The RFE Master List

[Masha2008 0]

passport stamps and any kinds of official documents from the government can be primary evidence.Photos and travel things can be second evidence but, I was told that photos can be taken by more than 2 years ago and say they were taken a few months ago. So it can be strong evidence with passport stamps. Boarding passes do not usually show years, but I included. I have no idea how USCIS will consider. For me, it is not fair. Some couples can be approved after they met each other only once. Others get RFE even though they included a lot of evidence.

[Tunisianlover 0]

We got a RFE because my fiance didn't send in enough proof of our meeting - he had to send in more evidence! It's not enough just to fill out the form and say 'we met on X date' - you have to provide photos too And then he got another RFE because they needed more financial information from him. Combined the two held us up for three months which seemed like an eternity but wasn't really a big deal.

This is where this thread is going to confuse many. Getting an RFE for lack of evidence to prove you have met in the past two years almost always is due to a lack of primary evidence. Supplying more, or many photos (secondary evidence) will usually not overcome the burden of proof.

This has been borne out time and again by USCIS decisions whereby they have found mostly in favor of primary evidence and rejected secondary evidence such as photos when submitted as sole proof.

Primary evidence is documentary in nature: airline boarding passes, passport exit/entry stamps, hotel receipts, atm withdrawals in city of question, utility bills, apartment leases, etc.

Secondary evidence The USCIS defines secondary evidence as any documentation that can be used to supplement primary evidence but in itself cannot stand alone to prove ones assertions.

Photos are secondary; so are letters from relatives, neighbors or acquaintances, bus/train tickets and essentially anything that cannot be used to prove your point with a very high degree of certainty.

To sum up; very good Primary evidence with some secondary evidence = NO RFE

very weak Primary evidence with some, or lots of secondary= Possible RFE

No Primary evidence..........................................................= RFE

No Primary, lots of secondary.............................................= RFE

This is a problem for me, I lived in Italy for three years and I never had a lease. I don't have any of my boarding passes. Can you give me more ideas.

[ELW 5]

This is a problem for me, I lived in Italy for three years and I never had a lease. I don't have any of my boarding passes. Can you give me more ideas.

I sent in copies of my passport stamps (proving I was in India for 21 years) and some photos, I thought that would be enough. But I got an RFE for more evidence of relationship. Mostly they want proof that you were both in the same country at the same time. I was staying for free in a friend's apartment so I did not have any lease, either. I also didn't have pay stubs because I was just working for a small honorarium. So I sent in copies of all my visa extensions and evidence I gave in India for that (bank account statements, letter from my employer, visa fee payment copies), money exchange certificates, hotel bill (I only had one, for a one-day stay while doing visa extension), boarding pass and itinerary for my trip home to USA, and I again sent in the same copies of my passport and photos. I also sent in a cover letter explaining how long I was in India and what I was doing there. I was approved soon after I sent in all that evidence. Good luck to you, too!

[Eli the Barrowboy 16]

This has happened to another member, not me personally, but I thought I'd draw attention to it for future filers as it MAY cause us to get a RFE ...

The British courts do not sign Decree Absolute cartificates. It is issued by the court with their stamp. In some cases USCIS are now asking for a signed decree by a judge or a legal authority in the UK.

If you are applying from the UK and want a certified copy of the divorce, visit the court that issued it and ask for one of the clerks there to certify it.

Better to be safe than sorry!!!

R

[redpim1 0]

+ Always send in the LONG version of the birth certificate (USC) - not the short one. If you only happen to have the short one, include copies of ALL pages of the passport of the US citizen.

what is the difference in a "short form" and a "long form"??? I have not ever heard of this.

[ELW 5]

what is the difference in a "short form" and a "long form"??? I have not ever heard of this.

I heard that the "long form" has additional information, like parent's names.

My mother lost my birth certificate so I ordered another one from Pennsylvania, where I was born. They sent a "short form" (it is half a page in size) which did not have my parent's names on it. I sent it back requesting them to send the "long form" with parent's names. They sent back the same "short form" with parent's names added.

There's some talk that some state policies are different. Someone said that the "long form" is not issued to adults, they only give a re-issue of the "short form."

In any case, I sent in all pages of my passport too and had no troubles.

[Gra and Daniel 0]

I received an RFE on Oct 15 for leaving space blank in name of spouces section. I left it blank thinking since i checked off single on the top that i would not have to fill in the bottom. Wrong. RFE for this. I wrote in NONE in caps (and also, next to "none"...N/A..... in retrospec i dont think this was a good idea). Anyway, my question besides the fact that i added N/A (should i worry?) is that if i only received this RFE, does this mean that this is the only thing that they will RFE me for and expect a decision or was this just a prelimanary RFE and more are to come if i have them? Also, RFE was sent that same week and CSC said they received it on Nov. 5...... its Jan 17th!!! we are going on day 72 since they received it. What the hell is taking them so long? I made an appointment at my local immigration office in Tampa and requested to talk to an officer. I talked to the officer to see if she could get status. She did not call but directly emailed them. I have not received a decision yet but i did see my file was "touched" on Jan 10. I could call them but i feat it will be futile. Any suggestions?

