USCIS Policy Memo on VAWA Authorized EADs

USCIS, Mar. 8, 2016- "This policy memorandum (PM) provides guidance to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officers regarding the amendment to the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) that expands eligibility for employment authorization to battered spouses of certain nonimmigrants. An interim PM titled Eligibility for Employment Authorization upon Approval of a Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Self-Petition; and, Eligibility for Employment Authorization for Battered Spouses of Certain Nonimmigrants was posted on December 12, 2012 for public comment.

This final PM applies only to the employment authorization eligibility of an abused spouse admitted under INA section 101(a)(15)(A), (E)(iii), (G), or (H) who accompanies or follows to join a spouse admitted under INA section 101(a)(15)(A), (E)(iii), (G), or (H) and is effective upon publication of the new Form I-765V, Application for Employment Authorization for Abused Nonimmigrant Spouse, for this program.

This PM revises Chapter 30.13 of the Adjudicator’s Field Manual (AFM); AFM Update AD16-01."