When is a family-based applicant adjusted as a conditional permanent resident if the qualifying marriage is less than 2 years?

The adjustment of a family-based applicant to a conditional permanent resident occurs at the stage of adjudication if the qualifying marriage has been in place for less than two years. During adjudication, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) evaluates the application and determines whether the applicant meets the eligibility requirements for adjusting their status. If the application is approved and the marriage is confirmed to be genuine, the applicant is granted conditional permanent resident status, which is valid for two years.

This process is crucial because it recognizes the legitimacy of marriages that are recent while also implementing safeguards against fraudulent marriages. The conditional status allows USCIS to monitor the relationship for two years before granting full permanent residency, ensuring that the marriage is ongoing and valid.

The other stages mentioned, such as filing, application, and interview, are important parts of the overall process but are not the decisive points at which the status is actually adjusted to conditional permanent resident. Filing refers to the submission of the application, and the interview is typically a part of the adjudication process rather than a separate event that determines status.