Removal of Conditions Lawyer Houston

Removing Conditions Made Simple with a Removal of Conditions Lawyer Houston

Houston is perhaps the most diverse metropolitan city in the US, having a racially and ethnically diverse population. Its strong labour market, driven by a growing economy, has made it a home for many immigrants. A huge chunk of immigrants in Houston are admitted to the US through family-based immigration.

 

Many of these immigrants who receive a green card in Houston, have conditions imposed on their residence and receive a conditional green card. While these green cards allow you to work and reside in the US, removing conditions on your green card is very important to get a permanent legal status in the US.

 

With a permanent green card, you get to enjoy a 10-year lawful residence in the US that can be renewed indefinitely. Take the help of our expert Removal of Conditions lawyer Houston to enjoy a streamlined and error-free application process to remove conditions on your residence.

How Can You Remove Conditions on Your Green Card in Houston?

If you have a conditional green card, you must file to remove conditions before it expires to maintain your permanent resident status. The process requires submitting Form I-751, depending on your situation, along with supporting evidence.

What Is Conditional Permanent Residency in Houston?

Conditional permanent residency is when an immigrant receives a green card, which is valid for 2 years. Usually, you would receive a conditional green card when your immigration is based on marriage with a US Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident, and you were married less than 2 years on the date of obtaining your conditional permanent residence.

 

As a conditional green card cannot be renewed, you have to remove conditions in the 90-day period before the expiry of your conditional permanent residence. It is important to remove conditions on time, otherwise your permanent residence status can be revoked and you can be removed from the US.

Conditional Green Card vs Permanent Green Card

Essentially, a conditional green card and a permanent green card are the same, as they both provide you with the residence status to stay and work in the US, however, they differ on the following grounds:

  1. Validity: A conditional green card is only valid for 2 years, while a permanent green card is valid for 10 years.
  2. Renewability: A conditional green card expires after 2 years, and cannot be renewed. 
  3. Eligibility to Naturalize: Most permanent green card holders are eligible to naturalize and become US citizens after 5 years of having a permanent green card. However, if you have a conditional green card, you cannot naturalize, until you remove conditions on your permanent residence.
  4. Conditions Attached: In a conditional green card, you have to prove that your marriage with your spouse is bona-fide. There are no such conditions on a permanent green card. 
  5. Address Change: A conditional green card holder has to inform the USCIS every time they change their address, though there is no such obligation on a permanent green card holder. 

Want to know the process of removal of conditions on your green card in Houston? Book an Online Consultation with our expert Removal of Conditions Lawyer Houston at just $79!

Who is the Petitioner for an I-751 Petition in Houston?

To remove conditions on your permanent residence, you have to file Form I-751 with the USCIS, along with your spouse. As the conditional resident, you are the Petitioner for an I-751 Petition. You have to provide your statement, biographic information, information about your spouse, and your marriage.

What Happens If Your Marriage Ends Before You File Your Removal Of Conditions Petition?

Typically, the USCIS only allows you to file for removal of conditions with your spouse. So, what can you do if you are divorced or separated? The USCIS provides an exception, and allows a waiver or individual filing request in extreme cases, such as:

  • Your spouse has died.
  • Your marriage has terminated by divorce or annulment.
  • You were battered or treated with extreme cruelty by your spouse.
  • You cannot file with your spouse due to any other reason, and your removal from the US would result in extreme hardship. 

To get a waiver, you have to provide strong evidence to support your request. If your marriage was entered in good faith, but has since then terminated, then you must provide the divorce decree, or if your spouse has died, then you must provide a copy of the death certificate.

 

Want to file for Removal of Conditions in Houston? Take MyImmigration’s free I-751 qualification quiz to see if you are eligible.

What Should You Do When a Conditional Green Card Expires?

When your conditional green card is about to expire, you should file Form I-751, to remove conditions on your green card, in the 90-day period before expiry, to avoid losing your permanent residence status.

 

Not filing I-751 on time can lead to revocation of your permanent residence status, and you can be removed from the US. If you haven’t renewed your conditional green card, and it has expired, you can still write a letter to the US government, showcasing that you could not file sooner, due to “extraordinary circumstances”.

