What is a conditional Green Card?
If you are wondering: What is a conditional Green Card? Keep reading follow explanation and discover all you need to know!
If you are married for less than two years at the time your Green Card was approved, your Green Card will be “conditional,” and only valid for two years. Your next step will be to apply for the Removal of Conditions and obtain a 10-year Green Card to become a permanent resident of the United States.
What is a Conditional Green Card?
A conditional Green Card means you can live and work in the U.S., like any other Green Card holder, but for only two years before having to update your status again to a full, ten-year Green Card.
Conditional Green Cards cannot be renewed. You will lose your permanent resident status and will have to leave the United States if your immigration status is not adjusted within the 90-day window before your conditional Green Card expires.
The letters “CR1” on the physical Green Card stands for “conditional resident.”
In the case of marriage-based immigration, you’ll once again need to prove that your marriage is real after this two-year period, after which you’ll be able to get a “permanent” Green Card, valid for 10–year renewable periods.
Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions
If you or your spouse has conditional permanent residency, you’ll need to file Form I-751, the “Petition to Remove Conditions,” so that you can get a permanent Green Card.
Keep in mind that you’ll need to file your I-751 during the 90-day window before your conditional permanent residency expires. Your application will be returned if it’s filed too early or denied if it’s filed late in most cases.
How to Apply for Removal of Conditions?
Form I-751 is a joint petition. Both spouses will need to complete the form together, and both spouses need to sign the form. You’ll need to include additional evidence that your marriage is real.
USCIS expects that since you’ve now been married for two years longer, you’ll have new photos together, new joint financial documentation, and possibly even children together.
You should include the same types of proof that you included with your original Green card application, but this should be proof that you’ve accumulated in the time since your original green card application was approved.
You’ll need to include a copy of the front and back of your conditional Green Card, along with the filing fee ($595) and biometrics fee ($85), for a total of $680.
Before April 7, 2022, it was mandatory for couples to attend an interview with a USCIS officer to remove the conditions of their residency. After April 7, 2022, it is possible that USCIS may choose to waive the interview if the evidence submitted by the couple is strong enough to convince the reviewing officer that the marriage is legitimate.
What Happens If You Don’t Remove the Conditions?
If you don’t remove the conditions on your permanent residency, you will be “out of status” as soon as your conditional Green Card expires.
You could very likely be placed in deportation proceedings, and in any event, you will start accruing “unlawful presence” that could lead to you being barred from the United States for three or ten years if you left and tried to reenter.
Wizard Visa can help Green Card holders through the process of applying for U.S. citizenship.
We have a large experience in immigration services to prepare you for the process and help guide you along the way.
So, now it depends on you, take advantage of our experience, and let our team help you make your dream come true! Contact Us! We will help you plan for your future.
To learn more about immigration services read our blog and contact us to get more information. Wizard Visa offers the best service to help you become a US citizen!