The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services rejected 35,767 work permit applications from foreign nationals seeking Green Cards between April and June 2026, pushing the rejection rate to 44 per cent.

The figures cover the third quarter of the US government’s 2026 fiscal year, which runs from October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026.

The denial rate rose to approximately 44 per cent during the period, up from about 25 per cent in the first two quarters of the 2026 fiscal year, covering October 2025 to March 2026.

The increase highlights the growing difficulties faced by foreign nationals seeking work authorisation while awaiting decisions on their applications for permanent residency in the United States.

The USCIS received 153,039 Form I-765 applications under the Adjustment of Status category during the quarter. Of these, 46,405 were approved, while 35,767 were denied.

Form I-765 enables eligible foreign nationals to apply for an Employment Authorization Document, which allows them to work legally in the United States.

Pending applications under the Adjustment of Status category rose to 671,362, with a median processing time of 6.4 months.

Form I-129, which is used to petition for temporary foreign workers, including H-1B visa applicants, recorded 39,560 denials against 143,748 approvals, representing a rejection rate of approximately 22 per cent.

Meanwhile, family-based immigration petitions filed through Form I-130 recorded 16,661 denials, accounting for about 17 per cent of decisions.

Immigrant worker petitions filed through Form I-140 recorded 7,069 denials and 37,975 approvals, representing a rejection rate of approximately 16 per cent.

However, employment-based Green Card applications submitted through Form I-485 maintained a relatively stable denial rate of seven per cent, despite rising rejection rates across other immigration categories.

The figures also showed an increase in citizenship application denials during the period.

The USCIS received 140,179 naturalisation applications through Form N-400, approving 54,974 and rejecting 12,591.

The rising rejection rates come amid broader changes to US immigration policies affecting foreign workers, international students and applicants seeking permanent residency.

In August 2026, Nairametrics reported that the US government had introduced stricter financial assessments for certain Green Card applicants.

Immigration authorities are considering factors such as income, assets, health and reliance on public benefits when assessing applicants’ eligibility.

The administration has also moved to increase immigration-related costs. From October 16, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services will introduce higher fees for asylum applications, employment authorisation and Temporary Protected Status as part of its annual inflation adjustments.