CASE: I-751 / Waiver of the Joint Waiver Requirement
APPLICANT: Russian
LOCATION: Cleveland, Ohio
Our client contacted our office in later February of this year regarding her potential I-751 filing. She is from Russia and married a U.S. citizen in September 2011. Through her marriage with a U.S. citizen spouse, she obtained a 2-year conditional green card in April of 2012.
Unfortunately, their marriage ended in April 2013. Thus, our client could not file the I-751 application jointly with her ex-husband. After the consultation, we advised that we can help her file the I-751 application with a waiver of the joint filing requirement. We requested a waiver because our client entered into the marriage in good faith, but the marriage was terminated through divorce or annulment before they can file a joint petition.
On July 8, 2013, our office filed the I-751 application with various supporting documents (13 exhibits and an affidavit over 4 pages) to demonstrate our client’s bona fide marriage with her ex-husband. However, on September 3, 2013, the USCIS issued a Request for Evidence (RFE) and asked our client to submit more documentary evidence to prove the bona fide nature of her marriage to her ex-husband. Our office thoroughly prepared the Response to RFE and filed it on October 28, 2013. Eventually, on November 20, 2013, the USCIS approved our request for the removal of conditions on her permanent resident status without even an interview. Now, she has her ten-year green card.