“Request for Additional Evidence Was Sent”: what it means
USCIS needs more documents before it can decide. The letter has a firm deadline.
Checked against USCIS guidance on October 17, 2026. The sources are listed at the end of this page.
What this status means
An officer reviewed your case and found that the evidence you sent does not yet fully establish eligibility. USCIS has mailed a Request for Evidence (RFE) that lists what it wants.
An RFE is common and is not a denial. It is a chance to fill the gap.
What usually happens next
- The letter arrives by mail. The case stays paused until USCIS receives your response or the deadline passes.
- Once your response arrives, the officer reviews it. If it raises new questions, USCIS can send a follow-up request or a notice of intent to deny; otherwise it decides the case.
3 steps · Checklist
Next steps: Request for Additional Evidence Was Sent
What to do now, as a checklist you can save and tick off.
Write down the response deadline
Read the whole letter and note the response deadline printed on it. Missing it can lead to a denial.
Answer every item in one response, with the request
Answer every item on the list, and send everything together in one response with the original request USCIS sent. Mail it to the address in the request, not to a USCIS Lockbox.
Get help before responding if you’re unsure
If the request is complicated or you’re unsure what it’s asking for, talk to an immigration attorney or accredited representative before responding.
Free, and yours to edit — tick items off on the web or in the MyCheck app.
Can I get more time to answer an RFE?
No. USCIS’s maximum response time is 12 weeks (84 days), plus 3 days if the request was mailed, and its rules prohibit officers from granting extra time.
What if I can only answer part of the RFE?
USCIS treats a partial response as a request for a decision on the record as it stands. Send everything you can, and explain anything you cannot provide, before the deadline.
Read more
Sources
General information about how USCIS status messages are used, not legal advice. The notices USCIS mails you are the official record for your case.
