Brian & Annette:
Lifting of Conditional Status

• Main Page
• Our Timeline
• Passport Renewal at the Department of Foreign Affairs
• NBI Clearance on Taft Avenue, Manila
• The Medical Exam for Immigrants and Fiance(e)s
• Annette's K1 Interview in Manila
• The Seminar at the Commission on Filipinos Overseas
• Port of Entry at the Detroit Metropolitan International Airport
• Adjustment of Status: Buffalo INS Office

Brian and I packed up everything and moved to Kansas City, Missouri in June of 2000 for my new job. In early July 2001 (my green card expired on 9/30/2001), we mailed our I-751 Petition to Remove the Conditions on Residence to the Nebraska INS Service Center along with a cover letter, a $125 check, and a mountain of evidence proving that we had been living together as a validly married couple for the last two years. This included

• a copy of my I-551 green card
• a copy of the I-797 approval notice from the original I-129F petition
• copies of my passport with the K1 visa and the I-551 approval stamp
• bank statements showing our names
• insurance policies showing the spouse as beneficiary
• tax returns filed jointly
• car loan payment papers showing both names
• utility bills addressed to both of us
• copies of tickets and boarding passes showing we traveled together
• letters from people who know you and can attest to your marriage
• correspondence addressed to both of us at the same address

Later that month, we received a Notice of Action dated 7/24/2001 stating "Your alien card is extended 1 year- employment & travel authorized. Processing your form will require a minimum of 300 to 360 days. If you have not heard from us within 12 months, then you may contact this office."

In mid-February 2002, I received a letter stating that my application had been approved, as follows:

"Your request for the removal of the conditional basis of your permanent resident status has been approved. You are deemed to be a lawful permanent resident of the United States as of the date of your original admission or adjustment of status.

You must obtain a new alien registration receipt card (Form I-551). To do so, appear in person at the Service office show below. Bring two recent photos of the same type as on your present alien card (if needed, exact specifications may be obtained from the Service office shown below). Your new alien registration receipt card will be mailed to you within six months.

You should not travel outside the United States before receiving your new card unless you have first received a passport endorsement from this Service indicating that your new card is being processed."

The Kansas City INS office is near the airport, off exit 10 from I-29. Their office hours are till 2:30 Monday to Thursday. I brought two pictures, my passport and green card. There was no waiting line. They took the pictures and my green card, some information, asked me to sign and fingerprint a form, and stamped my passport with a notice that said, "Processed for I-551. Temporary evidence of lawful admission for permanent residence valid until 2/11/2003. Employment authorized." I was in and out in 30 minutes, and it was very painless.