What to Do After Receiving a Request for Evidence (Rfe)
Nobody looks forward to getting a Request for Evidence (RFE) from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). RFEs are sort of the boogeyman of the visa world — they come without warning and usually give the recipient an unpleasant feeling in the pit of their stomach.
Technically speaking, an RFE is a written request for more information and documentation that USCIS mails out if they believe that they don’t yet have enough evidence to approve or deny a given application.
In this article, we’ll break down a typical RFE and explain each part. Hopefully, you’ll never see an RFE, but by the end of this guide, you’ll know what to do!
What Will My RFE Say?
RFEs will typically fall into one of two categories: either they are seeking more information about your eligibility for the benefit you applied for, or they require additional documentation to support your claim. If you’re lucky, you’ll get an RFE that asks for clarification on a few small points. However, some RFEs can be quite lengthy and may require a significant amount of work to address. Colavecchio & Colavecchio Law Office is located in Nashville, TN has helped hundreds of clients when they needed an Immigration Lawyer.
At the top of your RFE, you’ll find some basic information, including:
-The type of visa or benefit you applied for
-Your case number
-The date USCIS received your application
-The office that is processing your application
-An estimate of how long it will take to process your RFE
The body of the RFE will explain what USCIS is asking for and why. It’s important to read this section carefully, as it will provide valuable clues about what documentation or information USCIS is specifically looking for. In some cases, the RFE may also provide instructions on how to submit the requested information (more on that later).
This section will typically list all the additional documents that USCIS needs to make a decision on your application. In this section, USCIS may also state which eligibility requirement has not been met by the documents already submitted. It’s common for this section of an RFE to be lengthy, and to provide alternate options for some of the documentation that’s being requested. For example, an RFE requiring the submission of a birth certificate will also usually state that if a birth certificate is not available, school records and “affidavits of birth” may be submitted instead.
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