Is I-751 Required for automatic citizenship?

[Paul Hanaki 72]

My daughters got their 2 year green cards based on my being their step parent. I had adopted them though prior to them getting their green cards. Their 2 year adoption anniversary comes up before I need to apply to get their conditions removed. I have done lots of research but I can't find any answers to the question if they have to have conditions removed before they automatically become citizens or does the green card they have now cover that for citizenship purpose. I don't want to miss filing and then discover that they needed a 10 year card to qualify for citizenship. Has anyone else been thru this that might have an answer?

[Mike E 11,739]

It appears the answer is I-751 is legally not required but low IQs at USCIS might force you to file I-751 any way.  These are limits of DIY immigration petitions. If you hired a lawyer there is no way you would have to do I-751 and your lawyer would cheerfully charge you $10,000 to litigate it in federal court.  

 

 

Edited June 14, 2022 by Mike E

[Paul Hanaki 72]

1 hour ago, Mike E said:

It appears the answer is I-751 is legally not required but low IQs at USCIS might force you to file I-751 any way.  These are limits of DIY immigration petitions. If you hired a lawyer there is no way you would have to do I-751 and your lawyer would cheerfully charge you $10,000 to litigate it in federal court.  

 

 

 

Thanks I missed that post. There isn't a whole lot of information out there on step parent adoption and removal of conditions. I guess there are not that many people that reach the 2 year mark on adoption before they need to send in paperwork to remove conditions. 

[Mike E 11,739]

1 minute ago, Paul Hanaki said:

 

Thanks I missed that post. There isn't a whole lot of information out there on step parent adoption and removal of conditions. I guess there are not that many people that reach the 2 year mark on adoption before they need to send in paperwork to remove conditions. 

These are unicorn cases for sure.  Few USCIS officers and supervisors see them and so mistakes get made.  Personally I would DIY on the passport and passport card and then once successful, hire an attorney for the N-600.  
 

You get just one chance to apply for N-600 so the application needs to be perfect and likely to prevail in federal court.