How long does it take for a vama visa to be approved and what is the process?

Did you mean VAWA? The petition itself (stand-alone filing) can be decided within 3-6 months. It can take longer if there are issues that require further review and/or if it is filed concurrently with an application for adjustment of status. If the abusive spouse is a U.S. citizen, that category is current (a visa number is immediately available to the self-petitioner) which means the self-petitioner can apply for adjustment of status concurrently with the petition. If the abusive spouse is a permanent resident, there is a waiting time of approximately 2 years for visa issuance based on June 2013 visa bulletin. Please note that visa waiting times may change and may differ for different applicants depending on their country of changeability.