1-751 filing with Divorce. Did not live together with US citizen spouse throughout duration of marriage

[AtsuLascelles11 2]

Hello VJ community,

 

Would love your take on my situation please. Its a bit complicated.

 

I have lived in the US for about 15 years now, came here for undergrad when I was 18. I went to undergrad, grad school and worked here.

 

I met my soon to be ex-spouse in late 2016 in Chicago at a conference. Things moved quickly as we are both Muslim and conservative when it comes to dating. At the time we met, i lived in NY (where i still live) and she lived in DC. We got engaged in 2017 and got married in Feb 2018. Unfortunately I lost my job around that time, and we decided to wait on her moving to NY. Soon after that she had a big medical issue which needed treating. I left NY and moved down to DC where I stayed with family during this time. Around this time we filed for the 2 year GC in April 2018 and got it in Dec 2018.

 

So at this point I am living in DC with family and she is living at her home still , and the injury is taking time to heal. We started having marriage issues and did marriage counseling for almost two years. In summer of 2019 I got a job offer in NY and moved back to NY. Unfortunately last year, during COVID things got really bad in our relationship and she requested a divorce. We have filed for the divorce and are waiting for the paperwork from the courts.

 

I filed for the 1-751 with the divorce waiver in Dec 2020 with the following documents

 

- 2018 and 2019 joint tax returns

- Letter of support of petition from ex-spouse

- Health insurance docs

- Birthday Cards and Valentines Cards sent btwn us

- pictures

- Whatsapp messages between us

- Joint lease and utility bills (i put her name on my lease and utility bills in NY as the expectation was that she would come and join me in NY)

- Counseling receipts from Marriage therapist

- Receipts for bus and train travel between NY and DC that i took

 

i have heard that I would most likely have to go in for an interview.

 

Anyone had a similar process ? Any thoughts and tips you can share?

 

Thanks!