| If you are a close relative of a United States citizen or | | | | of marriage in good faith |
| permanent resident, it can be easier for you to come | | | | - You entered into a marriage with the U.S. citizen or |
| to the U.S. and apply for permanent residency as well. | | | | permanent resident in good faith, but the marriage was |
| This includes spouses, children, and sometimes even | | | | annulled or ended in divorce |
| parents. However, to prevent people from marrying | | | | - You entered into the marriage in good faith, but you |
| arbitrarily solely to come into the U.S., the U.S. | | | | or your child were battered by your spouse or |
| Citizenship and Immigration Services, or USCIS, places | | | | endured extreme hardship at the hands of your |
| certain restrictions on newly married permanent | | | | spouse |
| residents. | | | | - The termination of your permanent residency would |
| When you come to the United States, your marriage | | | | cause serious hardship to you |
| must be at least two years old to the day that you | | | | You must file the Form I-751 within 90 days of your |
| receive your permanent residency in order for you to | | | | second anniversary. If you fail to do so, your |
| escape restrictions. However, if the union is less than | | | | permanent residency status can be revoked, and the |
| two years old, your permanent resident status is only | | | | government can remove you from the country. Thus, it |
| conditional. Once you reach the two year mark, though, | | | | is important to file this form as soon as possible so |
| you can apply to have this conditionality removed. | | | | that you can get your restrictions removed without |
| USCIS does not drop the restrictions automatically. | | | | getting kicked out of the U.S. |
| Once you make it past two years of marriage, you | | | | Sometimes, it can be difficult to file the forms |
| must file, with your spouse, the Form I-751. However, | | | | necessary to remain in the U.S. as a permanent |
| there are also other times that you can file this form to | | | | resident. For legal help in pursuing your goal of |
| rid yourself of these restrictions. These situations | | | | becoming a U.S. permanent resident, you should |
| include: | | | | contact an Orange County immigration lawyer from |
| - Your U.S. permanent resident or citizen spouse has | | | | Garg & Associates, P.C., today. |
| died and left you a widower after less than two years | | | | |