Fill Out USCIS Form I-751 Online

What is Form I-751 used for

When permanent residence is granted based on a marriage that was less than two years old, USCIS issues conditional status valid for two years. Form I-751 asks USCIS to remove those conditions so the person becomes a regular permanent resident with a 10-year card.

Failing to file on time can result in termination of conditional resident status, so calendar the filing window as soon as you receive the two-year card.

Who files Form I-751

The conditional resident files the petition, usually together with the spouse through whom they got status. The filing posture depends on the marriage:

• Joint petition: you and your U.S. citizen or permanent resident spouse file together during the 90-day window immediately before the conditional card expires.
• Waiver of the joint filing requirement: you file alone if the marriage was entered in good faith but ended in divorce or annulment, if your spouse died, if you or your child experienced battery or extreme cruelty, or if removal would cause extreme hardship.
• Conditional resident children not included in a parent's petition can file separately with a stepparent or on their own, under timing rules described in the instructions.
• Waiver-based petitions can be filed at any time before conditional status expires, without waiting for the 90-day window.

How to fill out Form I-751

The form itself is manageable; the evidence of a bona fide marriage is the heart of the filing.

Waiver cases and any petition involving divorce, abuse, or a deceased spouse are legally sensitive, so consider working with an immigration attorney or DOJ-accredited representative before filing.

• Part 1 collects your information as the conditional resident, including your Alien Registration Number and the date your conditional residence expires.
• Indicate your basis for filing: jointly with your spouse or under one of the waiver grounds.
• Later parts collect information about your spouse or former spouse and any conditional resident children included in the petition.
• Attach copies of the front and back of your Permanent Resident Card and the cards of any included children.
• Include evidence the marriage is genuine, such as joint leases or mortgages, shared bank accounts and insurance, birth certificates of children, photos across the relationship, and affidavits from people who know you as a couple.
• Both spouses sign a joint petition. Unsigned forms are rejected.

Filing tips

You can file Form I-751 online through a USCIS account or by mail to the address listed for your state. The current paper edition is dated 04/01/24.

• For joint petitions, file only within the 90-day window before your conditional residence expires. USCIS may reject petitions filed before the window opens, and late filings need a written explanation showing good cause.
• Use the USCIS page on when to file to compute the exact first day of your window, and keep proof of timely mailing.
• Check the current filing fee, including any biometric services component, with the USCIS fee calculator.
• Provide certified English translations for any foreign language documents, and include court dispositions for any arrests, if applicable.