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Alexandra Lozano Closed: What This Means for Your VAWA Case
If you filed a VAWA case with Alexandra Lozano Immigration Law, here’s what changed — and what to do next.
What Happened
In May 2026, the Washington State Bar Association announced that Alexandra Lozano resigned in lieu of discipline, permanently barring her from practicing law in Washington. Shortly after, her firm — rebranded as Luz Legal — announced it was shutting down completely and would no longer represent any clients.
If you were one of her clients, especially with a VAWA (Violence Against Women Act) case tied to domestic abuse, this leaves your case in limbo. No one is actively managing your file, tracking your deadlines, or responding to USCIS on your behalf.
What Is a VAWA Self-Petition?
VAWA lets certain abused spouses, children, and parents petition for immigration status on their own — without needing the abuser’s knowledge, involvement, or approval. This is typically filed as Form I-360, and it’s designed specifically so survivors can move forward safely and confidentially.
Why You Need to Check Your Case ASAP
A “pending” case can mean a lot of different things — and not all of them are good. A new attorney reviewing your file will need to confirm:
- Did you actually qualify for a VAWA self-petition?
- Was the self-petition ever filed with USCIS?
- Did USCIS issue a receipt notice?
- Has USCIS sent a Request for Evidence (RFE)?
- Are any deadlines coming up?
- Is your current address on file with USCIS?
- Does your evidence packet actually support your claim?
- Were work authorization or adjustment of status also filed?
- Do you have a copy of your complete case file?
Many former clients assume their case is “moving” when, in reality, the file is incomplete, evidence is missing, or USCIS is waiting on a response that never came.
Documents to Gather Before You Talk to a New Attorney
You don’t need everything — but the more you have, the faster a new attorney can help. Start pulling together:
- USCIS receipt notices
- Copies of Form I-360, I-485, I-765, or I-131
- Any Requests for Evidence
- Approval or denial notices
- Court records, police reports, or protection orders (if available)
- Medical or counseling records (if available)
- Marriage certificate, divorce records, birth certificates, or proof of relationship
- Old contracts or payment receipts from your prior attorney
- Emails, texts, letters, or portal screenshots from Luz Legal or Alexandra Lozano Immigration Law
A partial file is still worth bringing in. Don’t wait to gather every document — deadlines don’t pause while you search.
"I'm Not Sure If I Even Have a VAWA Case"
That’s more common than people think. A lot of survivors don’t realize their experience — abuse, coercive control, threats, financial control, isolation, intimidation — could qualify. USCIS looks at the full picture: the relationship, the abuse, and your overall character, not just one incident.
- A VAWA case
- A family-based immigration case
- A U visa or T visa case
- Or something else entirely
What to Do Right Now
- Don’t panic, but don’t wait either. Deadlines with USCIS keep moving regardless of what happened with your old attorney.
- Gather what documents you can.
- Get your case in front of a licensed immigration attorney who can confirm your status and protect anything time-sensitive.
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