What a VAWA case costs: our legal fee and the government filing fees
Our legal fee for a VAWA I-360 self-petition is a flat $9,000, depending on the complexity of the case, confirmed in writing before work begins. There is no government filing fee for the VAWA I-360, and VAWA self-petitioners pay no government filing fee for most later forms. The first consultation is free and confidential.
Current as of October 2026. We re-check this page every quarter and after any change in the law.
Cost is one of the first questions people ask, and often one they are afraid to ask. Abusers use money as control, and many survivors have no money of their own. So here is the answer in plain numbers, with every figure labeled: what is our legal fee, and what is a government filing fee.
The short version. Our legal fee for a VAWA I-360 self-petition is a flat $9,000, depending on the complexity of the case. The government filing fee for the VAWA I-360 is $0 (8 C.F.R. 106.2(a)(17)(ii)). Both figures are as of October 2026. The first consultation is free.
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Two kinds of cost, kept apart
A legal fee is what you pay us for our work. A government filing fee is what a government agency charges to accept a form: USCIS, or in immigration court the Department of Justice. We never receive a government filing fee, we cannot waive it, and we cannot refund it.
In a VAWA case the second kind is often zero. That surprises people, because other family immigration filings carry large government fees. For comparison, the government filing fee for Form I-485 is $1,440 for an applicant 14 or older where no exemption applies (8 C.F.R. 106.2), as of August 2026. A VAWA self-petitioner is exempt from it (8 C.F.R. 106.3(b)(6)).
Our legal fee for the self-petition
- The figure. Our legal fee for a VAWA I-360 self-petition is a flat $9,000, depending on the complexity of the case. This is our legal fee as of October 2026, as stated by the firm.
- It is flat. One price for the work agreed in writing, not an hourly bill that grows with every phone call.
- It is confirmed in writing before work begins. The retainer agreement says what we are handling and what it costs. If something new comes up later that calls for more work, we tell you before we do it, not after.
- It pays for work, not a result. USCIS decides each case on its own record. No lawyer can promise approval, and we do not.
What goes into a self-petition
The legal fee covers the work agreed in your retainer. To see why the work takes time, look at what the petition has to prove. A spouse shows a qualifying marriage entered in good faith, battery or extreme cruelty during the marriage, shared residence with the abuser during the marriage, and good moral character (INA 204(a)(1)(A)(iii), (B)(ii); 3 USCIS-PM D.2). Each element is proved by a preponderance of the evidence, and USCIS must consider any credible evidence (INA 204(a)(1)(J); 3 USCIS-PM D.5(B)).
That usually means a detailed declaration in your own words, statements from people who know what happened, proof of the abuser's status, proof of the marriage and of where you lived, and police clearances for good moral character (3 USCIS-PM D.2(B), D.2(C), D.2(F), D.4(B); 8 C.F.R. 204.2(c)(2)(v)). The initial work permit can be requested on the I-360 itself (INA 204(a)(1)(K); Form I-765 instructions). See how the self-petition works and writing your declaration.
Other matters are quoted separately
A VAWA case can be one filing or several. Our legal fee for anything beyond the self-petition is quoted separately, at the consultation or when the need arises, and confirmed in writing before work begins. That includes:
- the green card stage, Form I-485 and related forms (see the green card after VAWA);
- a case in immigration court, such as VAWA cancellation or a VAWA motion to reopen (see VAWA in immigration court);
- a U visa (see the U visa);
- the I-751 battered-spouse waiver (see the I-751 waiver);
- waivers, an appeal or motion after a denial, and later citizenship.
Government filing fees in a VAWA case
There is no government filing fee for the VAWA self-petition itself, Form I-360 (8 C.F.R. 106.2(a)(17)(ii)). As of October 2026, VAWA self-petitioners and their derivatives also pay no government filing fee for Forms I-131, I-212, I-485, I-601, I-601A, I-765 (for the listed categories) and I-824 related to the benefit, and for Form I-290B in the listed cases (8 C.F.R. 106.3(b)(6)). Fees for other VAWA-related requests may be waived (8 C.F.R. 106.3(a)(3)(iii)).
| Filing | Government filing fee | Authority and as-of date |
|---|---|---|
| Form I-360, VAWA self-petition | $0 | 8 C.F.R. 106.2(a)(17)(ii); October 2026 |
| Form I-485, green card, for a VAWA self-petitioner or derivative | $0 | 8 C.F.R. 106.3(b)(6); October 2026 |
| Form I-765, work permit (initial, renewal and replacement in the listed categories) | $0 | 8 C.F.R. 106.3(b)(6)(vii); October 2026 |
| Form I-131, related to the benefit | $0 | 8 C.F.R. 106.3(b)(6)(i); October 2026 |
| Forms I-212, I-601, I-601A and I-824, related to the benefit | $0 | 8 C.F.R. 106.3(b)(6); October 2026 |
| Form I-290B, appeal or motion on a VAWA I-360 | $0 | 8 C.F.R. 106.3(b)(6)(iii); October 2026 |
| Form I-936, e-filing waiver request | $25 government filing fee, which may be waived for VAWA | 8 C.F.R. 106.2(a)(64), 106.3(a)(3)(ii)(H); October 2026 |
| Form I-751, battery or extreme cruelty waiver | $0 | Form G-1055 (ed. 10/16/26); October 2026 |
| Form N-400, citizenship, later | $760 government filing fee on paper; $710 government filing fee online; $380 government filing fee, paper only, at or below 400% of the federal poverty guidelines; fee waiver on Form I-912 possible | Form G-1055 (ed. 10/16/26); October 2026 |
| Form EOIR-42B, VAWA cancellation in immigration court | $1,640 government filing fee ($100 EOIR plus $1,540), plus a $30 biometrics fee, for filings postmarked on or after February 1, 2026 | EOIR forms and fees page; 91 FR 2561; September 2026 |
Fees change. Check the USCIS fee schedule and the EOIR forms and fees page before any filing. We have not confirmed how the court-side government fee for a green card application in immigration court applies to a VAWA applicant, so we do not publish a figure for it. See the VAWA fee exemptions in 2026.
