I-751 Form - Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence

How do I remove the conditions on residence?

In order to establish eligibility, you must show that you entered into the marriage in good faith. To lift the conditions on your residence, the USCIS must determine that (1) The marriage was legal where it took place; (2) The marriage has not been terminated; (3) The marriage was not entered into for the purpose of procuring permanent resident status; and (4) No fee (other than to an attorney) was paid for filing the underlying I-130 or I-129F.

What if my spouse will not be a joint petitioner with me?

Both spouses are required to file the I-751 jointly. But, what if your spouse cannot, or will not, file a joint petition with you? In certain situations you can request a waiver of the joint filing requirement if you can establish one of the following: (1) Removal from the United States would result in extreme hardship; or (2) You entered the marriage in good faith, but your marriage was terminated (other than through death); or (3) You entered the marriage in good faith, but your spouse battered you or your child.

Can I get a waiver of the joint filing requirement if I am in a divorce or separation?

There is no waiver of the joint filing requirement based upon the sole fact that you are legally separated or in divorce proceedings. The waiver becomes available after your marriage is terminated. If you are in a situation where your deadline to file the I-751 is looming, but your marriage will not have been terminated yet, you can still file the I-751 and take advantage of the USCIS Request For Evidence (RFE) delay to buy time. When the USCIS receives a waiver request based upon termination of marriage, but the marriage is not yet terminated, the USCIS issues an RFE with a response deadline of 87 days. This gives you that much more time to terminate the marriage and respond to the RFE with proof, such as a divorce decree, and establish your eligibility for the waiver.