US Citizenship Agency Denies 35,767 Green Card Work Permits in Q3 2026

Work‑permit denials rise sharply Between 1 April and 30 June 2026, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) rejected 35,767 applications for employment authorisation from foreign nationals awaiting permanent residency. The decision increased the overall rejection rate for the third quarter of the 2026 fiscal year to about 44%, compared with roughly 25% for the preceding two quarters.

USCIS processed 153,039 Form I‑765 requests in the adjustment‑of‑status category during the period. Of those, 46,405 were approved and 35,767 denied. The agency’s backlog remains large, with 671,362 pending applications and a median processing time of 6.4 months.

Other immigration categories The agency’s statistics also show significant denials in other petition types. Form I‑129, which covers temporary foreign workers such as H‑1B holders, recorded 39,560 denials against 143,748 approvals, giving a rejection rate of around 22%. Family‑based petitions filed through Form I‑130 saw 16,661 denials, about 17% of the total decisions. Immigrant‑worker petitions under Form I‑140 had 7,069 denials and 37,975 approvals, a rejection rate near 16%.

Context and implications The spike in work‑permit rejections highlights growing challenges for individuals seeking legal employment while their Green Card applications are pending. Analysts note that the U.S. has tightened immigration rules and increased fees for certain applicants and international students, factors that may contribute to the higher denial rates.

USCIS officials have not yet released detailed explanations for the rise, but the figures suggest a shift in policy enforcement and a potential backlog that could affect thousands of foreign workers.

Looking ahead USCIS will continue to monitor application trends and adjust processing timelines. Applicants are advised to review the eligibility criteria carefully and seek professional guidance to improve the likelihood of approval.

The data underscore the importance of staying informed about immigration policy changes and the procedural requirements for securing work authorisation in the United States.