Tengo un I-751 activo, pero estoy divorciando y el divorcio no está finalizado ¿Qué sucede ahora?
Angelica Rice • September 22, 2022
Click here to read this article in English and Portuguese
Si usted y su cónyuge estuvieron casados por menos de 2 años al momento de su entrevista I-485 (Ajuste de estatus) y su solicitud fue aprobada, su estatus de residente permanente legal es condicional y una petición por separado para eliminar esas condiciones (I- 751) debe presentarse dentro de los 90 días posteriores a la fecha de vencimiento de su tarjeta verde (Green Card o Tarjeta de residente permanente).
Una petición I-751 es una petición conjunta, presentada por el titular de la Tarjeta Verde y su cónyuge, que solicita que USCIS elimine las condiciones y le emita el estatus de residente permanente y una nueva Tarjeta Verde de 10 años. Sin embargo, ¿qué sucede si después de presentar la petición I-751, usted y su cónyuge deciden divorciarse?
En tales situaciones, el titular de la Tarjeta Verde puede solicitar una exención del requisito de presentación de una petición conjunta y presentar esta solicitud con su petición I-751. Incluso si está solicitando una exención I-751, aún debe demostrar que el matrimonio se celebró originalmente de buena fe. Esto significa que aún deberá demostrarle a USCIS que contrajo matrimonio por amor y no solo para obtener una tarjeta verde. La evidencia de buena fe puede incluir, entre otros, el certificado de matrimonio, documentos conjuntos, certificados de nacimiento de los hijos nacidos del matrimonio, etc.
La documentación que puede/debe presentarse con su solicitud de exención I-751 incluye una copia de su tarjeta verde, documentación sobre las circunstancias que rodearon el final de su matrimonio, evidencia de que el matrimonio se celebró de buena fe, copia de la sentencia de divorcio (o evidencia de que se ha iniciado el proceso de divorcio si aún no es definitivo), declaración suya sobre las circunstancias, etc.
USCIS revisa las solicitudes de exención caso por caso. La guía de política actual de USCIS indica que si se realiza una solicitud de exención y el divorcio aún no es definitivo, USCIS debe emitir una Solicitud de evidencia (RFE) con un período de respuesta de hasta 87 días. En el RFE, el oficial le pedirá que proporcione una copia de la sentencia final de divorcio y una declaración suya en la que solicite oficialmente que la petición I-751 se convierta en una solicitud de exención (si aún no la proporcionó), junto con cualquier otro documento que considere necesario para decidir el caso.
Siempre que pueda proporcionar estos documentos a USCIS antes de la fecha límite de respuesta, el oficial puede enmendar la petición I-751 indicando que usted es elegible para una exención basada en la terminación del matrimonio y puede adjudicar la petición como tal sin necesidad de volver a presentar la solicitud. USCIS luego evaluará si se ha cumplido o no con el requisito de buena fe y puede programar el caso para una entrevista en persona. Si se aprueba la solicitud, se le emitirá su tarjeta verde de 10 años. Si se niega la solicitud, entonces su caso puede ser remitido a un tribunal de inmigración y puede ser colocado en un proceso de deportación.
Los casos de exención I-751 son un asunto complicado. Si usted o alguien que conoce se encuentra en una situación como la mencionada anteriormente, comuníquese con nuestros experimentados abogados de inmigración de Santos Lloyd para obtener ayuda con su caso.
Este blog no pretende ser un consejo legal y nada aquí debe interpretarse como el establecimiento de una relación abogado-cliente. Programe una consulta con un abogado de inmigración antes de actuar sobre cualquier información que lea aquí.
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Translated by Kathya Dawe
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Click here to read this article in Portuguese and Spanish If you and your spouse were married for less than 2 years at the time of your I-485 ( Adjustment of Status ) interview and your application was approved, your lawful permanent resident status is conditional and a separate petition to remove those conditions (I-751 petition) must be filed within 90 days of the expiration date on your Green Card. An I-751 petition is a joint petition, filed by the Green Card holder and their spouse, that requests USCIS remove the conditions and issue you permanent resident status and a new 10-year Green Card. However, what if after filing the I-751 petition, you and your spouse decide to get divorced? In such situations, the Green Card holder can request a waiver of the joint petition filing requirement and submit this request with their I-751 petition. Even if you are requesting an I-751 waiver, you must still show that the marriage was originally entered into in good faith. This means that you will still need to prove to USCIS that you entered into the marriage for love and not just to obtain a Green Card. Evidence of good faith can include, but is not limited to, the marriage certificate, joint documents, birth certificates of children born of the marriage, etc. Documentation that can/should be submitted with your I-751 waiver request include copy of your green card, documentation regarding the circumstances surrounding the end of your marriage, evidence that the marriage was entered into in good faith, copy of the divorce decree (or evidence that divorce proceedings have been initiated if not yet final), statement from you regarding the circumstances, etc. USCIS reviews waiver requests on a case-by-case basis. Current USCIS policy guidance indicates that if a waiver request is made and the divorce is not yet final, USCIS should issue a Request for Evidence (RFE) with a response period of up to 87 days. In the RFE, the officer will request that you provide a copy of the final divorce decree and a statement from you officially asking that the I-751 petition be converted to a waiver application (if not already provided), along with any other documents they deem necessary to decide the case. As long as you can provide these documents to USCIS by the response deadline, the officer can amend the I-751 petition indicating that you are eligible for a waiver based on the termination of the marriage and can adjudicate the petition as such without the need to re-file the application. USCIS will then evaluate whether or not the good faith requirement has been met and may schedule the case for an in-person interview. If the application is approved, then you will be issued your 10-year Green Card. If the application is denied, then your case may be referred to immigration court and you may be placed in removal proceedings. I-751 waiver cases are a complicated matter. If you or someone you know find themselves in a situation like the one mentioned above, please contact our experienced immigration attorneys at Santos Lloyd Law Firm for assistance with your case.
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