How a Divorce Can Impact Your Non-Resident Immigration Status
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Couples who marry generally contemplate spending all their lives together as a married couple, and hopefully with children they raise together. However, the reality of life is that many marriages end in divorce, bringing about uncertainties, heartache, and other complications. This is especially true if you are a non-resident divorcing a U.S. citizen.Â
At Kriezelman Burton & Associates, we can analyze your situation and give you specific legal advice as to how divorcing may impact your non-resident immigration status. We are based in Chicago, but we help clients throughout Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan.
What Will Happen?
Getting divorced as a non-resident does not mean you will be deported immediately – rather, it brings about complications to your status that you should know about and be prepared to cope with.
What the complications are and how that may impact your non-immigrant status depends on your specific non-immigrant status, but the most affected are conditional residents and dependents of principal visa holders.Â
If you have a conditional residency green card, the law provides that you can file a joint application with your spouse 90 days before the expiration of the two-year period to remove the conditional status and become a regular lawfully admitted permanent resident (permanent green card holder).
To do this, you will need to file your application along with the following items:
- Divorce Decree
- Proof your marriage was entered into in good faith and not a sham marriage
- Reason or reasons why you divorced
An immigration officer will review the evidence and information in your file and decide whether to approve the petition to remove conditions or not. If the petition is approved, that’s it – you are a regular permanent resident from that point on.
If the petition is denied, you will likely be placed in removal or deportation proceedings, where you will have to defend yourself before an Immigration Judge against government efforts to have you deported.
If you are contemplating divorce or even if you have divorced already and now wish to address your immigration status, it is best to retain the services of an experienced immigration attorney right away who can advise you on your best options for the way forward to avoid being placed in removal or deportation proceedings.
Dependent Visa Holders
If you have a visa dependent on your spouse, such as H and F visas for spouses, your immigration status will be lost once your divorce is finalized. Your best option under these circumstances is to consult with an experienced immigration attorney. The lawyer will review your facts and circumstances and determine what other options you may have that could help you remain in the United States with a valid immigration status.
A Chicago Immigration Lawyer Can Help
The possibilities are numerous if you are getting divorced as a non-resident, so it is important that you seek consultation with an experienced immigration attorney immediately. At Kriezelman Burton & Associates, we handle cases like these and are here to help. Contact us today to schedule your appointment.Â
What Our Clients Say
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Matthew Kriezelman, first of all, thank you very much; you and your team are the best immigration lawyers in Chicago. I had a great experience—your professionalism was outstanding, and you were always there whenever needed. I give you five stars for the wonderful work you and your team did. Thanks again.
We would like to take a moment to sincerely thank Khiabett for her exceptional work and dedication in handling my husband’s removal proceedings case. We also want to thank Agata for her great communication during the gathering of all documents. Khiabett, we are incredibly grateful for your expertise, guidance, and persistence throughout the entire process. I can't thank you enough for your empathy and for standing by me during such…
I used their services for my case, and everything went smoothly. Rafael and Matthew are very knowledgeable and helpful, and answered all my questions. I highly recommend them!
I have used their services since 2022, and my experience was great. My own case was successfully finished this year. I want to say Matt and Raf were of great help throughout, and also Jennifer, who attended the interview with me. I would highly recommend their services.
Mr. Jeffery and Mr. Kevin Racia were the attorneys handling a complex immigration case of mine. On the assurance of both attorneys that the case is going to be presented in a systematic way, I went ahead with confidence. I was able to become a legal permanent resident. I highly recommend Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC for all your immigration needs.
Thank you, thank you, thank you to the remarkable team of Khiabett Osuna, Brittani Rivera, and Rafael Rodriguez, who were responsible for the successful release from detention of one of our parishioners, husband and father of four, after over 10 weeks of incarceration. From his detention to the payment of his bail and from Immigration Court to his reunion with his family, there were blessings aplenty made possible through the…
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my attorney, Brittni Rivera, for her professionalism and support during a very difficult time. I was in detention for 6 months, and thanks to her hard work and filing a habeas corpus petition, I was finally released. In addition, when I was released, ICE did not return my documents. Brittni did not ignore this issue — she took action and successfully…
My aunt was recently detained by ICE and sent to El Paso, Texas to the East Montana Detention Facility. This place is essentially a prison in the middle of the desert, and the majority of the detainees here get deported. My family and I interviewed a dozen immigration attorneys around the country to help my aunt, and we decided to hire Kevin Raica, an attorney with Kriezelman Burton and Associates.…
Our case was very difficult, and at times it felt like there was no way out. My wife was detained for a long period of time, and it was an extremely challenging experience for our family. Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC truly changed our situation. I would especially like to thank our attorney, Brittni Rivera, as well as Natalia. They were attentive, honest, and always ready to help. It was…
I cannot recommend Kevin Raica highly enough. He helped me successfully obtain my U.S. green card, and the entire process was smooth and stress-free because of his expertise and dedication. From start to finish, Kevin was professional, organized, and extremely knowledgeable about immigration law. He made sure every document was prepared correctly and took the time to explain each step clearly. Anytime I had questions, he responded promptly and made…
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