HELP. Joint I-751 approved 2mos AFTER divorce was finalized

[SnakePlantLover 0]

My I-751 got approved today; two months after my divorce has been finalized.

 

Feb 2021 - filed joint i-751

March 11 2022 - started divorce proceedings. Informed lawyer, was told there is nothing to do until I get the divorce decree.

June 6 2002 - Divorce decree finalized; reached out to lawyer, provided my divorce decree; asked when they would inform USCIS. They said they would review my case.

July 27 - Heard back from lawyer; scheduled a meeting, said they will get back to me ASAP; didn’t hear anything until…

August 2 - Status changed to “New card has been produced”. Reached out to the lawyer, lawyer said it will not cause any problems come Naturalization because I filed the divorce 13 months after filing joing i-751. I told lawyer I’m not comfortable with that. Lawyer said he will reach out to senior partners and will get back to me.

 

How screwed am I?

Edited August 3, 2022 by SnakePlantLover
Grammar edits

[Villanelle 4,122]

Have your attorney immediately contact the local office and or service center to advise of the situation. Ideally USCIS can rescind the approval and process it correctly as a waiver petition. The longer it is the harder it will be, so this needs to be done yesterday. 

 

You absolutely need to resolve this now, you will not be able to naturalize because your conditions were removed incorrectly.

[Mike E 11,740]

You need to hire a new attorney at a new law firm.  
 

 

[African Zealot 1,455]

It’s your responsibility to notify USCIS immediately your marital situation changed. Reach out to USCIS asap and notify them the 751 should have been filed with a divorce waiver and have them rescind it and review the application under the correct category.

 

We had a case just last week or two weeks ago where the persons citizenship application was denied for the same reason and they’re in a world of confusion/hurt.

[Mobius1 175]

I am “somewhat” in the  situation as you but the difference being divorce was finalized 3 months after approval. However, since your approval was done before the approval, this is a disaster not in the gray area. 
 

I have had a consultation with a very well renowned lawyer, she had a client that got divorce finalized 1day after joint petition was finalized. They sent the decree 3 times but USCIS rejected it. However, the client did get her citizenship approved.

 

My suggestion is to keep the past lawyer’s communication handy and hire a new one. Your task must be to inform USCIS right away with the help of the new lawyer. 

[Crazy Cat 41,974]

Jim Hacking had a similar case on his show a few weeks ago.  He basically said what   @Villanelle said. 

[Rocio0010 5,579]

3 hours ago, Crazy Cat said:

Jim Hacking had a similar case on his show a few weeks ago.  He basically said what   @Villanelle said. 

I think it was @Mobius1 

[Mobius1 175]

1 minute ago, Rocio0010 said:

I think it was @Mobius1 

However, a bit different where approval happened before divorce. As per Jim’s wife, it’s not an issue, just messy.

[Rocio0010 5,579]

Just now, Mobius1 said:

However, a bit different where approval happened before divorce. As per Jim’s wife, it’s not an issue, just messy.

Yes, I remember your situation. It is sort of “easier”. Like you said, it’s just messy but hopefully something that any reasonable officer would understand. 
Back to OP: the situation is complicated. Your attorney  messed up big time. So what you should do, in my opinion, is the following:

 

1) fire that attorney and demand a refund. They put you in this situation.

2) Get a more competent attorney that can help you rescind that green card and file a 751 with a divorce waiver.

[Crazy Cat 41,974]

21 minutes ago, Rocio0010 said:

I think it was @Mobius1 

Oh.....I think you're right.....