And cases can still usually be heard within a month of filing the initial petition.

The first step is ordinarily for the victim of the abuse to file an initial petition with the court.

The total time from filing of the initial petition to the actual issuance of a visa can vary, but recently has averaged around eight months.

Only a partial fragment of an initial petition is available.

Should additional written arguments be permitted in addition to the initial petition and the owner's response?

Under the Supreme Court's precedents, arguments not made in the inmate's initial petition are forfeited.

Perhaps her attorney recommended that the cases be separated after she filed her initial petition above.

Challenges to other sections of the law, including limits on initial petitions by death-row inmates, are quickly making their way through the lower courts.

Some applicants have sought to speed up their initial petitions for a visa by paying $1,000 for premium processing.

Schwarzenegger came under fire after the initial petition did not include spousal support and a reimbursement of attorney's fees.