Your friend... is not becoming a passport bro.
Passport bro means you go and live with them in their country.
This means:
1. They ain't using you for VISA
2. US laws on divorce can't be used against you.
Well. Your lawyer is "weird rec" but that is the norm. The true weird one (and bad) are the administrations of countries
Bc its not my first time hearing this kind of "strange curve balls" for this kind of stuff. Most, if not all, are bc administrations are often problematic, FOR NO REASONS.
Heck i remember a couple separated (1deported). months doing request-steps and asking, but still nothing done
In fact. Your lawyer is a friendly chad, bc he gave you a very good advice (a quite friendly personal advice, that a unfriendly serious one wouldnt give) that usually only internet would secretly tell.
So yeah, i would follow what rec this lawyer if i were your friend.