Does an RFE mean the case is being touched?

[NinaLu 38]

We filed for AOS late June and the biometrics were done in mid August. We expected radio silence until next year while we get our things together... but unexpectedly today there was an RFE in the mail. 

 

The RFE is asking for our marriage certificate- which is quite strange, given that we submitted it already with the original package but alright. They must have lost it so we will send another. No big deal. However, it came as a surprise that an RFE was sent so soon, especially considering the general timeline. It gets me slightly anxious as I feel we do not yet have enough proof of cohabitation (only bills, insurance and an affidavit from MIL who lives with us is what we have so far, having issues with the bank account) and I would like to know what the general experiences are when it comes to RFE to interview timelines. 

 

Also, how often does it happen for them to misplace documents?

[Pitaya 2,577]

2 hours ago, NinaLu said:

We filed for AOS late June and the biometrics were done in mid August. We expected radio silence until next year while we get our things together... but unexpectedly today there was an RFE in the mail. 

 

The RFE is asking for our marriage certificate- which is quite strange, given that we submitted it already with the original package but alright. They must have lost it so we will send another. No big deal. However, it came as a surprise that an RFE was sent so soon, especially considering the general timeline. It gets me slightly anxious as I feel we do not yet have enough proof of cohabitation (only bills, insurance and an affidavit from MIL who lives with us is what we have so far, having issues with the bank account) and I would like to know what the general experiences are when it comes to RFE to interview timelines. RFEs can be generated at any time during the immigration process.

 

Also, how often does it happen for them to misplace documents? A review of recent AOS Progress Forums  would likely reveal that is seems to be more common for USCIS to misplace documents and generate an RFE.... almost seems like 1 or 2 such occurrences posted daily.  YMMV

Good luck on your immigration journey.

[payxibka 10,047]

2 hours ago, NinaLu said:

We filed for AOS late June and the biometrics were done in mid August. We expected radio silence until next year while we get our things together... but unexpectedly today there was an RFE in the mail. 

 

The RFE is asking for our marriage certificate- which is quite strange, given that we submitted it already with the original package but alright. They must have lost it so we will send another. No big deal. However, it came as a surprise that an RFE was sent so soon, especially considering the general timeline. It gets me slightly anxious as I feel we do not yet have enough proof of cohabitation (only bills, insurance and an affidavit from MIL who lives with us is what we have so far, having issues with the bank account) and I would like to know what the general experiences are when it comes to RFE to interview timelines. 

 

Also, how often does it happen for them to misplace documents?

Why are you surprised?  NVC is and has been getting to i485s at about 75 to 90 days

[NinaLu 38]

7 hours ago, Pitaya said:

Good luck on your immigration journey.

Thank you very much, you have put my mind at ease.

 

7 hours ago, payxibka said:

Why are you surprised?  NVC is and has been getting to i485s at about 75 to 90 days

Looks like I have not lurked around the forum enough to realize that. It definitely caught me off guard and I panicked, making a thread before doing more research. Thank you for taking the time to respond. 

[Shiran 1,134]

18 hours ago, NinaLu said:

The RFE is asking for our marriage certificate- which is quite strange, given that we submitted it already with the original package but alright. They must have lost it so we will send another. No big deal. However, it came as a surprise that an RFE was sent so soon, especially considering the general timeline. It gets me slightly anxious as I feel we do not yet have enough proof of cohabitation (only bills, insurance and an affidavit from MIL who lives with us is what we have so far, having issues with the bank account) and I would like to know what the general experiences are when it comes to RFE to interview timelines. 

 

This was most likely not RFE but "RFIE" Request for Initial evidence. The intake process for I-485 appears to be quite different from I-129F you are familiar with. In order to streamline application processing, they have contractors that open up your package very soon after it is received (about a month or so) those contractors are NOT USCIS officers, and in fact might not be even directly employed by USCIS, instead they have a very specific checklist of things they are suppose to validate in your package, and answer about 100 or so "Yes/No" questions accordingly. If they answer does not match what computer expects, the RFIE is generated. All that happens before USCIS officers ever takes a look at your form, which likely won't happen until it is transferred to your local field office.
Checklist Example here (tiny exert)

 

Edited September 23, 2019 by Shiran

[NinaLu 38]

15 hours ago, Shiran said:

This was most likely not RFE but "RFIE" Request for Initial evidence. The intake process for I-485 appears to be quite different from I-129F you are familiar with. In order to streamline application processing, they have contractors that open up your package very soon after it is received (about a month or so) those contractors are NOT USCIS officers, and in fact might not be even directly employed by USCIS, instead they have a very specific checklist of things they are suppose to validate in your package, and answer about 100 or so "Yes/No" questions accordingly. If they answer does not match what computer expects, the RFIE is generated. All that happens before USCIS officers ever takes a look at your form, which likely won't happen until it is transferred to your local field office.
Checklist Example here (tiny exert)

 

Thank you so so much for your in-depth explanation, I really appreciate it. It makes so much more sense now that they "misplaced" our marriage certificate since it could have been nothing but human error when answering the questions. 

 

It looks like I have to do way more research on this process and not doing so in the first place is my fault (should not have assumed that they are similar). You have put my anxiety to rest.