Denied Adjustment of Status? Understand Your Options Before the Next Step

If USCIS denied your green card request, you may wonder whether the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) can review it. Under 8 C.F.R. § 1245.2, no appeal lies from the denial of an application for adjustment of status by the director, but an applicant who is not an arriving alien retains the right to renew the application in proceedings under 8 CFR part 1240. The route depends on which office decided your case and whether you are in removal proceedings.

This guide explains the two paths, the deadlines to check, and what to gather first. It is written for people who want a clear view of an appeal after an adjustment of status denial.

Short Answer: A USCIS Denial of Form I-485 Generally Cannot Be Appealed to the BIA

A USCIS director’s denial of an adjustment application generally cannot be appealed. The regulation says that no appeal lies from the denial of an application by the director. Adjustment of status is the process of applying for a green card from inside the United States, when the law allows it. 8 U.S.C. § 1255 sets the basic conditions. Under 8 U.S.C. § 1255, an alien who was inspected and admitted or paroled into the United States, or who has an approved VAWA self-petition, may have status adjusted in the Attorney General’s discretion if the applicant files, is eligible for an immigrant visa and admissible, and has a visa immediately available when the application is filed.

Instead of an appeal, the applicant may renew the application in removal proceedings, if the applicant is not an arriving alien. That is the key difference. The BIA’s own jurisdiction and powers are set out in 8 C.F.R. § 1003.1.

Which Body Made the Decision: USCIS or an Immigration Judge

Start by reading the notice. A USCIS notice comes from a USCIS office. A court decision comes from an immigration judge. If you are in removal proceedings, other than as an arriving alien, the immigration judge hearing your case has exclusive jurisdiction over your adjustment application, under 8 C.F.R. § 1245.2.

The judge’s decision can be oral or written. It must include reasons for granting or denying the request, and it ends with the judge’s order (8 C.F.R. § 1240.12). Arriving aliens follow narrower rules, so their path can differ.

Keep the USCIS notice and any court papers together. The dates on each one control your next step. A common mistake is treating a USCIS denial like a court order and losing time. For background on adjustment in removal proceedings, the ICE adjustment of status guide explains the process.

Appealing an Immigration Judge’s Adjustment Decision to the BIA

If an immigration judge denies your adjustment request, you appeal to the BIA on Form EOIR-26. The notice must be filed directly with the Board within 10 calendar days of the judge’s decision, under 8 C.F.R. § 1003.38. The 30-day window applies only to certain asylum decisions.

The clock starts on the date the judge stated an oral decision. For a written decision, it starts on the date of mailing or electronic notice. If the last day falls on a weekend or legal holiday, the deadline moves to the next business day.

An appeal is not properly filed until the Board receives it. The Board must also receive the required fees or fee waiver request and proof of service (8 C.F.R. § 1003.3). 8 C.F.R. § 1003.3 reads: “An appeal is not properly filed unless it is received at the Board, along with all required documents, fees or fee waiver requests, and proof of service, within the time specified in the governing sections of this chapter.” Your notice must state the reasons for appeal. It must specifically identify the findings of fact, the conclusions of law, or both, that you challenge. Failure to state reasons can lead to dismissal (8 C.F.R. § 1240.15).

What the BIA Reviews on Appeal and What It Usually Will Not Consider

On appeal, the BIA decides the case on the existing record and the issues you raise. It does not find new facts on its own. Under 8 C.F.R. § 1003.1, the Board will not engage in factfinding, except for commonly known facts or official documents. If you need more facts, you must file a motion for remand. New evidence sent with an appeal may be treated as one.

For decisions issued on or after March 9, 2026, the Board must summarily dismiss an appeal, except for appeals under paragraphs (b)(5), (6), (7), and (14) of 8 C.F.R. § 1003.1 and unless a majority of permanent Board members vote en banc to accept it. The exception is when a majority of permanent Board members vote to accept it for decision on the merits. That is why a clear, specific notice matters.

For a closer look at how factual and legal errors are argued, read our BIA review of facts and legal errors page.

Motions to Reopen and Reconsider: Other Routes and Their Deadlines

A motion to reconsider argues the decision had an error of fact or law. A motion to reopen asks the decision-maker to look at the case again based on new facts or circumstances. Both differ from a BIA appeal, and each has its own rules.

For BIA decisions, a motion to reconsider must be filed with the Board within 30 days after the Board’s decision is mailed, and a party may file only one motion to reconsider a given decision. The Board may grant or deny a motion to reopen in its discretion, even when the moving party makes a prima facie case. Filing the motion does not stay a decision unless a stay is specifically granted. Motions must be in English or come with a certified translation (8 C.F.R. § 1003.2).

For a USCIS denial, the timing rules differ. The motion also needs a fee and a statement about any court case challenging the decision (8 C.F.R. § 103.5). Check the timing against your specific notice before you choose a route.

Deadlines and Documents to Check Right Away

Write down the decision date and the date you received it first. Gather these items:

• The date on the denial notice or court order.
• The date you received it, and whether it came by mail.
• Whether you are in removal proceedings.
• Any hearing or departure dates listed.
• The Notice to Appear, prior filings, and the evidence sent with the I-485.

Where an appeal is available, a late-filed appeal is rejected as improperly filed, and the filing fee is not refunded (8 C.F.R. § 103.3). Start the deadline calculation as soon as you get the decision.

Talk With Our Team About Your Denial Notice

If you have a denial notice or court order, the next step is a review of your dates. Adriana Gomez is the responsible lawyer for this page. AG Immigration Law P.A. focuses on removal defense, adjustment of status, family petitions, naturalization, removal of conditions on green cards, waivers, and BIA appeals. Consultations with our office are paid, so ask about the fee when you reach out.

If a denial notice or court order is in your hands and a deadline may already be running, reach out through the contact form, by phone, or on WhatsApp so your dates can be reviewed.

Frequently Asked Questions