Increase in RFE issuance?

[Gosia & Tito 199]

From reviewing current timelines vs. past, seems a LOT of RFEs have been issued in the last month or so. Thoughts why this is happening?

I am concerned it is taking longer for them to process responses - also coz they want to improve overall approval time so they are focusing more on later issues petitions rather than revising RFEs from earlier petitions, and in turn those of us already waiting forever have to wait even more.

Hang in there guys. The fact that they send a RFE at least means that they can't delay more and your NOA2 is coming. I feel your pain...we are too waiting and I filed in mid November ( so I guess there is still more waiting for us)

I think the best way to try to deal with a government agency is to accept they are a government agency after all and efficiency/effectiveness is not high in their priorities (which includes loosing things). Must be the only people in the country that get to keep their jobs by purposely being slow at it! (humor helps too)

[Shenzhen 34]

I got an RFE at the USCIS then again at NVC I used at attorney. Both were really easy but cost us time. He used what looks like a passport for our marriage license that was close, but not right. They needed the white book translated into English copy. THE nvc needed a packet 3 supplement page and 2 other things. Not every one gets it right the first time. Even though the attorney should that's what I was paying him for. ARGHHH

[Used to be broken 148]

From reviewing current timelines vs. past, seems a LOT of RFEs have been issued in the last month or so. Thoughts why this is happening?

I am concerned it is taking longer for them to process responses - also coz they want to improve overall approval time so they are focusing more on later issues petitions rather than revising RFEs from earlier petitions, and in turn those of us already waiting forever have to wait even more.

http://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/special-reports/second-annual-dhs-progress-report

Requests for Evidence

One of the primary criticisms of USCIS in 2010 was the proliferation of Requests for Evidence (RFEs). USCIS is authorized under 8 CFR §103.2(b)(8) to issue an RFE to an applicant or petitioner seeking immigration benefits when the agency needs initial or additional evidence to determine an individual’s eligibility. Advocates and immigration attorneys have witnessed an increasing number of RFEs being issued, many of which contain unclear or excessive demands for additional supporting documentation, resulting in less predictability and greater confusion in the application and petition process. Complaints about RFEs also garnered the attention of the USCIS Ombudsman, who reported that RFEs had problems with redundancy, boilerplate language, burdensome and intrusive requests, incorrect references to regulations, inappropriate questions regarding the petitioner’s business determinations, mischaracterization of the nature of a business, unfounded assumptions, lack of explanation regarding why additional corroboration was sought, and unnecessary requests of petitioners to prove alternative bases for eligibility.

[JanaWithoutKhodor 3]

I don't mean to keep disagreeing with this, but, I have to. I submitted every "required" piece of initial evidence in our application. I have a copy of EVERYTHING I submitted and I did not miss anything. I still got an RFE asking for not only initial evidence already submitted, but also documents such as my bank statements for two months prior and following each trip to see my fiance', statements from my parent's acknowledging the relationship, a letter from my employer indicating what my job title, pay rate and vacation status was throughout each of my trips. I had submitted my passport showing entrance and exit from the country, also hotel receipts and airline purchases. I have now had to submit my credit card statements showing I paid for my own trips. Believe me, I am a very type A personality when it comes to paperwork and I did not miss dotting one "i" or crossing one "t" because I went back and rechecked everything I had submitted when I got my RFE.

I am not upset about the RFE process, I understand it is a necessary part of USCIS doing their job. What I am upset about is people saying that if I had submitted everything properly I would not have gotten an RFE. My case is "exceptional" for whatever reason and I will do what they ask of me because we have nothing to hide. I just don't agree that every case is as simple as supplying the required documents........

[Tim/Mav 305]

It is because the petitions were incomplete. If your petition is complete, no RFE will be issued.

Typical Gary and Alla Reply: No Compation, No real reality answer. The Know-It-All Response as usual.......

It does not Matter how long you been a Member to gain all those Cute Little Hearts that say YOU THINK YOU THINK YOUR SOMETHING NOW.

Where did you loose the Compassion for Members simply asking a Question.

I bet, your response is YOUR RIGHT. And I'm Wrong...

Look at the OP. Then answer. Won't make a difference.

Are you saying USCIS cannot make a Mistake?

[Tim/Mav 305]

I don't mean to keep disagreeing with this, but, I have to. I submitted every "required" piece of initial evidence in our application. I have a copy of EVERYTHING I submitted and I did not miss anything. I still got an RFE asking for not only initial evidence already submitted, but also documents such as my bank statements for two months prior and following each trip to see my fiance', statements from my parent's acknowledging the relationship, a letter from my employer indicating what my job title, pay rate and vacation status was throughout each of my trips. I had submitted my passport showing entrance and exit from the country, also hotel receipts and airline purchases. I have now had to submit my credit card statements showing I paid for my own trips. Believe me, I am a very type A personality when it comes to paperwork and I did not miss dotting one "i" or crossing one "t" because I went back and rechecked everything I had submitted when I got my RFE.

I am not upset about the RFE process, I understand it is a necessary part of USCIS doing their job. What I am upset about is people saying that if I had submitted everything properly I would not have gotten an RFE. My case is "exceptional" for whatever reason and I will do what they ask of me because we have nothing to hide. I just don't agree that every case is as simple as supplying the required documents........

