Form I-751: Navigating the “Additional Information About You” Section in Part 1

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issues a range of immigration forms for various purposes. Among these, Form I-751 plays a crucial role in the lives of conditional residents who obtained their green cards through marriage to a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. This form serves the purpose of removing the conditions on their green cards, allowing them to maintain their legal resident status. While the overall form may appear daunting, this article will specifically guide you through the “Additional Information About You” section, found on page 2 of Form I-751.

The “Additional Information About You” Section

Page 2 of Form I-751 is where you’ll find the “Additional Information About You” section. This section consists of questions 18 to 23, each of which is designed to gather important information about the applicant. The answers provided in this section help the USCIS determine whether the applicant continues to meet the eligibility criteria for removing the conditions on their green card.

Question 18: Are you in removal, deportation, or rescission proceedings? (Yes or No)

Question 18 is straightforward and requires a simple “Yes” or “No” response. If you are currently facing removal, deportation, or rescission proceedings, you must answer “Yes.” If not, the answer is “No.” Remember that honesty is paramount when answering this question. Failure to disclose such proceedings, if they apply to your situation, can result in serious consequences.

Question 19: Was a fee paid to anyone other than an attorney in connection with this petition? (Yes or No)

Question 19 focuses on fees associated with your petition. If you paid a fee to anyone other than an attorney to help you prepare or submit your I-751 petition, you should answer “Yes.” If you did not pay any additional fees apart from those to your attorney (if you have one), you should answer “No.” Be sure to accurately report any such fees, if applicable.

Question 20: Have you ever been arrested, detained, charged, indicted, fined, or imprisoned for breaking or violating any law or ordinance (excluding traffic regulations), or committed any crime which you were not arrested in the United States or abroad? (Yes or No)

Question 20 is one of the more intricate inquiries on Form I-751. This question delves into an applicant’s criminal history. If you have ever been involved in any criminal activities, you must answer “Yes.” Even if you were not arrested but have committed a crime in the United States or abroad, it’s crucial to provide a “Yes” response.

A detailed explanation is required if you answer “Yes” to Question 20. This is where you must be thorough in explaining the nature of the offense, any legal actions taken, and any penalties or sentences imposed. This section serves as a way for USCIS to understand the context of your criminal history.

Question 21: If you are married, is this a different marriage than the one through which you gained conditional resident status? (Yes or No)

This question is specifically for conditional residents who obtained their green cards through marriage. If your current marriage, through which you gained conditional resident status, is different from any previous marriages, you should answer “Yes.” If this is your first and only marriage through which you gained conditional resident status, you should answer “No.” Essentially, it seeks to determine if your current marriage is the basis for your conditional resident status or if there have been previous marriages involved in your immigration history. Answering this question accurately is crucial to establish the basis for your conditional resident status.

Question 22: Have you resided at any other address since you became a permanent resident? (Yes or No)

If you’ve lived at any address other than the one you mentioned when you initially became a permanent resident, you must answer “Yes” to Question 22. If you have lived exclusively at the address you previously provided when you became a permanent resident, you should respond with “No.”

If you answered “Yes” to Question 22, you’ll need to list all the addresses where you have resided since you became a permanent resident, along with the dates you resided at those locations. This information helps the USCIS verify your residency history and ensures your compliance with the requirements of your conditional permanent resident status.

In Part 11, specifically in the space provided for “Additional Information,” you should provide a comprehensive list of these addresses and their corresponding dates.

Special Considerations (Question 23)

Now, let’s turn our attention to Question 23, which addresses a unique situation involving employment with the U.S. Government outside the United States.

Question 23: Is your spouse or parent’s spouse currently serving with or employed by the U.S. Government and serving outside the United States? (Yes or No)

Question 23 inquires about the employment status of your spouse or your parent’s spouse. If they are currently serving with or employed by the U.S. Government and are stationed outside the United States, you should answer “Yes.” If this situation does not apply to you, the response is “No.”

This question is vital as it may affect the documentation and requirements needed for your case. If you answer “Yes,” it signifies that you are in a unique situation, and additional considerations may come into play when preparing your I-751 petition.

Case Study: Neha Patel’s Form I-751

Introduction:

Neha Patel, a 32-year-old professional from India, arrived in the United States on a K-1 fiancé visa. She married her U.S. citizen spouse, John, in a beautiful ceremony in July 2020. Since then, she has been living in the U.S. as a conditional resident, eagerly waiting to remove the conditions on her green card.

Question 18: Are you in removal, deportation, or rescission proceedings? (No)

Neha Patel answers “No” to Question 18, as she is not currently in any removal, deportation, or rescission proceedings. Her immigration journey has been smooth, with no such legal challenges.

Question 19: Was a fee paid to anyone other than an attorney in connection with this petition? (No)

Question 19 is straightforward for Neha. She responds with “No” since she did not pay any fees to individuals or entities other than her immigration attorney for assistance with her Form I-751 petition.

Question 20: Have you ever been arrested, detained, charged, indicted, fined, or imprisoned for breaking or violating any law or ordinance (excluding traffic regulations), or committed any crime which you were not arrested in the United States or abroad? (No)

Neha answers “No” to Question 20. She has maintained a clean legal record during her stay in the United States and has not been involved in any criminal activities anywhere.

Question 21: If you are married, is this a different marriage than the one through which you gained conditional resident status? (No)

Neha’s response to Question 21 is “No” because her current marriage to John is the same one through which she gained conditional resident status. This is her first and only marriage related to her immigration status.

Question 22: Have you resided at any other address since you became a permanent resident? (No)

Neha responds with “No” to Question 22 because she has lived exclusively at the address she initially provided when she became a permanent resident. She has not changed her residence during her conditional resident status period.

Question 23: Is your spouse or parent’s spouse currently serving with or employed by the U.S. Government and serving outside the United States? (No)

Question 23 does not apply to Neha’s situation, and her answer is “No.” Her spouse, John, is not currently serving with or employed by the U.S. Government outside the United States.