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.