[ELW 5]

The Example Forms on VJ are a great help! The Example Forms show "NONE" under that section. I hope the additional N/A will be ignored and it will be OK!

Usually there is only one RFE and then processing is resumed, but on rare occasions people are contacted with a second RFE (because the adjudicator goes through your file a second time and might catch something missed the first time). But that really doesn't happen too often.

72 days since they received the RFE - that is waaay tooo long! However ever since the fee increase, they are really totally backlogged with files and everything takes longer. It was touched on Jan 10 so that is a good sign - someone is working on your case again. Let's hope you get the approval soon. Yes probably futile to call them again, since it was touched a week ago. Give it another week or two then call them again, or schedule another Infopass. Good luck!

[Mochababe 0]

I received an RFE on Oct 15 for leaving space blank in name of spouces section. I left it blank thinking since i checked off single on the top that i would not have to fill in the bottom. Wrong. RFE for this. I wrote in NONE in caps (and also, next to "none"...N/A..... in retrospec i dont think this was a good idea). Anyway, my question besides the fact that i added N/A (should i worry?) is that if i only received this RFE, does this mean that this is the only thing that they will RFE me for and expect a decision or was this just a prelimanary RFE and more are to come if i have them? Also, RFE was sent that same week and CSC said they received it on Nov. 5...... its Jan 17th!!! we are going on day 72 since they received it. What the hell is taking them so long? I made an appointment at my local immigration office in Tampa and requested to talk to an officer. I talked to the officer to see if she could get status. She did not call but directly emailed them. I have not received a decision yet but i did see my file was "touched" on Jan 10. I could call them but i feat it will be futile. Any suggestions?

I am going through the same frusterating ordeal. We filed in May 07 got a notice of a missing form, sent it in, and case

processing resumed Nov 7,07. Now it is Jan 24/08 ! Still NOTHING! So I hear your pain.

Sending you positive vibes!

[Gra and Daniel 0]

I received an RFE on Oct 15 for leaving space blank in name of spouces section. I left it blank thinking since i checked off single on the top that i would not have to fill in the bottom. Wrong. RFE for this. I wrote in NONE in caps (and also, next to "none"...N/A..... in retrospec i dont think this was a good idea). Anyway, my question besides the fact that i added N/A (should i worry?) is that if i only received this RFE, does this mean that this is the only thing that they will RFE me for and expect a decision or was this just a prelimanary RFE and more are to come if i have them? Also, RFE was sent that same week and CSC said they received it on Nov. 5...... its Jan 17th!!! we are going on day 72 since they received it. What the hell is taking them so long? I made an appointment at my local immigration office in Tampa and requested to talk to an officer. I talked to the officer to see if she could get status. She did not call but directly emailed them. I have not received a decision yet but i did see my file was "touched" on Jan 10. I could call them but i feat it will be futile. Any suggestions?

I am going through the same frusterating ordeal. We filed in May 07 got a notice of a missing form, sent it in, and case

processing resumed Nov 7,07. Now it is Jan 24/08 ! Still NOTHING! So I hear your pain.

Sending you positive vibes!

wow... thanks. good vibes back to you. We are are about on the same timeline. Only difference looks like you applied in Vermont and we applied to Texas then it was sent to California. I called and they said they are doing a security check on me, the petitioner. Any idea how long this takes? They also mentioned that this "should" be last step before approval. Lets hope so.....

[malego77 2]

In the process for our AOS, We got a RFE for I-864 from petitioner sponsor. We already have sent the I-864 from the co-sponsor but none from US spouse I hope this would help to somenone.

Edited February 8, 2008 by malego77

[clemedc 0]

rfe for 2 passport style photo`s i originally sent 1 passport photo of me and 1 photo of her i tryed to make a passort style but i guess dimensions were off a bit so im resending 2 new passport style photos

09-11-08 visa mailed

09-13-08 signed csc

11-10-08 noa1

no touches no anything until

02-08-08 RFE online

02-14-08 RFE hardcopy

[nathandace 0]

Hi everyone, I'm new to this...I'm not exactaly sure what the term RFE means, would anyone mind explaining it to me?

[ELW 5]

"Request For Evidence", it is when USCIS needs us to send in additional information regarding our case, before we get approved.

[nathandace 0]

Thanks so much!