Removing Conditions on Your Green Card (I-751)

Updated 2026-05-29 · General information, not legal advice.

If you got your green card through marriage and were married less than two years at the time (a CR-1 conditional resident), your first green card is valid for only two years. Form I-751 removes those conditions and gives you a 10-year green card.

When to File

File in the 90-day window before your conditional green card expires. Couples normally file jointly.

Evidence of a Genuine Marriage

• Joint bank accounts, leases or mortgages, and bills
• Joint insurance and tax returns filed together
• Children's birth certificates, photos together, travel records
• Affidavits from people who know the marriage is real

If You Are Divorced or in an Abusive Situation

You can request a waiver of the joint-filing requirement if the marriage was real but ended in divorce, if you entered in good faith, or if you experienced abuse. Strong evidence is important.

Frequently Asked Questions

When exactly do I file I-751?

In the 90 days before your 2-year conditional green card expires. Filing late requires a written explanation.

What if we divorced?

You can still file with a waiver of the joint-filing requirement, showing the marriage was entered in good faith.

Does filing extend my status?

Yes. USCIS issues a receipt notice that extends your green card validity while the I-751 is pending.