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Case Stories
❌ EB-3 Immediate Relative Denied - F1 Out of Status PD 2025-02
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❌ **Case Status: Denied**
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An F1 visa holder who married a U.S. citizen filed I-485 in February 2025, but USCIS never received it. A second filing in December 2026 was denied in March due to a missing petitioner I-864, despite a joint sponsor being included.
Applicant was on F1 visa and married a U.S. citizen in November 2024. Fell out of status in July 2025 after not applying for OPT. Initial I-485 filing in February 2025 was never received by USCIS, discovered only when contacting USCIS before the second filing. Second package filed December 2026 with RFE response submitted March 2nd and biometrics completed March 16th at a New York field office. Denial issued March 26th citing missing petitioner I-864, despite a joint sponsor having been included. Applicant is weighing Motion to Reopen (I-290B) versus full refile of I-485, I-130, I-131, and I-765.
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**[📎 View Original Post](https://www.reddit.com/r/USCIS/comments/1s7v5pc/i485_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.*
This denial reflects a procedural issue rather than an eligibility bar. USCIS requires both the petitioner's I-864 AND any joint sponsor's I-864A/I-864; omitting the petitioner's form is a standalone ground for denial even when a joint sponsor is present. Out-of-status periods for immediate relatives of U.S. citizens are generally forgiven under INA 245(c) exceptions, so the status gap alone is unlikely the core issue here. A Motion to Reopen (I-290B) is typically faster and cheaper than a full refile if the denial was solely due to the missing I-864, but consult an immigration attorney to assess whether the out-of-status history complicates reopening. Similar cases with missing financial support documents have been successfully reopened when the corrected package was submitted promptly.