Judge Richard W. Vanveldhuisen

A few numbers worth knowing if you have a hearing in front of Judge Vanveldhuisen, Richard W. (IJ code RWV, Arlington, VA):

Overall track record

11 years on the bench (since 2016), 2,138 cases total, lifetime grant rate 12.8%

Last 3 years (2023–2026): 2,114 cases, grant rate 12.9% — roughly in line with the Arlington court average (10.4%)

Nationality breakdown (2023–2026 cumulative)

Nationality / Cases / Grant rate
Honduras               442   10.6%
Guatemala              363    4.4%
El Salvador            351   15.1%
Bolivia                184    6.2%
Mexico                 164    0.7%
Peru                   105   12.9%
Venezuela               93   11.8%
Nicaragua               66   16.9%
Colombia                61   16.3%
Mauritania              32   27.6%
Afghanistan             26   38.5%

Afghanistan applicants see a 38.5% grant rate versus 0.7% for Mexico applicants — a 52.3× gap on this judge's docket.

Year-by-year

2023:  124 cases, 20.8% grant rate
2024:  404 cases, 24.3% grant rate
2025:  958 cases, 9.5% grant rate
2026:  628 cases, 9.0% grant rate

If you've appeared before Judge Vanveldhuisen, I'd love to hear:

1. What's your nationality, and when was your most recent hearing?

2. How did your attorney prepare for this judge specifically?

Source: EOIR (U.S. Executive Office for Immigration Review) public statistics, July 2026 release, compiled by AsylumTracker. A judge's historical pattern does not predict the outcome of any individual case; this is shared to help set realistic expectations. Real-experience accounts from the community are welcome.