VAWA (Violence Against Women Act) self-petitioners—including abused spouses and children of U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents—may be eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship after just three years as a green card holder, rather than the standard five. This resource explains the specific naturalization timelines and conditions for each VAWA category, including cases involving divorce, death of a spouse, or a parent’s naturalization.
If you are a battered spouse of a U.S. citizen who was granted approval of an I-360 on that basis and you have been an lawful permanent resident for three years, you can apply for U.S. citizenship immediately, without having to show that you are still residing with the citizen spouse. In addition, it does not matter if you are still married to the citizen or divorced.
You can also apply after three years as an lawful permanent resident if your abusive spouse has died.
If you received your green card as an abused child of a U.S. citizen with an approved I-360, you can apply for naturalization after three years as an lawful permanent resident. You can apply even if your parent has died. When you apply for naturalization under these circumstances, you no longer need to meet the definition of a child.
If you have an approved I-360 based on being the spouse or child of an abusive lawful permanent resident, and that lawful permanent resident naturalizes, then you may also be able to take advantage of the three-year rule. You need to wait to apply for U.S. citizenship until not only you have spent three years as a VAWA green card holder, but your abusive spouse or parent has been a U.S. citizen for three years as well.