I-751 evidence checklist
The heart of an I-751 is evidence that you married in good faith, not to get around immigration law. USCIS asks for as many documents as you can send, covering your relationship from the wedding to today.
Checked against USCIS guidance on September 25, 2026. The sources are listed at the end of this page.
9 steps · Checklist
I-751 evidence checklist
The full list is at the end of the article.
Free · tick steps off on the web or in the app
Everyone sends
- Copies of the front and back of your green card
- Copies of the front and back of the cards of any conditional resident children you are including
- Certified English translations of anything not in English
- Court dispositions for any arrests, charges or convictions
- Copies, not originals, unless the instructions ask for an original
What “bona fide marriage” means
USCIS uses bona fide and good faith for the same idea: a real marriage, not one arranged to get a green card. It is the single thing Form I-751 asks you to prove.
In the USCIS Policy Manual a qualifying marriage is one that was entered into in accordance with the laws of the place where it took place; that, absent a waiver, has not been judicially annulled or terminated other than through the death of a spouse; that was not entered into for the purpose of procuring admission as an immigrant; and for which no fee or other consideration was given to the petitioning spouse, the conditional resident spouse or any other interested party for filing the petition.
Note what is not on that list. A marriage that was real and later broke down is still bona fide. USCIS is judging why you married, not whether you are still happy.
Evidence of a good-faith marriage
The I-751 instructions give these examples, and say they are not the only ones:
- Children: birth certificates of children born during the marriage
- Home: a lease or mortgage showing you live together or own your home together
- Money: joint savings and checking accounts with transaction history, complete joint federal and state tax returns, insurance naming your spouse as beneficiary, joint utility bills, joint loans
- Military families: Leave and Earnings Statements showing Basic Allowance for Quarters with family members, or Form DD-1172
- Anything else you think shows the marriage is genuine
The instructions ask for evidence covering the relationship from the date of the marriage to the present. A few documents from each year usually tell that story better than a pile from one month.
Affidavits from people who know you
You can include affidavits from at least two people who have known you both since you got conditional residence and have personal knowledge of your marriage. The I-751 instructions set the rules:
- Send the original affidavit, sworn to or affirmed by the person
- Include their full name and address, date and place of birth, and relationship to you or your spouse, if any
- Explain in full detail how they know about your marriage
- Affidavits must be supported by other evidence. They can’t stand on their own, and the person may be asked to testify
Extra documents by situation
| If you are filing… | Also send |
|---|---|
| Because your spouse died | The death certificate |
| After divorce or annulment | The final divorce or annulment decree and evidence of the circumstances of how the relationship ended |
| Because of abuse | Evidence of the abuse (USCIS accepts any credible evidence) and, if divorced for abuse, the decree |
| Because of extreme hardship | Evidence of the extreme hardship |
| Late (joint filing after the window) | A written explanation of why you are late |
| Separately from your conditional resident parent | An explanation of why |
| From abroad on U.S. military or government orders | Two passport-style photos and two FD-258 fingerprint cards per person, and a copy of the orders |
Do I need a cover letter?
USCIS doesn’t ask for one. Many people add a short cover sheet listing what is enclosed so the package is easy to check. If you do, keep it to facts, and don’t let it replace the evidence itself.
9 steps · Checklist
I-751 evidence checklist
Copies of the front and back of your green card
Joint lease or mortgage
Joint bank accounts with transaction history
Joint federal and state tax returns
Insurance naming your spouse, joint bills or loans
Birth certificates of children born during the marriage
and 3 more — saving takes all of them.
Free, and yours to edit — tick items off on the web or in the MyCheck app.
Frequently asked questions
What is a bona fide marriage?
A real marriage rather than one entered into for immigration purposes. USCIS looks for a marriage entered into under the laws of the place it took place, not judicially annulled or terminated except by a spouse’s death, not entered into to procure admission as an immigrant, and with no fee paid to anyone for filing the petition.
Does a bona fide marriage have to still be happy?
No. USCIS is deciding whether the marriage was genuine when you entered into it. A marriage that was real and later broke down was still bona fide, though a divorce changes which filing route you use.
What documents do I need for Form I-751?
Copies of the front and back of your green card, evidence of a good-faith marriage from the wedding to now (a joint lease or mortgage, joint bank accounts, joint tax returns, insurance, children’s birth certificates), any court dispositions, and the extra documents for your situation, such as a divorce decree or death certificate.
How many affidavits do I need for Form I-751?
If you use them, the instructions call for affidavits from at least two people who have known you both since you got conditional residence. They must be originals, include the person’s details and how they know about your marriage, and be supported by other evidence.
Who can write an I-751 affidavit?
Someone who has known both of you since your conditional residence was granted and has personal knowledge of your marriage and relationship, such as a friend, neighbor or relative. They may be asked to testify before an immigration officer.
Do I need a cover letter for Form I-751?
USCIS doesn’t require one. A short list of what is enclosed can make the package easier to review, but it doesn’t replace evidence.
Should I send original documents with my I-751?
No. Send copies unless the instructions ask for an original. Affidavits are the exception: send the original. USCIS may ask for originals later and returns them when it no longer needs them.
What if we don’t have joint bank accounts?
The instructions list examples, not requirements. Send whatever genuinely shows a shared life, such as a joint lease, insurance, bills, children’s birth certificates or affidavits, and cover the whole period since the wedding.
More I-751 guides
Sources
- USCIS — Policy Manual, Vol. 6, Part I, Ch. 3: Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence
- USCIS — Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence
- USCIS — Removing Conditions on Permanent Residence Based on Marriage
- USCIS — Fee Schedule: Form I-751
- USCIS — Green card validity extended 48 months for pending I-751 (January 2023)
- USCIS — Check Case Processing Times
General information from USCIS guidance, not legal advice. MyCheck is not affiliated with USCIS or any government agency, and doesn’t file forms or judge whether a marriage qualifies. Fees and addresses change: check USCIS.gov before you file. If you missed your deadline or are filing a waiver, talk to an immigration attorney.
