Dec. 31, 2023;
• A copy of your Chief of Mission’s approval;
• A copy of the front and back of your Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record, if you are physically present in the United States; and
• A Form I-360 petition that you signed in Part 11., Item Number 6.

If you are a surviving spouse or child of a deceased Afghan national employed in this capacity (sometimes called the “principal”), you must submit evidence of your qualifying relationship with them and evidence that the relationship existed at the time of their death.

Did you provide the following?

• The job title and a full description of the job to be performed; and
• Your broadcasting expertise, including how long you have been performing duties that relate to the prospective position, or a statement as to how your necessary skills make you qualified for the position.

Did you provide the following?

• Proof of your late spouse’s U.S. citizenship;
• A copy of your marriage certificate to your late spouse;
• Proof you or your late spouse terminated any prior marriages (if applicable); and
• A copy of your late spouse’s death certificate.

Did you provide the following?

• A valid determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) establishing the organization is a tax exempt or establishing that the group is tax-exempt if the religious organization is covered under a group tax exemption;
• For a bona fide organization affiliated with the religious denomination, if the organization was granted tax-exempt status under the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) of 1986 section 501(c)(3) (or a subsequent amendment or equivalent sections of prior enactments of the IRC) as something other than a religious organization, include the following:
  • A valid determination letter from the IRS establishing the organization is a tax-exempt organization;
  • Documentation that establishes the religious nature and purpose of the organization;
  • Organizational literature describing the religious purpose and nature of the activities of the organization; and
  • A Religious Denomination Certification (in Part 9. of Form I-360) completed, signed, and dated by the religious organization certifying the petitioning organization is affiliated with the religious denomination;
• A Prospective Employer Attestation (in Part 9. of Form I-360) and a certification completed, signed, and dated by an authorized official of the prospective employer of the beneficiary seeking religious worker status;
• Verifiable evidence of how the prospective employer intends to compensate the beneficiary, including salaried or non-salaried compensation;
• Evidence the beneficiary has been a member of the religious denomination during at least the two years immediately preceding the petition;
• Evidence to establish the beneficiary has been working continuously, after turning 14 years of age, in one of the positions listed below, either abroad or in the United States, for at least the two years immediately preceding the petition:
  • Solely as a minister of that religious denomination;
  • In a religious vocation either in a professional or non-professional capacity; or
  • In a religious occupation either in a professional or non-professional capacity; and
• Evidence to establish the beneficiary is qualified to perform the duties of the offered position (see regulations for specific requirements related to ministers).