What Are the Common Mistakes When Filing for Removal of Conditions?

When filing for any immigration benefit, there is a scope of making a mistake or an error, despite all your efforts. You are not an immigration expert, and mistakes are bound to happen. However, with the help of a Removal of Condition Lawyer Houston you can avoid these common pitfalls:

  1. Evidence of Bona-Fide Marriage: The main reason for filing I-751 is to prove to the USCIS that you entered into your marriage in good faith and not to circumvent immigration laws. It is essential to provide supporting documents to prove that your marriage is bona-fide.
  2. Missing the Filing Deadline: Form I-751 has to be filed within the 90-day period before the expiry of your conditional green card. Remember to file on time. 
  3. Using the Wrong Form: Though uncommon, some conditional permanent residents use a wrong form such as Form I-829 to remove conditions on their marriage based conditional green card. You should consult a Removal of Conditions Lawyer Houston to find out which form is suited to your needs. 
  4. Filing Individually: If you are filing individually, you have to apply for a waiver, and provide supporting evidence to substantiate your request.
  5. Application Errors: Making a mistake while filing an I-751 petition, or misrepresenting any information can lead to denial, and in some cases, even penalties.

What is the Document Checklist for Filing Form I-751?

To understand the documents that you have to file, along with I-751, you must be familiar with the reason you have been given a conditional green card.

 

The USCIS was not convinced that your marriage was bona-fide, when you received your conditional permanent residence, so to remove conditions you have to present supporting evidence to establish that you entered into the marriage in good faith. 

Typically, you need to provide various documents such as:

  1. Evidence of Relationship: This includes documents to prove that the marriage is bona fide, such as joint bank accounts, joint insurance, mortgage/lease documents showing common residence of you and your spouse, tax returns, etc. 
  2. Waiver Applicants: If you are filing individually, you have to provide documents to substantiate your request.
  3. Criminal History: You have to provide original, certified copies of your arrests, convictions, and immigration violations.

What is the Timeline For Removal of Conditions On Green Card Houston?

The processing of an I-751 application can take anywhere between 12-24 months, depending on the workload of the service center processing your application. Typically, the majority of the applications are approved or denied within this time. However, if your documents are not in order, or there are some mistakes or errors, then your application may take longer to process.

 

With the help of an expert Removal of Conditions Lawyer Houston, you can significantly reduce the processing time and delays in removal of condition applications. An experienced lawyer can guide you as to what documents have to be filed, and can help you avoid common mistakes, which lead to delay and requests for additional evidence. 

How MyImmigration Law Office Can Help You Remove Green Card Conditions?

MyImmigration is a leading Digital Immigration Law Office. Founded by Mr. James L. Robertson, a former immigration supervisor at the USCIS, we have decades of experience in immigration law and have a proven track record. Here’s how we can help you in the removal of conditions on your green card:

  1. Digital Interview and Consultation: Consult with our best Removal of Conditions Lawyer in Houston from the comfort of your home, without ever visiting a physical office. 
  2. Document Checklist: Worried about what documents you need to attach? With MyImmigration’s comprehensive document checklists, just upload the documents mentioned and enjoy a stress-free application process. 
  3. Application Preparation: We select the right forms and fill in all relevant details using our automated error-free software, backed by our expert lawyer-reviewed application process. We ensure that all information is accurate and complete and that the necessary supporting documents have been attached. 
  4. Application Package: After completing your application, we mail you the complete package ready for submission. You just have to sign, attach the fee, and mail to the USCIS using our self-addressed envelopes.

Consult MyImmigration’s Removal of Conditions Lawyer Houston Today!

When you first immigrated to the US, the 2-year waiting period before you could remove conditions of your green card, would have felt like such a long time. However, now you are eligible to remove conditions, on your permanent residence, and enjoy the privileges of a permanent green card.

 

It is important to file I-751 correctly and on time to avoid delays and denial of removal of conditions. Furthermore, if your application is denied, you can be removed from the US.

 

With MyImmigration, you can streamline your removal of conditions petition, avoid delays, RFEs, and confidently sail through your application process.

 

Contact our Removal of Conditions Lawyer Houston Today to secure your permanent green card!