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Green Cards through Marriage: Conditional Residence

By: Jonathan N. Portner
Sameer Sidh
March 12, 2009

For many, approval of an Application to Adjust Status (I-485) is the final step to securing a green card based on a marriage to a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.  This is not the case for all applicants.  Where an applicant’s I-485 application was approved prior to the second anniversary of their marriage, the applicant is awarded conditional resident status, and not full-blown permanent resident status as others receive upon approval of their I-485.  There are important distinctions and regulations regarding conditional resident status that all who seek a green card should be aware of prior to filing.

Conditional resident status is identical to permanent resident status in many ways.  The same rights and privileges granted to a permanent resident are also granted to the conditional resident.  However, there is one major difference between the two: permanent resident status is valid for ten (10) years, and conditional resident status is only valid for two.  The difference is very important because the consequences of allowing a conditional green card to expire are severe. 

To receive permanent resident status and to avoid expiration of a conditional green card, the applicant and their spouse must jointly file an I-751 Petition to Remove Conditions.  Timing is crucial in this process.  The I-751 petition must be filed during the ninety (90) day period preceding the expiration of the applicant’s conditional green card.  The expiration date should be exactly two years after the date on which the conditional green card was issued.  Failure to file during this ninety (90) day period will result in termination of the applicant’s conditional status.

After filing the I-751 petition, both the applicant and their spouse should expect to undergo an interview.  The primary goal of USCIS during this interview is to determine whether the parties are engaged in a valid marriage.  To prove the validity of your marriage, couples should produce evidence in the form of bank statements from joint bank accounts, jointly filed tax returns, a lease or deed containing the names of both spouses and bills in the names of both spouses.  If USCIS deems the evidence presented to be sufficient, the I-751 petition will be approved and the applicant will have the conditions removed from their permanent residence. 
Complications in this process arise when the applicant, usually due to divorce or the death of their spouse, is not able to file a joint I-751 petition.  In these situations, an applicant can file the I-751 petition by themselves if they request a waiver of the joint filing requirement and provide evidence to support their waiver request.  Divorce cases specifically cause greater problems for an I-751 applicant because the dissolution of a marriage creates a presumption that the marriage was fraudulent from the beginning.  To overcome this presumption, the applicant will have to provide evidence that the underlying marriage was not entered into for the purpose of gaining immigration benefits. 

Filing a timely I-751 petition is an important step for some on the road to getting a green card.  If you unsure of whether or not you need to file this petition, consult an experienced immigration attorney.