Costs that are not fees
Some cases have small outside costs. Every foreign-language document needs a full, certified English translation (8 C.F.R. 103.2(b)(3)). Police clearances come from the agencies that issue them (8 C.F.R. 204.2(c)(2)(v)). Those charges are set by the translator or the agency, not by us, so we do not print a figure. Two costs people expect are often not needed. No particular piece of evidence is required for a self-petition (3 USCIS-PM D.5(B)), so a paid psychological evaluation is optional evidence, not a rule; it carries weight only if it comes from a qualified professional who treated or thoroughly evaluated you (3 USCIS-PM D.2(E)(2)). And VAWA self-petitioners are exempt from the public-charge ground and need no Form I-864 affidavit of support (INA 212(a)(4)(C)(i), (E)(i)), so you do not need a sponsor.
The costs, step by step
Most VAWA cases move in stages. Here is where each kind of cost can arise, so nothing comes as a surprise.
- The self-petition. Legal fee: a flat $9,000, depending on the complexity of the case. Government filing fee: $0 (8 C.F.R. 106.2(a)(17)(ii)).
- The work permit. The initial request can be made on the I-360 itself, and renewals and replacements use Form I-765 (INA 204(a)(1)(K)). Government filing fee: $0 (8 C.F.R. 106.3(b)(6)(vii)).
- A request for evidence. USCIS may ask for more before it decides, and the response period may not exceed 12 weeks (8 C.F.R. 103.2(b)(8)). There is no government filing fee to respond. If a response calls for more work than the retainer covers, we tell you before we do it.
- The green card. Government filing fee for the I-485: $0 for a VAWA self-petitioner (8 C.F.R. 106.3(b)(6)). A spouse of a permanent resident adjusts only when the priority date is current in the Visa Bulletin (INA 203(a)(2)(A); INA 245(a)(3)), so this stage may come later. Legal fee: quoted separately.
- Citizenship. A person who became a permanent resident as the battered spouse or child of a U.S. citizen may apply after 3 years (INA 319(a)); others generally after 5 (INA 316(a)). The N-400 carries a government filing fee, shown in the table above. Legal fee: quoted separately.
If you are already in immigration court, the order is different and court filings can carry their own government fees. See VAWA with USCIS or in court.
The free consultation
The first consultation is free and confidential. It does not commit you to anything. We listen, tell you which door fits your facts (the self-petition, the I-751 waiver, the U visa, or a case in court), and quote the legal fee for the work your case needs. You decide afterward, in your own time.
You choose how we reach you. Our call-back form asks only for a name, a safe phone or email, whether it is safe to leave a message, safe times and your language. You do not have to tell us your story in the form. Ask for a private call back.
Paying safely
If someone else watches your bank account or card statements, tell us at the consultation. We will talk through how a payment will appear and when, so nothing arrives that you did not expect.
If you cannot afford a lawyer
Say so. If we cannot take your case, we will tell you plainly and point you toward free and low-cost legal service providers. A VAWA self-petition can be filed without a lawyer, though a careful record makes a real difference. A safety plan is made with a domestic violence advocate; the National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-7233, or text START to 88788.
Read next: fees for VAWA cases, ask for a private call back, how the self-petition works, or the VAWA green card, step by step.
Common questions
How much does a VAWA self-petition cost at Usher Law Group?
Our legal fee for a VAWA I-360 self-petition is a flat $9,000, depending on the complexity of the case. It is confirmed in writing before work begins. That is our legal fee as of October 2026; it is separate from any government filing fee.
Is there a government filing fee for the VAWA I-360?
No. There is no government filing fee for a VAWA Form I-360 (8 C.F.R. 106.2(a)(17)(ii)), as of October 2026.
Do I pay government filing fees for the green card and work permit later?
As of October 2026, VAWA self-petitioners and their derivatives pay no government filing fee for Forms I-131, I-212, I-485, I-601, I-601A, I-765 (for the listed categories) and I-824 related to the benefit, and for Form I-290B in listed cases (8 C.F.R. 106.3(b)(6)). Our legal fee for the green card stage is quoted separately.
Is the consultation free?
Yes. The first consultation is free and confidential, and it does not commit you to anything. We quote the legal fee for the work your case needs once we know your facts.
Does paying the fee mean my case will be approved?
No. The legal fee pays for our work, not for a result. USCIS decides each case on its own record, and no lawyer can promise how it will decide.
The lawyers who will handle your case
One of them calls you back, privately, on your terms.
Talk to a lawyer privately. You decide how we reach you.
Tell us a safe number or email and a safe time, and whether we can leave a message. We never contact the person who hurt you, and we never call from a number or send anything that names this site. The first conversation is free and confidential, in English, Russian, Spanish or Uzbek, with a live interpreter for any other language.