I have read through many old posts but haven't found quite what I am looking for... please advise.
Entered on K1 in late 2016. Married in early 2017. Turned out to be a difficult marriage, USC wife had told many lies. Filed I-751 in late 2019 at the time of filing found out that spouse was not filing taxes jointly and some other hurtful things were revealed. I-751 was filed jointly. From then until March 2020 marriage continued to deteriorate and Mar 2020 separated. Nothing was formalized legally. Spouse didn't want to do paperwork. Everything was so backed up with USCIS didn't really think about the separation and the pending application at the time. NOW- end of April 2021 called USCIS to get update and found out an interview is scheduled for May 24, 2021 (notification had been mailed to spouse who decided maliciously not to pass it on). (ex)Spouse is just now agreeing to drafting divorce papers. Nothing has been filed or finalized yet. (ex)Spouse refuses to attend interview.
Based on what I have gathered so far what needs to be done is that a new I-751 needs to be filed as an amendment with a cover letter explaining the situation and sent to the field office where the interview is scheduled (Chicago). Is this correct? Is the waiver filled out on the basis of divorce although the divorce hasn't even been filed for let alone finalized? What should the cover letter say? What evidence should be included in this amendment?
Then the immigrant should plan to attend the interview (alone) scheduled for May 24th. What should be prepared for the interview? There is evidence of the marriage being bona fide, there are also text messages about the toxic situation from (ex)spouse, there is also a video of (ex)spouse suggesting immigrant file taxes as single to get more money. Should any of this be prepared? Should the initial draft of divorce papers be prepared? Should any affidavits or anything like that be prepared? Unfortunately there isn't much time to put much preparation.
PS my post and timeline don't match up because I am posting on behalf of a dear friend who is so distraught that they cannot navigate all of this right now.