What you need to know about Form I-751
When to File
- File during the 90-day window before your conditional green card expires
- Filing too early will result in rejection
- Filing late risks losing your permanent resident status
- Waiver applicants can file anytime after receiving conditional status
- Use USCIS filing calculator to find your exact window
- Late filing accepted only with written explanation of extraordinary circumstances
Who Must File
- Conditional residents who got their green card through marriage
- Those married less than 2 years when green card was approved
- Conditional residents whose spouse is a U.S. citizen or LPR
- Dependent children who received conditional status at the same time
- Divorced, widowed, or abuse survivors (file with waiver)
- Those facing extreme hardship if removed from the U.S.
How to remove conditions on your green card with Immiva
- 1
Check Your Filing Window
Enter your green card expiration date and we'll calculate your exact 90-day filing window and confirm you're eligible to file.
- 2
Complete Your I-751
Our guided system walks you through every question in plain English, flagging potential issues and ensuring both spouses provide required information.
- 3
Build Your Evidence Package
Get a personalized checklist of documents to prove your bona fide marriage — joint accounts, lease agreements, photos, tax returns, and affidavits.
- 4
Review & Download
Review your completed petition, pay once satisfied, and download print-ready PDFs formatted to USCIS specifications.
- 5
File with USCIS
Mail your signed forms and evidence to the correct USCIS address, or file online through your USCIS account.
- 6
Attend Biometrics (If Required)
After filing, USCIS may schedule a biometrics appointment to collect your fingerprints, photo, and signature.
- 7
Receive Your 10-Year Green Card
Once approved, USCIS mails your permanent 10-year green card. Some cases require an interview before approval.
Required Documents
- Copy of your conditional green card (front and back)
- Passport-style photos for each applicant
- Joint financial documents (bank statements, tax returns)
- Proof of shared residence (lease, mortgage, utility bills)
- Evidence of combined assets (insurance policies, car titles)
- Two affidavits from people who know your marriage is genuine
- Birth certificates of children born during the marriage (if applicable)
Processing Times
- Current processing: 12–24 months for most cases
- Waiver cases may take longer (22–30 months)
- Receipt notice arrives in 4–6 weeks
- Receipt extends your status for 48 months automatically
- Biometrics appointment: 5–12 weeks after filing
- Some cases approved without interview
Filing Fees
- USCIS fee: $750 (paper) or $700 (online)
- Immiva preparation: $49
- Fee waiver may be available → Learn more
What you get with Immiva
- I-751Petition to Remove Conditions on ResidenceThe official petition to convert your 2-year conditional green card to a 10-year permanent green card
- G-1145E-Notification of Application AcceptanceOpt in to receive email and text alerts when USCIS accepts your petition
- G-1450Authorization for Credit Card TransactionsPay the USCIS filing fee by credit or debit card
- G-1650Authorization for ACH TransactionsPay the USCIS filing fee directly from your U.S. bank account
- Filing ChecklistPersonalized Document ChecklistComplete list of evidence needed to prove your bona fide marriage, current filing fee, and where to mail your petition
Common mistakes that lead to I-751 denial
Over 10,000 I-751 petitions are rejected each year due to preventable errors. Missing your filing window or submitting weak evidence can result in deportation proceedings.
- Filing outside the 90-day window (too early or too late)
- Insufficient evidence of a bona fide marriage
- Missing spouse's signature on joint filing
- Failing to include children who received conditional status
- Submitting documents without certified English translations
- Not responding to Requests for Evidence (RFE) on time
- Using outdated form edition or incorrect filing fee
- Weak or missing affidavits from friends and family
- Photos and evidence only from before the green card was issued
Why couples choose Immiva
90-day filing window calculator tells you exactly when to file Guided questions for both spouses ensure nothing is missed Personalized evidence checklist based on your situation Real-time error checking catches mistakes before you file Waiver guidance if you're divorced, widowed, or filing alone Print-ready PDFs formatted exactly to USCIS specifications
Frequently Asked Questions
You must file during the 90-day period immediately before your conditional green card expires. For example, if your card expires July 15, 2026, your filing window opens April 16, 2026. Filing even one day too early will result in rejection. Use the USCIS filing calculator or Immiva's tool to find your exact dates.
Yes. You can file Form I-751 with a divorce waiver at any time after receiving conditional status — you don't need to wait for the 90-day window. You'll need to prove your marriage was genuine when it began, even though it ended. Include your divorce decree, evidence of your shared life during the marriage, and affidavits from people who witnessed your relationship.
The USCIS filing fee is $750 for paper filing or $700 if you file online. Immiva's preparation service is $49. If you're experiencing financial hardship, you may qualify for a fee waiver using Form I-912. VAWA self-petitioners filing abuse-based waivers are exempt from the filing fee.
Current processing times range from 12 to 24 months for most joint filings. Waiver cases often take longer — 22 to 30 months. After USCIS accepts your petition, your receipt notice automatically extends your conditional resident status for 48 months while you wait for a decision.
Not always. USCIS may waive the interview if your petition includes strong evidence of a bona fide marriage. However, interviews are more common for waiver cases (divorce, abuse, hardship) and cases where USCIS has questions about your relationship. If scheduled, both spouses must attend for joint filings.
USCIS looks for evidence that you and your spouse share a life together: joint bank accounts, tax returns filed jointly, shared lease or mortgage, utility bills in both names, insurance policies naming each other as beneficiaries, photos together over time, and birth certificates of children. You also need two affidavits from people who know your marriage is genuine.
Yes. You can travel internationally while your I-751 is pending. Carry your expired green card along with your I-797 receipt notice showing the 48-month extension. Keep trips under 6 months to avoid issues with continuous residence requirements if you plan to apply for citizenship later.
Yes, if you meet the eligibility requirements. If you've been married to a U.S. citizen for at least 3 years and have been a permanent resident for 3 years, you can file Form N-400 for naturalization while your I-751 is pending. USCIS will often adjudicate both applications together, which can actually speed up your I-751.
If you file late, your conditional resident status technically terminates on your card's expiration date. However, USCIS may accept late filings if you provide a written explanation of extraordinary circumstances (serious illness, natural disaster, military deployment). File as soon as possible and include documentation supporting your reason for the delay.
Yes, if your children received conditional resident status on the same day as you or within 90 days thereafter. List them in Part 5 of Form I-751. There's no additional filing fee for children included on a parent's petition. If your children got conditional status at a different time, they must file their own separate I-751.
If denied, your conditional resident status ends and USCIS will typically place you in removal (deportation) proceedings. You'll have the opportunity to present your case before an immigration judge, who can review the evidence and potentially approve your petition. Many denied cases are approved in immigration court, but it's costly and time-consuming. Filing a complete, well-documented petition is the best way to avoid denial.
No. Most couples with straightforward joint filings successfully complete Form I-751 without an attorney. Immiva guides you through every question and creates a personalized evidence checklist for $49 — compared to $1,500–$3,500 for a lawyer. However, if you're filing a waiver (divorce, abuse, hardship) or have a complicated immigration history, consulting an attorney may be worthwhile.