Another win for Israeli citizen. I-360 under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) approved for Israeli citizen and battered spouse of a U.S. citizen after USCIS issued a Notice of Intent to Deny, alleging that client’s first marriage was entered into for the purpose of evading the immigration laws. If your spouse was abusive to you, you could still apply for U.S. lawful permanent residence independently. The immigration law of the United States regulates situations like these, protecting those who may experience violence by a family member. This means that you may request legal status in the United States without the assistance of the abuser. With this VAWA self-petition, a spouse who was subject to domestic violence can apply for permanent resident status.