Got a USCIS Request for Evidence (RFE)? Bilingual EN/RU immigration lawyer in Florida prepares strong, on-time RFE responses. (305) 315-3425.
A Request for Evidence (RFE) is a formal notice from USCIS asking for more documentation before they decide your case. It is not a denial — but how you respond, and whether you respond on time, often decides the outcome. At Fitenko Law PLLC, Attorney Ekaterina Fitenko, Esq. prepares precise, well-documented RFE responses in English and Russian for clients across Florida and worldwide.
Officers issue RFEs when the record is missing a required document, when eligibility for a category is not yet established, or when something needs clarification. Common triggers include specialty-occupation questions on H-1B petitions, source-of-funds and at-risk investment on E-2 and EB-5 cases, proof of a bona fide relationship on marriage green cards, and ability-to-pay on employment cases.
The RFE notice states your deadline — frequently up to about 87 days from the date on the notice. USCIS counts mailing time, and a late or incomplete response usually leads to a decision on the existing record, which often means a denial. The single most important step is to act quickly so we have time to gather strong evidence.
We read the RFE line by line and map each request to the legal standard the officer must apply, so nothing is missed.
We gather documents, expert letters, and a clear legal argument that answers each point directly — not a generic document dump.
We submit one organized response before the deadline, with a cover brief that walks the officer through the evidence.
No. An RFE means the officer cannot approve the case on the record in front of them and is asking for what is missing. A great many cases that receive one are approved. What decides the outcome is whether the response answers the specific gap identified, rather than restating the original filing at greater length.
You may, and it is the point at which self-filed cases most often go wrong. The notice is written in the language of the regulation it cites, and the evidence it asks for is not always the evidence it names. There is one submission and no second round, so the response has to be complete the first time.
No. The date printed on the notice is final, and USCIS decides on the record it holds when that date passes. Where documents have to come from abroad — police certificates, civil records, employer letters — that timeline drives everything else, which is why collection begins the day the notice arrives.
USCIS resumes adjudication and may approve the case, deny it, or issue a Notice of Intent to Deny. Processing time runs from receipt of the response rather than continuing from the original filing date, so the case effectively re-enters the queue. Status updates when the response is received and again when a decision issues.
Attorney Ekaterina Fitenko reviews your Request for Evidence and builds a strong, on-time response.
Schedule Now (305) 315-3425Verified on August 19, 2026. Filing fees, priority dates and USCIS policy change without notice. Confirm every figure against the official source before you file.