If you are getting divorced, whether you need your spouse depends on the type of permanent resident card you have. If you already have a regular 10-year green card, you can renew it on your own and your spouse is not involved at all. Divorce does not affect your ability to renew the card itself. However, if you have a conditional green card that is valid for two years, you must file to remove conditions. In that situation, you can still file without your spouse by requesting a waiver based on divorce.

You do not always need your spouse to renew your permanent resident card. If your card is a standard 10-year card, renewal is an individual process and your marital status does not change that. If your status is conditional, the process is different. You may file a waiver to remove conditions if the marriage has ended, as long as you can prove the marriage was entered in good faith. USCIS will review your evidence carefully, but many people successfully complete the process after divorce.

The answer depends on whether your green card is conditional or permanent. For a 10-year green card, renewal can be done independently and divorce does not prevent you from renewing. For a conditional green card, you are normally expected to file jointly, but USCIS allows you to file alone if the marriage ended in divorce. You will need to submit evidence showing the relationship was real and not entered into for immigration purposes. Each situation is fact-specific, so preparation is important.