Why is I-360 VAWA left behind while other forms get Premium Processing? It's time to advocate for change.

Hi everyone, I wanted to start a discussion regarding the current timeline and treatment of Form I-360 under VAWA (Violence Against Women Act). If you look across different USCIS benefit streams—whether it’s employment-based visas, family-based marriage petitions, or even asylum cases—many applicants have pathways to faster adjudication, clear updates, or access to Premium Processing (where paying a fee guarantees an expedited response, whether an approval or a decision). Meanwhile, VAWA applicants are often left waiting in the background for 4 to 5 years with minimal updates. What makes this situation particularly challenging is the strict legal constraint on VAWA self-petitioners: we cannot remarry while the petition is pending, or the entire VAWA case is automatically revoked. Asking people to put their lives and personal futures on complete hold for half a decade—after already surviving emotional, psychological, or physical abuse verified with evidence—feels profoundly unfair. Those of us applying under VAWA have documented real harm and abuse. It seems unreasonable that a program designed to protect vulnerable individuals is treated with less urgency than forms tied to standard employment or family petitions. Why is there no Premium Processing option or a dedicated expedited pipeline for I-360 VAWA cases? I’m sharing this to gauge the community's thoughts:

1. What has your experience been with current I-360 processing times?
2. Do you think there is room for collective community advocacy (e.g., reaching out to congressional representatives, submitting feedback to the USCIS Ombudsman, or starting petition campaigns) to request faster processing or expedited options for VAWA applicants? Would love to hear your thoughts and experiences below.