USCIS Ombudsman Reports on Denials of Adjustment of Status Applications Following a Change of Employment
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Ombudsman has received inquiries stating that the agency is not issuing Notices of Intent to Deny following a change of jobs, as required by the American Competitiveness in the 21st Century Act (AC21) and USCIS policy guidance, but instead is immediately denying pending Form I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status) applications.
If a foreign national is: (1) the beneficiary of an approved Form I-140 (Petition for Immigrant Worker); and (2) has a Form I-485 pending for 180 days or more, he or she is eligible to change to a same or similar position. If the underlying approved I-140 is withdrawn, and no evidence of a new qualifying offer of employment was submitted, then USCIS must issue a Notice of Intent to Deny the pending I-485.
However, the ombudsman noted that USCIS may deny the I-485 in cases of portability (the ability to change jobs) before first issuing a Notice of Intent to Deny in certain limited circumstances. These include, for example, where the beneficiary is ineligible for the benefits of the I-485 by statute, or the I-140 is withdrawn before the I-485 was pending for 180 days.
If you think your case was erroneously denied, the ombudsman asks that you forward a description of the problem using DHS Form 7001 with the subject line, “AC21 Evidence of Immediate Denial.” Include a copy of your denial notice, detailed information about the reasons for the immediate denial, and, if appropriate, evidence that you submitted a Motion to Reopen or Reconsider. “If we consider your case to be an erroneous denial, we will forward it directly to USCIS for further review,” the ombudsman states.
For more information, including links to USCIS Interoffice Memoranda further clarifying USCIS processing of these cases, see here.
