A COM denial rejects the request for approval; a withdrawal takes away a prior COM approval. The distinction affects which records must be reviewed and how the decision fits into the applicant’s later visa or immigration history.

Read the decision-maker and the action separately

  • COM denial: the request for COM approval was not granted.
  • COM withdrawal: a previously granted COM approval was withdrawn.
  • Consular refusal: a visa decision at a different stage; read the stated statutory ground.
  • USCIS notice: identify the exact petition or status action and its own response instructions.

Relevant guidance: State Department steps of the Afghan SIV process.

A denial starts with the original eligibility record

For a denied request, compare the reasons in the letter with the submitted materials. Did the package document qualifying work? Were the dates consistent? Could the government contact the relevant employer or recommender? Do not assume that a general account of service answers a specific verification concern.

Prepare a clear explanation of the disputed point and the evidence available to address it. Counsel should review the original package before choosing the response, because a new explanation can conflict with an earlier submission.

A withdrawal also requires the approval history

For a withdrawal, obtain the earlier approval and everything that happened afterward. The government may be acting on later information or reevaluating a prior issue. Identify the precise decision being withdrawn and any related petition or visa action.

A person waiting abroad, a person with a visa, and a lawful permanent resident do not necessarily face the same procedural consequences. Do not translate a COM withdrawal into an automatic conclusion that a green card has been revoked. Equally, do not assume an earlier admission makes the notice irrelevant.

Keep the response and status questions separate

Ask counsel to address the response deadline, the available administrative process, and any effect on other pending cases. Family members may have different case numbers and notices. Gather those records instead of treating the family as a single undifferentiated file.

The best first step is a complete decision chronology. Avoid sending a second account of employment until it has been checked against earlier forms, letters, and statements. Correcting a genuine mistake requires accuracy and an explanation, not simply different wording.

Frequently asked questions

Does a withdrawal always mean fraud was found?

No. Read the stated grounds; do not infer a fraud finding from the label alone.

Is a consular visa refusal the same decision?

No. COM action and a consular refusal occur at different stages and may require different responses.

Related legal services

Learn about Special Immigrant Visas.

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Sources and further reading

The information on this website is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Viewing this website, submitting a form, calling our office, or sending us information does not create an attorney-client relationship with Ehsan Law, PLLC. An attorney-client relationship is created only after Ehsan Law, PLLC agrees to represent you and both sides sign a written agreement. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case depends on its own facts, evidence, deadlines, and applicable law.