I-751 Petition After Divorce: Felix’s Journey to Permanent Residency
[Please note: The Client’s name and case key details may have been altered to preserve the identity of the client. This Success Story about I-751 petition after divorce is not intended to be an offer of service or case plan. Every case is unique. The Success Story is presented for information purposes only.]
Felix, an intellectually brilliant but emotionally troubled man from the Dominican Republic, came to us holding a two-year marriage-based green card. He wanted to obtain legal permanent residency even though he was divorcing his wife, Victoria, on grounds of physical and psychological abuse.
Felix was accompanied by his brother Johanny, a U.S. citizen, and Johanny’s wife, Jackie. They managed Felix’s affairs and supported him because, as we quickly realized, Felix struggled with personal matters despite his academic brilliance.
Challenges Beyond Immigration
Felix excelled at analyzing economic data but had difficulty remembering basic details, like Victoria’s age or her children’s names. He was anxious, prone to rambling, and suspicious of anyone outside Johanny and Jackie. Johanny explained that Felix had battled these issues since childhood, limiting his career to temporary consulting work.
Felix met Victoria during a work assignment in Northeast Ohio. She wanted to marry quickly, and Felix agreed because he was lonely. Their marriage started well, and Victoria secured a marriage-based green card for Felix. But soon, their volatile personalities clashed. Both filed police reports alleging abuse, and Victoria even accused Felix of sexual assault—a claim his attorney disproved.
Starting the I-751 Petition After Divorce
Felix eventually separated from Victoria and moved into his own apartment with Johanny’s help. He told us he wanted to stay in the U.S. because he loved its freedoms and economic principles. We explained that, despite the divorce, he could still remove conditions on his green card since abuse was a factor. At the end of December 2019, we filed an I-751 petition after divorce on Felix’s behalf.
Overcoming USCIS Challenges
Felix’s initial evidence of abuse was limited, so USCIS issued a Request for Evidence (RFE). Felix claimed Victoria had destroyed his documents, but Johanny gathered police reports, joint bank statements, rental agreements, and photos proving the marriage was genuine at first. Felix’s psychologist also provided an affidavit confirming Felix was largely the victim.
We addressed concerns about Felix being a “public charge” by showing he remained covered under Victoria’s insurance per the divorce agreement. By June, we submitted a strong response to the RFE, and USCIS scheduled an interview for December 2020.
The Interview and Outcome
Felix struggled during interview prep, forgetting details and requesting a male paralegal instead of the assigned female. Ms. Wong firmly reminded him of our commitment to gender equity. Johanny provided medical records showing Felix’s health issues, which we submitted as hardship evidence.
At the interview, Felix was emotional, but we demonstrated his depression and medication use with psychological reports. The ISO, familiar with these medications, understood Felix’s situation. By January, Felix’s I-751 petition after divorce was approved, and he received his permanent green card. Although he must wait five years for citizenship instead of three, Felix was relieved to remain in the U.S.
Johanny left a glowing review and referred friends to our firm. Felix’s psychologist praised our patience and professionalism in handling a complex case. If you or someone you know needs help with an I-751 petition after divorce, contact us today. Our experienced team will guide you every step of the way.