I-751 Removal of Conditions

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Remove the Conditions on Your Green Card — With Confidence

Your I-751 filing window is narrow and the stakes are high — one mistake can put your permanent residency at risk. We’ve guided hundreds of couples and individuals through it.

★★★★★
Trusted by I-751 clients across the U.S.


A couple at home after their I-751 petition was approved

The I-751 Window Is Short. The Consequences of Getting It Wrong Are Not.

You received a two-year conditional green card. Now you have a 90-day window to file the I-751 — and the stress is real. Miss the window, and your status can lapse. File without proper evidence, and you can be pulled into a lengthy interview or denial.

  • Your filing window is approaching — or has already opened
  • You’re not sure what evidence counts as “proof” of a bona fide marriage
  • You and your spouse are separated or divorced, and you need to file alone
  • Your relationship ended because of abuse, and you’re worried about retaliation
  • You received a Request for Evidence (RFE) and don’t know how to respond
  • You’ve already filed and are waiting on an interview

Every one of those situations has a path forward. The first step is getting a clear-eyed assessment of yours.

How We Handle Your I-751

A clear, four-step process — so you always know where you are and what’s coming next.

1

Deadline Review

On your free consultation we calculate your exact filing window and flag urgency. If you’re late, there are still options — we’ll tell you what’s on the table.

2

Evidence Strategy

Proving a bona fide marriage is more than a stack of bank statements. We tell you exactly what to gather — and in what order to present it — so USCIS has a clear picture the first time they open your file.

3

Filing, RFE Response & Tracking

We file, monitor your case, and respond to any RFE with a strategy built around what the officer is actually asking for — not a boilerplate pile of documents.

4

Waiver Filing If Needed

If your marriage ended, if you were divorced, or if there was abuse, you may qualify for a waiver instead of a joint filing. We handle those petitions with the sensitivity and detail they require.

Why This Case Type Calls for Experienced Counsel

Joint I-751s are the easy ones. Separations, lost documents, waivers, and RFEs are where experience shows.

We’ve Seen the Edge Cases

Joint filings are the easy ones. Separations, lost documents, mid-process divorces, abuse waivers — those take experience. That’s where we shine.

Bilingual Representation

If your documents, your spouse, or your comfort level are in Spanish, we can work in Spanish. From intake to interview.

A Real Attorney, Responsive

I-751s move unpredictably. RFEs arrive suddenly. You’ll work directly with a Leiva Law attorney who answers when the timeline matters.

Scarlett Leiva, immigration attorney and founder of Leiva Law Firm

Meet Your Attorney

Scarlett Leiva, Immigration Attorney

Scarlett is a second-generation daughter of immigrants who founded Leiva Law Firm to handle the full family-based immigration spectrum — with particular depth in marriage-based cases that aren’t textbook. She earned her J.D. Cum Laude from John Marshall Law School and represented clients before the Immigration Courts through the Catholic Charities Immigration Clinic. Whether your I-751 is a clean joint petition or involves a divorce, separation, or waiver, you’ll work directly with Scarlett — bilingual, responsive, and detail-driven.

  • J.D., John Marshall Law School (Cum Laude)
  • Catholic Charities Immigration Clinic alum
  • Second-generation daughter of immigrants
  • Bilingual: English & Spanish

What I-751 Clients Say About Leiva Law

Real reviews from real clients. Pulled from our 100+ five-star Google reviews — see the full set on our testimonials page.

★★★★★

“Scarlett and Leiva Law Firm are a great team to have on your side when you and your family are dealing with immigration matters. They responded promptly to our emails and gave us helpful advice that guided us through the process. It was incredibly reassuring to have Scarlett accompany us to the green card interview, and we plan to retain Leiva Law Firm’s services again in the future.”

— Bettina King-Smith

★★★★★

“Scarlett and the Leiva Law Firm team were exceptional in assisting me throughout the entire process. After consulting with multiple attorneys in San Francisco, Scarlett stood out right away. Her expertise, professionalism and clarity immediately inspired confidence and conviction which made it a very easy decision to move forward with Leiva Law Firm. The entire process was explained clearly upfront, everything was transparent, and the process was handled efficiently and smoothly by the team. They were extremely professional, responsive, and detail-oriented, which made the case feel entirely stress-free. I highly recommend them to anyone needing any kind of immigration support!”

— Eric

★★★★★

“Highly recommend — Scarlett and her team are knowledgeable, reliable and a pleasure to work with. I felt in safe hands throughout and was very happy with the outcome.”

— Adam Beach

I-751 — Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the questions I-751 clients ask us most often. If yours isn’t here, bring it to your free consultation.

What if I missed my 90-day filing window?
Don’t panic — late filings can still be accepted with a written explanation of the delay (“good cause”). We’ll help you build that explanation and file as soon as possible. The sooner we start, the more options you have.
Can I file alone if my spouse won’t cooperate?
Yes, through a waiver petition. You can file based on divorce, battery or extreme cruelty, or extreme hardship if you had to return to your home country. Each waiver has specific evidence requirements — we’ll tell you which one fits your situation on the free consultation.
What counts as proof of a “real” marriage?
USCIS looks for shared finances (joint accounts, leases, insurance), shared life (photos, travel, correspondence with family), and timeline evidence (lease dates, bill history, birth certificates of children). What matters most is the pattern across documents, not any single document.
What if we’re separated but not divorced yet?
Separation is one of the most common I-751 complications. We can file now with a waiver request pending finalization of your divorce, or we can advise you on timing. Don’t file jointly if your marriage isn’t stable — it can cause bigger problems than waiting.
How long does an I-751 take?
Processing times vary, but most joint petitions take roughly 12 to 18 months. Waiver filings often take longer. You’ll receive an extension of your conditional status while the petition is pending, so your work authorization and travel don’t lapse.
Will I have to attend an interview?
Sometimes. USCIS schedules I-751 interviews when they need more information — often because evidence is thin or the case has an unusual fact pattern. If you’re called, we prepare you in detail and attend the interview with you.
Can I travel while my I-751 is pending?
Yes, using your extension notice (I-797) together with your expired green card. We walk you through exactly what to carry and what to say to CBP when you return.

Protect Your Green Card. File Your I-751 With Confidence.

Get a free consultation with a Leiva Law attorney. We’ll review your timeline, your situation, and your evidence — and give you a clear plan to protect your permanent residency. In English or Spanish.

Or request a callback — we respond within one business day

All consultations are confidential. Available in English or Spanish.

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