KAPAG ang green card ay nakuha sa pamamagitan ng kasal sa isang US citizen (USC) at ang kasal ng mag-asawa ay wala pang 2 taon noong naaprubahan ng USCIS ang green card, ang green card na makukuha ng dayuhan ay conditional green card na may bisa na 2 taon. Ang dayuhan ay tinawag na conditional permanent resident (CPR). Ang conditional green card ay binibigay dahil sa mga pag-aalala na may mga dayuhan na magpapakasal sa mga USC upang makakuha lamang ng green card. Ayon sa US federal government, ito ay pagtatangkang lumabag sa US immigration laws. Ang layunin ng conditional green card ay upang maiwasan ang sham marriages o mga pekeng kasal kung saan ang mag-asawa ay magpapakasal lamang para makakuha ng green card ang dayuhan, at pagkatapos nito, sila ay maghihiwalay na sa pamamagitan ng pag-file ng divorce. Kaya naman, para matanggal ang mga condition ng green card, ang CPR ay kailiangang magpakita na ang kanyang kasal ay totoo at siya ay may intensyon na maging kasal sa asawang USC nang matagalan.
Upang magtanggal ng mga condition sa green card, ang CPR ay kailangang mag-file ng I-751 Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence sa loob ng 90 araw bago ang ikalawang anibersaryo niya bilang conditional resident. Ito rin ang 90 araw bago mawalang-bisa ang kanyang conditional green card ayon sa petsa na nakalagay mismo sa green card. Kapag ang CPR ay nag-file ng I-751 Petition, kailangan niyang magbigay ng mga ebidensya at mga dokumento na magpapatunay na ang kanyang kasal sa USC ay totoong kasal at ang kasal ay hindi naganap upang lumabag sa US immigration laws.
Ayon sa dating policy ng USCIS, karamihan sa mga CPR ay hindi kinakailangang pumunta pa sa USCIS para sa personal na interbyu. Hangga’t sapat ang ebidensya o mga dokumentong ibinigay kasama ng I-751 Petition para ipakita na ang kasal ay totoo, hindi na kailangan ang interbyu sa USCIS. Subalit, sa Revised Interview Waiver Guidance for Form I-751 Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence na naging epektibo noong Disyembre 10, 2018, ang interbyu ng CPR ay bahagi na ngayon ng I-751 adjudication. Sa bagong policy na ito, ang mga interbyu ay kinakailangan dahil ito ay magbibigay sa USCIS ng pagkakataon upang i-verify ang mga impormasyon na nakalagay sa I-751 Petition. Maaari ding makatuklas ang USCIS ng mga bagong impormasyon na mahalaga sa pagdesisyon ng I-751 Petition o para madetermina ang kredibilidad ng CPR.
Maaaring magkaroon ng waiver ng interview sa mga sumusunod na sitwasyon: (1) Ang USCIS ay maaari nang magdesisyon ayon sa mga edidensya at dokumentong naibigay kasama ng I-751 Petition dahil sapat na ang mga ito para masabing ang kasal ay totoo at hindi naganap upang lumabag sa US immigration laws; (2) Para sa mga I-751 Petition na natanggap noong Disyembre 10, 2018 at pagkatapos ng petsang ito, ang USCIS ay nakapag-interbyu na ng dayuhan sa I-130/I-485; (3) Walang indikasyon ng fraud, misrepresentation o panloloko sa I-751 Petition at sa mga dokumentong ipinasa kasabay nito; at (4) Walang mga kumplikadong mga isyu na kinakailangan ng interbyu upang maresolba.
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When a green card is obtained through marriage to a US citizen (USC) spouse and the couple is married less than 2 years during the adjudication of the green card, the green card that the alien will receive will be a conditional green card, valid for 2 years. The alien is considered as a conditional permanent resident (CPR). The conditional green card is issued due to concerns that some aliens may get married solely to obtain a green card, which the US federal government considers to be an attempt to evade US Immigration Laws. The purpose of the conditional green card is to weed out sham marriages where couples get married only to get a green card, and after getting the green card, subsequently get divorced. Hence, in order to have the conditions on the green card removed, the CPR must be able to prove that he got married in good faith and with the intent to remain in the marriage.
To remove the conditions on the green card, the CPR must file an I-751 Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence during the 90 days before his 2nd anniversary as a conditional resident. This is also the 90-day period before the expiration of the conditional green card as indicated in the green card. When submitting the I-751 Petition, the CPR must submit the required initial evidence that establishes the bona fides of the marriage and that the marriage was not entered into for the purpose of evading US immigration laws.
Under a previous policy of the USCIS, most CPRs were not required to attend an in-person interview in order to obtain a permanent resident card. As long as enough evidence or documentation was submitted with the I-751 Petition to show that the marriage was bona fide, no interview is necessary. However, in the Revised Interview Waiver Guidance for Form I-751 Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence effective December 10, 2018, the interview of the CPR is now part of the I-751 adjudication. Per this new policy, interviews provide USCIS with the opportunity to verify information contained in the petition, as well as to discover new information that may be relevant to the adjudication or to determine the credibility of the CPR seeking to remove the conditions of his lawful permanent resident status.
USCIS may consider waiving the interview if they are satisfied that: (1) They can make a decision based on the record because it contains sufficient evidence about the bona fides of the marriage and that the marriage was not entered into for the purpose of evading the immigration laws of the US; (2) For I-751 cases received on/after December 10, 2018, USCIS has previously interviewed the principal petitioner for I-130/I-485; (3) There is no indication of fraud or misrepresentation in the Form I-751 or the supporting documentation; and (4) There are no complex facts or issues that require an interview to resolve questions or concerns.
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ATTY. RHEA SAMSON is a Partner at LINDAIN & SAMSON LAW FIRM. Atty. Lindain and Atty. Samson are both licensed to practice law in California and in the Philippines. Both Attorneys were also professors. LINDAIN & SAMSON LAW FIRM aims to provide excellent and efficient legal representation to clients, and support clients in achieving their goals and dreams. As professors, Atty. Lindain and Atty. Samson wish to educate the younger generation, as it is through education and continuous study that one can achieve success and serve others.
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3580 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1710, Los Angeles, CA 90010
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