Does USCIS always notify me when it's time to remove conditions?
Hi, I'm Jim Hacking, immigration lawyer practicing law throughout the United States, out of our office here in St. Louis, Missouri. As anybody who watches our videos, you know that we handle a lot of marriage-based immigration cases. On those kinds of cases, when someone gets a Green Card based on marriage, if they've been married less than two years on the day that the Green Card is issued, they will be required, two years later, two years after the start date on the Green Card, to file what's called an I-751. The I-751 is a petition to remove conditions on lawful permanent residence. You have to file that. Like I said, in those 90 days at the end of the two-year period, prior to the expiration of that original Green Card.
In this video, we're going to talk about that. We're going to talk specifically about what happens when you do that, and whether or not you get that notice from USCIS. Now, a lot of people will show up at their interview for their Green Card, and they will be asked at the end of the interview, when it looks like the Green Card is going to be approved, they'll be asked to sign a form that says, "I've been advised by the immigration officer of my requirement to file the 751 two years from now." That's an important document. Both keep a copy, I think they might give you a copy. But at the end of the day, they're supposed to send you a letter notifying you, towards the end of the two year period, that you have to file this I-751.
Somebody asked me in our webinar recently, "Does this always happen?" I think it happens in about 40% of the cases. I think a lot of times people move and they don't update their address with the USCIS, and you should. The immigrant should always update their address within 10 days of moving. One of the main reasons that they should do that, is so that they get this letter. They need that reminder.
Now in our office, we calendar that and we remind our clients as we get closer, but the USCIS is supposed to send that letter. Like I said, sometimes it doesn't come. Sometimes they don't do it. I think now they probably are purposely not doing it, but you can't rely on that. At the end of the day, they're supposed to do it, but they probably aren't doing it.
If you have questions about getting the conditions removed on your Green Card, give us a call at 314-961-8200. You can email us at [email protected]. Be sure to join us on our Facebook group, which is called Immigrant Home. If you like this video, we ask that you please share it out on social, so that you can help spread the word. If you like it, subscribe to our YouTube channel, so that you get updates whenever I make videos, just like this one.
Thanks a lot. Have a great day.
