CASE: I-751 / Waiver of the Joint Waiver Requirement
APPLICANT: Filipino
LOCATION: Austin, TX
Our client contacted our office in April 2023 regarding a potential Form I-751 filing. A native of the Philippines, he married a U.S. citizen in February 2021 and was granted a two-year conditional green card in December 2021. Consequently, his conditional permanent residency was set to expire in December 2023.
During the marriage, the couple experienced marital difficulties, lived separately for a time, and eventually divorced. Because the marriage was legally terminated, our client could not file a joint Form I-751 petition with his former spouse. Following a consultation, we advised him that we could assist in filing the I-751 application with a request for a waiver of the joint filing requirement, based on having entered into a good-faith marriage that ended in divorce.
On May 11, 2023, our office submitted the I-751 waiver application along with supporting documentation demonstrating a bona fide marriage. On January 20, 2026, USCIS issued a Request for Evidence (RFE) seeking additional evidence of the bona fide nature of the marriage. We filed a comprehensive response to the RFE on April 16, 2026. On September 10, 2026, USCIS approved the removal of conditions on his permanent resident status without an interview, and he has now received his 10-year green card.