If you are a resident of a foreign country married to an American citizen, you may wonder how divorce affects your status with respect to your green card.  Under U.S. law, conditional permanent residents are granted a visa (green card) for two years. If these individuals wish to stay in the country on a permanent basis, they must petition U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to lift their conditional status within 90 days of the expiration of their visa. This is an important step, as conditional visas can’t be renewed. For conditional permanent residents who planned to change their status after two years of marriage, divorce can be a major roadblock. For example, if you were married to an American citizen for less than two years when you got your visa, U.S. immigration law requires you to wait two years before petitioning USCIS to lift your conditional status. At that point, both you and your spouse are required to file a joint petition.  But what if … [Read more...]