Fill out I-290B (Notice of Appeal or Motion) online
Form I-290B is used to file an appeal or a motion to reopen or reconsider a USCIS decision. An appeal goes to the Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) or the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) for review. A motion asks the same USCIS office that made the unfavorable decision to reexamine it.
How to fill out I-290B (Notice of Appeal or Motion)
Identify the unfavorable decision
Enter the receipt number of the original application or petition, the date of the unfavorable decision, and the USCIS office that issued it. Include your A-Number if applicable.
Select the type of filing
Indicate whether you are filing an appeal (review by a higher authority), a motion to reopen (new facts or evidence), or a motion to reconsider (claim of legal or factual error in the original decision).
Prepare your brief or statement
Write a brief explaining why the decision was incorrect. For appeals, identify the legal errors. For motions to reopen, describe the new facts and include supporting evidence. For motions to reconsider, cite the specific legal or factual errors.
File within the deadline
Submit the completed I-290B with the filing fee, your brief or statement, and any supporting evidence to the USCIS office that made the original decision. File before the deadline stated in the denial notice.
About I-290B (Notice of Appeal or Motion)
Who needs this form
Applicants, petitioners, or their legal representatives who received an unfavorable decision from USCIS and want to challenge that decision through an appeal, a motion to reopen (based on new facts), or a motion to reconsider (based on legal error).
Where to submit
File with the USCIS office that made the unfavorable decision. That office will either act on a motion itself or forward an appeal to the appropriate appellate authority (AAO or BIA). Must be filed within the deadline stated in the denial notice.
Source and content freshness
- Reviewed: 2026-02-16
- Filing deadlines may shift for weekends and holidays. Verify due dates with official instructions.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Missing the filing deadline (typically 30 or 33 days from the date of the unfavorable decision)
- Not specifying whether you are filing an appeal, motion to reopen, or motion to reconsider
- Filing an appeal when the decision type is not appealable (check the denial notice for appeal rights)
- Not providing a brief or statement explaining the basis for the appeal or motion
- Not including new evidence with a motion to reopen
Frequently asked questions
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What is the difference between an appeal and a motion?
An appeal is reviewed by a higher authority (the AAO or BIA), which can overturn the original decision. A motion is reviewed by the same USCIS office that made the decision. A motion to reopen is based on new facts or evidence that was not available at the time of the original decision. A motion to reconsider argues that the decision was based on an incorrect application of law or policy. Appeals generally take longer but provide independent review.
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