“Request for Initial Evidence Was Sent”: what it means
USCIS says required evidence was missing from the filing itself. The letter has a firm deadline.
What this status means
Initial evidence is what a form requires you to send with it. USCIS has decided something on that required list was missing or did not show what it needed to show, and has mailed a Request for Evidence asking for it.
This is different from a request for additional evidence, which asks about something an officer found while reviewing. USCIS states that a request will specify whether initial evidence or additional evidence is required.
It is not a denial. USCIS can refuse a filing outright when required initial evidence is missing, so a request is the better of the two outcomes.
What usually happens next
- The letter arrives by mail and lists exactly what to send. The case stays paused until USCIS has your response or the deadline passes.
- If you do not respond in time, USCIS may deny the request as abandoned, decide it on the record as it stands, or both.
What to do now
- Read the whole letter and write down the response deadline printed on it.
- Compare the list against the filing instructions for your form so you can see what was treated as missing.
- Answer every item and send one complete response, with the cover page USCIS asks you to include.
- Keep a full copy of what you send and proof of delivery.
- If you are unsure what the letter is asking for, talk to an immigration attorney or accredited representative before the deadline.
Read more
General information about how USCIS status messages are used, not legal advice. The notices USCIS mails you are the official record for your case.
