USCIS Denies Over 12,000 Family Green Card Applications

Between April 1 and June 30, 2026, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) denied 12,240 family-based applications for permanent residence, resulting in a denial rate of approximately 18.3%.

During this period, USCIS received 95,175 new family-based I-485 applications and approved 54,678. The total number of pending cases at the end of the quarter was 611,067, indicating a significant backlog.

Family-based applicants often encounter difficulties due to incomplete documentation and eligibility gaps, unlike employment-based applicants who generally have lower denial rates due to structured documentation requirements. Common reasons for denials include failure to establish continuous lawful presence and missing supporting documents.

Applicants denied the green card have the right to appeal or refile, which adds time and cost to the process. The combined total of approvals and denials for the quarter was 66,918, revealing a stark contrast between resolved applications and pending cases.