- USCIS denied 12,240 family-based Green Card applications between April 1 and June 30, 2026, according to quarterly figures for fiscal year 2026
- The denial rate was approximately 18.3% of decided cases, meaning nearly one in five family-based applications resolved during the quarter was rejected
- More than 611,000 family-based Green Card applications remained pending at the end of June 2026, highlighting the substantial backlog facing applicants.
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) denied more than 12,000 applications for family-based Green Cards in three months, according to figures covering April to June 2026.
Source: Getty Images
The data relates to Form I-485, the application used by eligible immigrants to seek lawful permanent resident status while in the United States.
The figures provide an overview of approvals, denials and pending applications for people seeking permanent residence through qualifying family relationships.
US Green Card Applications Record an 18.3% Denial Rate
During the third quarter of fiscal year 2026, USCIS received 95,175 new family-based Form I-485 applications and approved 54,678.
The agency denied another 12,240 applications, bringing the total number of decisions recorded during the period to 66,918.
Based on those approvals and denials, approximately 18.3% of decided family-based applications were rejected.
The figure represents the share of applications denied among cases with a recorded approval or denial during the quarter. It does not mean that 18.3% of all applications submitted during the period were rejected, nor does it predict the outcome of an individual case.
USCIS ended the quarter with 611,067 family-based adjustment-of-status applications pending.
The pending caseload was more than nine times the number of approvals and denials combined during the three-month period, illustrating the scale of the unresolved workload.
Why Can Family-Based Green Card Applications Be Denied?
Applying through a qualifying family relationship does not automatically guarantee permanent residence. Applicants must meet the relevant immigration requirements and provide the necessary supporting evidence.
Potential reasons for an adjustment-of-status denial can include:
- Failure to establish eligibility for the requested immigration benefit.
- Missing, incomplete or insufficient supporting documentation.
- Failure to attend a required biometrics appointment or respond appropriately to a USCIS request.
- Certain criminal history or other grounds of inadmissibility.
- Problems relating to immigration status or other applicable legal requirements.
The specific reasons for the 12,240 denials cannot be established from the aggregate figures alone. These should not be interpreted as evidence that all the rejected applicants had the same documentation or eligibility problems.
Applicants who receive a denial should review the written decision carefully. Depending on the case and the legal basis for the decision, a motion to reopen or reconsider, an appeal where available, or a new application may be possible. These options are not available in every situation, and strict deadlines may apply.
What the Figures Mean for African Applicants
For Kenyans and other African nationals seeking permanent residence through eligible family relationships, the figures highlight the importance of meeting the relevant requirements and preparing a complete application.
However, the reported statistics cover family-based adjustment-of-status applications across the United States. They do not establish a separate denial rate for Nigerian applicants or applicants from other African countries.
The data also do not demonstrate that immigration restrictions have tightened or that USCIS is deliberately targeting family-based applicants. Establishing such a trend would require comparable figures from previous quarters and evidence explaining the reasons for the decisions.
Applicants should check the official requirements for their specific immigration category and seek qualified immigration advice if their eligibility is uncertain.
Official data and guidance are available through USCIS Immigration and Citizenship Data.
Source: Legit.ng