Immigration applicants quickly discover that the immigration process can be long and complicated. U.S. immigration law is complex – there are many requirements which must be met and the only way to do that is with evidence. Sometimes the evidence submitted is insufficient to satisfy the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Requests for Evidence are part of the normal process
When an immigration officer reviews your case, their job is to determine the eligibility of your application. Evidence is what they use to decide whether you meet the necessary requirements. If they decide that the evidence they currently possess doesn’t establish your eligibility, they will frequently choose to send you a Request for Evidence (RFE). This could be because there is a document required, which was not submitted, or because certain evidence was submitted but is not satisfactory.
When an immigration officer elects to send you an RFE, the RFE should inform you of the requirement you’ve failed to satisfy and why the evidence in the officer’s possession fails to meet the requirement. If there is required evidence which has not been provided, the RFE should tell you what that evidence is. The RFE should also inform you of other evidence which may be submitted to prove eligibility.
All RFE’s have a maximum amount of time available to respond to them and extensions are rarely granted. The amount of time you have to respond should be clearly stated in the RFE and will vary depending upon the information which is being requested. Sometimes that information is straightforward and easy to access – other times it is not. If you need assistance gathering the evidence and responding to an RFE, seek the help of a qualified professional who is experienced in immigration law.
