What Does the USCIS Case Status “Case Rejected” Mean for My Form I-129F Application?

My USCIS Case Status Says “Case Rejected.” What Does That Mean for My Form I-129F?

If your USCIS case status says “Case Rejected,” you made a mistake in the application process for Form I-129F: Petition for Alien Fiancé. As a result, USCIS did not review your case or determine your eligibility for the immigrant visa. You will get an official notice in the mail explaining why USCIS rejected your case. The agency will return the filing fee you paid. You will need to take action to resume the immigration application process by fixing the mistake and refiling the application with USCIS. 

If USCIS rejects your application, here are some possible statuses you may receive and what they mean: 

• Case Was Rejected Because It Was Improperly Filed: You did not mail your form to the correct USCIS address. 

• Case Rejected Because The Version Of The Form I Sent Is No Longer Accepted: You filed an old version of Form I-129F that USCIS no longer accepts. 

• Case Was Rejected Because I Did Not Sign My Form: You did not sign your form. 

• Petition/Application Was Rejected For Insufficient Funds: You did not have enough funds in your bank account for USCIS to cash your check for the filing fee. 

• Case Rejected Because I Sent An Incorrect Fee: You did not send in the correct filing fee. USCIS may have changed the fee amount required. 

• Case Rejected For Incorrect Fee And Form Not Signed: You did not send in the correct filing fee, and you did not sign the form. 

• Case Rejected For Incorrect Fee And Incorrect Form Version: You did not send in the proper filing fee, and you did not use the most recent form version. 

• Case Rejected For Form Not Signed And Incorrect Form Version: You did not sign the form and used an old version of the form. 

Does the Case Status “Case Rejected” Mean the Same Thing as “Case Denied”?

No, the status “Case Rejected” is not the same thing as “Case Denied.” 

“Case Rejected” means that you made a mistake, but it is fixable. It may be discouraging to have your case rejected, and your application may take longer to process. However, ultimately you can fix the issue and resubmit your Form I-129F to get a fiancé visa. Be sure to look at the reason USCIS gave for your denial to resolve the issue. 

“Case Denied” means that USCIS reviewed your I-129F case and decided you do not qualify for a fiancé visa. Unfortunately, you will not get your filing fees back or receive the immigration status you wanted. This is more difficult to address. You will likely need legal help to appeal your case or find a different pathway for an immigrant visa. 

What Should I Do if My USCIS Case Status Says “Case Rejected” for My Fiancé Visa Case?

USCIS rejects fiancé visa applications for a variety of reasons. Check your case status to see what reason USCIS provides, and then read below to understand how to address the specific issue. 

Case Was Rejected Because It Was Improperly Filed

USCIS may have rejected your case because you mailed your forms to the incorrect address. When you apply for a K-1 fiancé visa, you will send your application to a USCIS field office or lockbox. The address you use will depend on the mail carrier service you use. Check USCIS’ I-129F filing page under the “Where to File” dropdown menu to ensure that you sent the form to the correct address. 

Case Rejected Because the Version of The Form Sent Is No Longer Accepted

Sometimes USCIS updates its application forms. To make sure you’re sending the most recent form, check the “edition date” of Form I-129F that USCIS is currently accepting. Make sure this date is the same as the date at the bottom of the page of the form and the instructions. If you need to refile, download the most recent version of the form on USCIS’ I-129F filing page and fill it out again. 

Petition/Application Was Rejected for Insufficient Funds

There is a $535 filing fee for Form I-129F. If you paid your filing fee by check and you did not have enough funds in your account for USCIS to process the check, USCIS may have rejected your petition for insufficient funds. 

You can address this by submitting your application again and paying the filing fee in a different way. For example, you can use a money order or cashier’s check paid for ahead of time. You can also use a debit or credit card to pay if you file at a USCIS lockbox. Unfortunately, Form I-129F is not eligible for a fee waiver, so you must pay the filing fee. 

Case Rejected Because I Sent An Incorrect Fee

When you refile your application, check the “filing fee” section on the USCIS site for Form I-129F to ensure you are paying the correct amount. If you are sending a check of any kind, you should also check that you addressed it to the right agency. Currently, for Form I-129F, you should address checks to the “U.S. Department of Homeland Security.” 

Case Was Rejected Because I Did Not Sign My Form

If you forget to sign any form, USCIS will reject your application. Check over the form again and add your signature to any sections you may have forgotten to sign. You can then file the form again with USCIS. 

Rejection Case Statuses for Multiple Issues

USCIS may have rejected your case for a combination of any of the reasons above. For example, you may see that your case was rejected because you did not sign the form and you did not pay the correct fee. In that case, you may see the status “Case Rejected For Incorrect Fee And Form Not Signed.” Be sure to address each individual issue indicated by USCIS before you resubmit your application. 

Where in the Form I-129F Application Process Might I See “Case Rejected” as My Status?

For your K-1 fiancé visa application, you will need to complete the form in its entirety and provide the required supporting evidence. After properly signing the form, you can file it along with your supporting evidence and the $535 filing fee. 

You may see the status of “Case Rejected” at any point after filing Form I-129F or submitting your filing fee. If you aren’t sure how to handle the reason for your rejection, you may want to seek legal advice.

When Should I Contact an Immigration Attorney About My Form I-129F or Form Case?

For most rejected Form I-129F applications, you can probably refile successfully without an attorney. You will need to understand why USCIS rejected your original application, fix the mistake, and file again.

How Can I Track USCIS Case Status Changes?

You can check your case status online through the USCIS case status tool. You will need to enter your unique 13-character receipt number into the site and then click “Check Status.” If USCIS has rejected your case, the website will provide a brief explanation of why. You’ll also receive an official notice via mail that goes into more detail.

It’s important to stay updated on your case status to make sure your application is progressing and to see if USCIS needs you to complete anything. For example, in the case of a rejection, you will be responsible for taking action to resume your immigration application process. USCIS may also need you to attend scheduled interviews or biometrics appointments. If there is an update, USCIS will also likely send you a notice by mail that provides more information.