There are two types of Green Cards that are issued with conditions:
Green Card
through Marriage and
Green Card through
Investment. These two types of Green
Cards are called Conditional Green Cards. The conditions must be removed after a
certain period of time in order to maintain legal resident status in the United
States. Failure to comply with regulations set forth
by the United States could result in severe implications, such as deportation.
Therefore, it is recommended to order the
Remove Conditions on a Permanent Resident Card
application guide order to ensure compliance.
The process of removing conditions on a conditional Green Card is different
depending on the avenues in which the Green Card was obtained. For example, the
way to remove conditional status on a Green Card through
Marriage is different from obtaining a removal of a condition for a Green
Card through Investment.
Failure to apply for removal of the conditions after a specified time will lead to the
expiration of the Green Card and the bearer being considered "Out of Status." The conditional
resident status will automatically be terminated, and the USCIS will initiate
removal proceedings against the individual.
Once the application is submitted and approved, the applicant will receive the
Permanent Green Card which must be renewed every ten years. Green Card holders keep their foreign citizenship and
are required to bring their Green Card and passport when traveling abroad. Card holders are also subject to specific residency requirements
to avoid losing their permanent resident status.
Remove Conditions on a Green Card obtained through Marriage
In addition to applying for removal of the conditions, Green Card holders
married to U.S. citizens are required to attend an immigration interview. The
couple must prove that they living together as husband and wife. The purpose of
the interview is to verify that the marriage was entered in good faith and not
for the purpose of obtaining immigration benefits. The requirement for marital
interviews to take place following two years of marriage was created by Congress in 1986.
By requiring those that received Green Cards through marriage to attend an
interview, the USCIS aims to discover fake marriages
that were entered into for economic, business or immigration purposes.
Remove Conditions on a Green Card obtained through Investment
Individuals who obtained a conditional
Green Card through Investment have to
prove that the investment and business is viable. Evidence that may be required
include tax returns, audited financial statements, and other business documents.
Green Card holders planning on applying for U.S.
citizenship must fulfill a specific residency requirement
The time
spent abroad does not count towards the residency requirement. However, Green Card holders may submit the
"Application to Preserve Residence for Naturalization Purposes." For more
information about traveling with a Green Card and how to apply for a Reentry
Permit, it is recommended to order the Reentry Permit for Green Card Holders
Application Guide.
The application guide to "Remove Conditions on a Permanent Resident Card" contains
everything one needs to know in order to remain compliant with USCIS regulations
governing conditional Green Cards, including:
- Conditional Green Card overview
- Difference between a conditional Green Card and a permanent
Green Card
- Traveling with a conditional Green Card
- Removal of conditions on a Green Card obtained through Marriage
- Removal of conditions on a Green Card obtained through Investment
- Filing instructions
- Detailed information on filing fees
- Change of address overview for Green Card holders
- Change of address filing instructions
- U.S. Citizenship overview
- Dual Citizenship overview
- List of all USCIS (formerly INS) offices nationwide
- List of United States Embassies and Consulates
- Removal of Conditions application forms