This is Incorrect and misleading. Your doing a 129-F. They did'nt ask for Financials. Thats later. Your in NOA1 process with a 129-F. Not Financials at this time.

[JanaWithoutKhodor 3]

This is Incorrect and misleading. Your doing a 129-F. They did'nt ask for Financials. Thats later. Your in NOA1 process with a 129-F. Not Financials at this time.

This is not misleading, this is what they asked for. I posted the copy of my RFE in the RFE section. I understand it sounds misleading, but, this IS what they asked for.....

[Moomin 292]

If USCIS is more thorough now I'd rather "blame" it on people having used the K1 as an easier way to the greencard than other options out there. I don't have any statistics to back me up on this but I'd assume USCIS wants to close the loopholes in the misc visa categories - and that could be through more evidence, i.e. an RFE.

It could also be because you're paying more attention to the timelines now(I hope your NOA2 will show up soon, it's taking a long time). I can probably mention the percentage of approved petitions by each day from the past months of sitting and watching time go by slowly. Look forward to taking a break from all the immigration stuff, just for a lil while : )

[Tim/Mav 305]

This is not misleading, this is what they asked for. I posted the copy of my RFE in the RFE section. I understand it sounds misleading, but, this IS what they asked for.....

Looking at it they did and you replied. Any Member would say this is odd. The Original 129-F is a basic breif by USCIS for Documents and a Check. The 129-F is a basic Form that looks into Backgrounds of the petitioner/beneficiay. Homeland Security, etc.

Seems Odd to get a RFE already asking for Income Requirements. IS THAT COUNTRY DIFFERENT? Odd. It's a US Embassy that approves the NOA2.

I'm not right all the time but this baffles me!

[JustJanis 2]

Just more folks who don't read the Guides and Follow the Guides......most we are seeing are for basic stuff.....like no proof of being able to marry or primary proof of meeting in person. All this stuff is well covered in the Guides and the Stickies.

This process is very easy but many folks try to muck it up the best they can. Some succeed, they'll get it turned around or they won't.

We received our RFE email this morning. In defense of all those who just sent in the basics, as we did, the USCIS website is not very clear and they seemed only to request the forms.

Unfortunately I didn't find this website before I sent in our package, I wished I had as it definately makes the process much easier to understand. After finding the guides here and reading the posts I was expecting an RFE and am prepared.

And IMO it's not a "very easy" process, it's time consuming and can even be complicated for some.

[JanaWithoutKhodor 3]

Looking at it they did and you replied. Any Member would say this is odd. The Original 129-F is a basic breif by USCIS for Documents and a Check. The 129-F is a basic Form that looks into Backgrounds of the petitioner/beneficiay. Homeland Security, etc.

Seems Odd to get a RFE already asking for Income Requirements. IS THAT COUNTRY DIFFERENT? Odd. It's a US Embassy that approves the NOA2.

I'm not right all the time but this baffles me!

Well, I know what I filed, it was an I29F, for my fiance' and I received the RFE for this petition asking for 2 pages worth of additional documentation, including the financial information I stated. I don't want to hijack this thread, I am simply stating that I was not misleading anyone, it may be odd, but, it is what I received and what I was asked to provide. I was also supposed to provide school transcripts showing where my fiance' learned English, despite the numerous emails and IM conversations I had previously provided which were all in English...... I am still in the initial application stage, awaiting an NOA2, currently returned my first RFE.

[Tim/Mav 305]

Well, I know what I filed, it was an I29F, for my fiance' and I received the RFE for this petition asking for 2 pages worth of additional documentation, including the financial information I stated. I don't want to hijack this thread, I am simply stating that I was not misleading anyone, it may be odd, but, it is what I received and what I was asked to provide. I was also supposed to provide school transcripts showing where my fiance' learned English, despite the numerous emails and IM conversations I had previously provided which were all in English...... I am still in the initial application stage, awaiting an NOA2, currently returned my first RFE.

I would say: That any Senior Member with years of experience would say this is odd for a 129-F Application.

Maybe Pushbrk and Jim will read this thread. You are not changing the subject though or the thread. It is up to the OP.

[JanaWithoutKhodor 3]

I would say: That any Senior Member with years of experience would say this is odd for a 129-F Application.

Maybe Pushbrk and Jim will read this thread. You are not changing the subject though or the thread. It is up to the OP.

I have been told it is odd, I agree it is odd and it is simply my experience.

[Iraqvet 68]

From reviewing current timelines vs. past, seems a LOT of RFEs have been issued in the last month or so. Thoughts why this is happening?

I am concerned it is taking longer for them to process responses - also coz they want to improve overall approval time so they are focusing more on later issues petitions rather than revising RFEs from earlier petitions, and in turn those of us already waiting forever have to wait even more.

I cannot believe that all you needed was a passport photo, and you still have not received your Approval yet. It makes me want to vomit. There is not a reason in this Earth that would convince me that they would need more than 10 minutes to add it to your file and send it on its way. I absolutely hate this agency with a passion. It makes me sick literally.

[Tim/Mav 305]

The Op was saying: Silly RFE's for minor and/or no mistakes on my own. Somehow, we went everywhere with this.

But, it never went off Topic in the post as it all related to RFE's. It was good reading for all of us and our experiences and the more we have to come.

The more advice you can get and take and recieve is going to make you more wiser. Not all advice is perfect and some is not good at all. You just have to look into what you think is best for your situation.