The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recorded 12,240 denials of family‑based Form I‑485 applications for the period 1 April to 30 June 2026.

Those denials represent roughly 18.3% of all family‑based cases that received a final decision during the quarter, meaning about one in five resolved applications was rejected.

USCIS processed 95,175 new family‑based adjustment‑of‑status filings in the same three‑month span and approved 54,678 of them.

At the end of June 2026, the agency’s pending family‑based adjustment‑of‑status caseload stood at 611,067 applications, more than nine times the combined total of approvals and denials for the quarter.

Form I‑485 is the standard petition used by eligible immigrants already in the United States to seek lawful permanent resident status through a qualifying family relationship.

USCIS did not disclose the specific reasons behind the 12,240 denials, noting that aggregate data cannot identify individual eligibility or documentation issues.

Common grounds for denial of adjustment‑of‑status applications can include failure to meet eligibility criteria, incomplete documentation, missed biometrics appointments, criminal inadmissibility, or other legal deficiencies.

Applicants who receive a denial are advised to review the written decision carefully and may consider filing a motion to reopen or reconsider, an appeal where available, or a new application, subject to strict deadlines.

For Kenyan and other African nationals, the figures underscore the need to ensure full compliance with USCIS requirements and to provide complete supporting evidence when applying for family‑based permanent residence.

USCIS makes official data and guidance on family‑based adjustment‑of‑status available through its Immigration and Citizenship Data portal, which applicants should consult for the latest eligibility criteria.