I-751 Divorce Waiver - APPROVED!

[Chinyou01 7]

Hi, guys! I rarely get on here except to stalk the forums for divorce waiver interviews which I rarely find so I thought I would pass my experience along as I was just approved today. Below is my timeline:

 

February 2014-Married

November 2016- Filed

November 2017- Got I-551 Stamp

November 2017- Filed for divorce

January 2018- Divorce finalized

March 2018- RFE. This is when I sent a detailed letter explaining the circumstances around the divorce and requesting that my petition be changed to a divorce waiver.

June 2018- Received extension letter that states 18 months.

June 2018- Received letter that case has been moved to NBC to schedule interview (which was expected)

March 2019- Contacted Ombudsman office for assistance with case outside of processing times

December 2019- Ombudsman sent me an email stating they contacted USCIS and that they should be responding promptly

December 2019- Interview notice

January 8th, 2020- Interview date- APPROVED!

 

I did not use a lawyer and the process took me a little over 3 years. The road was long and bumpy, but today was the day I finally got approved. When I received my divorce decree this is what I sent in for evidence:

 

-A letter explaining how I met my ex wife, the events leading up to the divorce, and an explanation of how I plan to move forward

- 3 years of joint tax returns

-25 pictures from different vacations, parties, and family events

-2 years worth of monthly bank statements and I highlighted any bills that came out and when our paychecks were deposited (yes, on every statement)

-Trip information showing me going back and forth to our home every week (I worked out of state for the last 6 months of the relationship)

-Joint car insurance 

-Joint car loan information

-3 years of LLC paperwork for our photography business

-Copy of divorce decree

 

The interview was short and the officer was very friendly. He asked me basic questions like my ex wife's name and birthday, how we met, and asked for another copy of the divorce decree. He actually did not even ask me about the divorce and told me that if I had applied for citizenship before the interview, I could have done a joint interview and possibly been approved for both. He told me he's not supposed to tell me, but that he was going to approve my application and the card should come in 3-6 weeks. I'm actually shocked that the interview was so easy! My stomach was in knots all morning, and now I feel so relieved. For anyone out there going through this, know that the process may take longer than expected and you may have to push them to complete your case. No matter what just keep advocating for yourself and be the squeaky wheel if you have to! 

[Johuang 3]

Congratulations !

[Nguyenthingoc129 0]

On 1/8/2020 at 9:57 AM, Chinyou01 said:

Hi, guys! I rarely get on here except to stalk the forums for divorce waiver interviews which I rarely find so I thought I would pass my experience along as I was just approved today. Below is my timeline:

 

February 2014-Married

November 2016- Filed

November 2017- Got I-551 Stamp

November 2017- Filed for divorce

January 2018- Divorce finalized

March 2018- RFE. This is when I sent a detailed letter explaining the circumstances around the divorce and requesting that my petition be changed to a divorce waiver.

June 2018- Received extension letter that states 18 months.

June 2018- Received letter that case has been moved to NBC to schedule interview (which was expected)

March 2019- Contacted Ombudsman office for assistance with case outside of processing times

December 2019- Ombudsman sent me an email stating they contacted USCIS and that they should be responding promptly

December 2019- Interview notice

January 8th, 2020- Interview date- APPROVED!

 

I did not use a lawyer and the process took me a little over 3 years. The road was long and bumpy, but today was the day I finally got approved. When I received my divorce decree this is what I sent in for evidence:

 

-A letter explaining how I met my ex wife, the events leading up to the divorce, and an explanation of how I plan to move forward

- 3 years of joint tax returns

-25 pictures from different vacations, parties, and family events

-2 years worth of monthly bank statements and I highlighted any bills that came out and when our paychecks were deposited (yes, on every statement)

-Trip information showing me going back and forth to our home every week (I worked out of state for the last 6 months of the relationship)

-Joint car insurance 

-Joint car loan information

-3 years of LLC paperwork for our photography business

-Copy of divorce decree

 

The interview was short and the officer was very friendly. He asked me basic questions like my ex wife's name and birthday, how we met, and asked for another copy of the divorce decree. He actually did not even ask me about the divorce and told me that if I had applied for citizenship before the interview, I could have done a joint interview and possibly been approved for both. He told me he's not supposed to tell me, but that he was going to approve my application and the card should come in 3-6 weeks. I'm actually shocked that the interview was so easy! My stomach was in knots all morning, and now I feel so relieved. For anyone out there going through this, know that the process may take longer than expected and you may have to push them to complete your case. No matter what just keep advocating for yourself and be the squeaky wheel if you have to! 

I am in the same boat of applying for ROC with divorce waiver. May I ask how did you write your statement of explanation? 

[PolarPear 8]

Congrats! I am a divorce waiver and I am waiting on an interview date. Taking forever 😕

[Angie7 0]

On 9/2/2020 at 8:23 AM, PolarPear said:

Congrats! I am a divorce waiver and I am waiting on an interview date. Taking forever 😕

Hi. Did you have your interview yet? Also, did you sumbit a lot of evidence?