Filing an I-751 Petition
Just this week I was approached by a couple that have been married for approximately three years and the woman had gotten her Green Card about two years ago. You may know that if someone acquires a Green Card through marriage to a US citizen, it is not a permanent Green Card, it is only a two year conditional Green Card, so the important issue is, how do I convert my Green Card from a two year conditional Green Card to a permanent ten year Green Card? This must be done before the two years expires. This is not two years after the couple marries. This is before the temporary conditional two-year Green Card expires. It can be done within 90 days before the expiration period.
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I encourage people to gather together as much documentation as possible to demonstrate that it is a good faith marriage. Immigration calls this the bona fides of the marriage. Typical documentation that people can gather are correspondence, bank documentation showing a joint account, tax returns showing a joint filing, if there have been any children born the marriage, even photos, albums, two years of history together. Perhaps a driver’s license showing the same address; any documentation, medical documentation, employment documentation, showing the same address or listing the other person as a beneficiary: this is great documentation for the I-751 Petition. It is very important that it is filed, otherwise the two year conditional Green Card will expire.
This informational blog post was brought to you by Susan Scheer, an experienced Morristown, New Jersey Adjustment of Status Lawyer.