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Case Stories
❌ EB-3 Family-Based I-485 Denial After 2.5 Years - Philippines/Other PD 2016-12
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❌ **Case Status: Denied**
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An I-130 filed in December 2016 was approved in August 2020, followed by an I-485 submission in October 2022. After receiving EAD cards and passing biometrics, the I-485 was denied in March 2026 citing a 'file error' — with the denial upheld even after a motion to reopen.
The petitioner's I-130 was filed in December 2016 and approved in August 2020 after a nearly 4-year adjudication period. An I-485 was filed in October 2022 once the priority date became current, and an EAD was issued and later extended for 5 years — indicating an initial favorable posture. In March 2026, USCIS requested biometrics, which were submitted promptly. Nine days later, the I-485 was denied citing a 'file error' and ineligibility, with no clear explanation provided. A motion to reopen filed by counsel was also denied. The applicant has now waited nearly 10 years since the original petition.
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**[📎 View Original Post](https://www.reddit.com/r/USCIS/comments/1src6up/i130_approved_and_i485_denial_after_25_years/)**
*Source: Reddit I-485 EB*
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*This post was automatically curated from online sources to share real case experiences with the community.*
Denials citing vague 'file errors' after years of apparent eligibility are rare but do occur, often tied to underlying issues such as unlawful presence bars, mismatched beneficiary classification, or derivative beneficiary eligibility problems that surface only at final adjudication. In cases where EAD was granted but I-485 is later denied, USCIS may have identified a statutory bar during final review that was not caught earlier. If a motion to reopen has already been denied, the next procedural options typically include an appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) via Form EOIR-29, or filing a new I-485 if a visa number remains available and the underlying issue can be resolved. Cases with a 10-year gap between filing and final action date current often involve chargeability or age-out issues worth investigating closely.