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Case Stories
❌ EB-3 I-485 Denied - Sponsor Change During RFE Response
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❌ **Case Status: Denied**
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An I-485 applicant received an RFE related to their original sponsor, who had withdrawn support. The applicant substituted a new sponsor and submitted a new I-864 as part of the RFE response, but USCIS denied the case, ruling this approach was not permissible.
Applicant filed I-485 and received an RFE concerning the original financial sponsor (I-864). By the time the RFE was issued, the original sponsor had opted out. Acting on attorney advice, the applicant secured a new sponsor and submitted a completely new I-864 with supporting evidence as part of the RFE response. USCIS denied the application, indicating that substituting an entirely new petitioning sponsor via RFE response was not an acceptable method. The applicant is now seeking others who have faced a similar situation.
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**[📎 View Original Post](https://www.reddit.com/r/USCIS/comments/1sxq84c/485_denied/)**
*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.*
USCIS generally treats an RFE as a request to cure deficiencies in the original submission — not as an opportunity to substitute a fundamentally different sponsor. When an original I-864 sponsor withdraws, USCIS may consider the petition abandoned rather than correctable via RFE. In such cases, the proper path is often to file a new I-485 with a new joint sponsor from the outset, or to pursue a Motion to Reopen (MTR) with a new I-864 if denial has already occurred. Cases with attorney-advised strategies that are later rejected by USCIS highlight the importance of getting a second opinion, especially on sponsor substitution scenarios. Similar cases should consult an immigration attorney about MTR eligibility.