The FY2014 RFE Thread

[venkat]

Thanks once again Viz. My attorney confirmed to me that my documents reached USCIS yesterday around 10am based on the USPS tracking number that he gave.

One final question and i won't bother you again. Did you receive the text/email on June 12th itself or on the 13th and if so at what time?

I haven't received the email/text yet and my online status still says "Initial Review" .

Got a text and email with status change. See below. I was told by USCIS that occasionally they have system glitches with the email/text service which is why I didn't get a notification when RFE was issued.

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On June 12, 2014, we received your response to our request for evidence. This case is being processed at our TEXAS SERVICE CENTER location. If you move while this case is pending, please use our Change of Address online tool to update your case with your new address or call our customer service center at 1-800-375-5283. We will notify you by mail when we make a decision or if we need something from you. You should expect to receive a written decision or written update within 60 days of the date we received your response unless fingerprint processing or an interview are standard parts of case processing and have not yet been completed, in which case you can use the processing time information on our website to estimate when this case will be done. If you move while this case is pending, please use our Change of Address online tool to update your case with your new address or call our customer service center at 1-800-375-5283.


Once a timely response to the request for evidence is received by USCIS, we review the evidence or information you submitted. If you submitted the requested evidence, we continue with the adjudication of your application or petition in light of the new evidence.

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[SONU77]

My status changed from RFE Response review to Initial Review with following e-mail text. I know others have also reported same thing but has anyone started to see requests for another round of finger printing?

""[I][I]Application Type: I485 , APPLICATION TO REGISTER PERMANENT RESIDENCE OR TO ADJUST STATUS


Your Case Status: Initial Review


On June 19, 2014, your address was changed relating to the I485, APPLICATION TO REGISTER PERMANENT RESIDENCE OR TO ADJUST STATUS that you filed. Please check our website at www.uscis.gov for further updates on your case. Please wait until the end of normal processing time before calling customer service at 1-800-375-5283 for live assistance.


During this step, USCIS initiates the background checks of the applicant/petitioner and identifies issues that may need to be addressed either during an interview or by asking the applicant/petitioner to submit additional information or documentation. USCIS reviews the applicant's/petitioner's criminal history, determines if there are national security concerns that need to be addressed, and reviews the application/petition for fraud indicators.

If you have filed an I-485, I-589, I-751, N-400, I-90, I-821, I-131 or I-765, you can expect to receive an appointment notice to appear at an Application Support Center to have your fingerprints and/or photographs taken. The timing of your appointment is determined by the number of applicants ahead of you that also need a biometric appointment. We try to schedule biometric appointments as quickly as possible and in most cases you will receive your appointment notice within 30 days of submitting your application. We will send your appointment notice approximately 14 days ahead of your scheduled appointment. It is important that you keep this appointment. If absolutely necessary, you can request that your appointment be rescheduled however, please be aware that rescheduling may delay the processing of your application. Please follow the instructions on your appointment notice if you need to reschedule. Occasionally, you may receive an appointment notice to appear at an Application Support Center to have your fingerprints taken when you have filed a form other than those listed above. In these situations, you may receive your appointment notice more than 30 days after submitting your application or petition.



If you have questions or concerns about your application or the case status results

listed above, or if you have not received a decision from USCIS within the current

processing time listed*, please contact USCIS Customer Service at (800) 375-5283.


*Current processing times can be found on the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov under Check Processing Times.""

[vizcard]

Thanks once again Viz. My attorney confirmed to me that my documents reached USCIS yesterday around 10am based on the USPS tracking number that he gave.

One final question and i won't bother you again. Did you receive the text/email on June 12th itself or on the 13th and if so at what time?

I haven't received the email/text yet and my online status still says "Initial Review" .

No bother at all. That's what this forum is for - to share info and experiences.

My attorney (Fragomen) sent me an email on 6/11 at 8pm ET that they had filed the response. I got the USCIS email on 6/12 at 6:45pm ET. I wouldn't worry about getting a confirmation text / email. They told me that they have these email/ text glitches. I would wait till Friday and give them a call to confirm. In any case, if the parcel service tracking confirms delivery, then you should be good.

[vizcard]

My status changed from RFE Response review to Initial Review with following e-mail text. I know others have also reported same thing but has anyone started to see requests for another round of finger printing?

""[I][I]Application Type: I485 , APPLICATION TO REGISTER PERMANENT RESIDENCE OR TO ADJUST STATUS


Your Case Status: Initial Review


On June 19, 2014, your address was changed relating to the I485, APPLICATION TO REGISTER PERMANENT RESIDENCE OR TO ADJUST STATUS that you filed. Please check our website at www.uscis.gov for further updates on your case. Please wait until the end of normal processing time before calling customer service at 1-800-375-5283 for live assistance.


During this step, USCIS initiates the background checks of the applicant/petitioner and identifies issues that may need to be addressed either during an interview or by asking the applicant/petitioner to submit additional information or documentation. USCIS reviews the applicant's/petitioner's criminal history, determines if there are national security concerns that need to be addressed, and reviews the application/petition for fraud indicators.

If you have filed an I-485, I-589, I-751, N-400, I-90, I-821, I-131 or I-765, you can expect to receive an appointment notice to appear at an Application Support Center to have your fingerprints and/or photographs taken. The timing of your appointment is determined by the number of applicants ahead of you that also need a biometric appointment. We try to schedule biometric appointments as quickly as possible and in most cases you will receive your appointment notice within 30 days of submitting your application. We will send your appointment notice approximately 14 days ahead of your scheduled appointment. It is important that you keep this appointment. If absolutely necessary, you can request that your appointment be rescheduled however, please be aware that rescheduling may delay the processing of your application. Please follow the instructions on your appointment notice if you need to reschedule. Occasionally, you may receive an appointment notice to appear at an Application Support Center to have your fingerprints taken when you have filed a form other than those listed above. In these situations, you may receive your appointment notice more than 30 days after submitting your application or petition.



If you have questions or concerns about your application or the case status results

listed above, or if you have not received a decision from USCIS within the current

processing time listed*, please contact USCIS Customer Service at (800) 375-5283.


*Current processing times can be found on the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov under Check Processing Times.""

That is a canned statement for the "Initial Review" status. This just confirms that you changed your address. So assuming you did in fact change your address, you should be good to go.

[SONU77]

Viz,

Thanks for the quick response. I didn't change any address. Only thing that I can think of is that along with the RFE response; submitted a G-28 form; since the attorney filing the RFE response was different from the one who filed the I-485 application in January 2012.

[vizcard]

Viz,

Thanks for the quick response. I didn't change any address. Only thing that I can think of is that along with the RFE response; submitted a G-28 form; since the attorney filing the RFE response was different from the one who filed the I-485 application in January 2012.

That could very well be it.

[dreamer]

Hi Harapatta,

I am in the similar situation to yours, I received email & Txt notification on June 5th saying RFE has been sent but U have received it till date. My lawyer emailed me Jun 17th that they have recieved the RFE for medicals. My PD is 29 Sep 2008 EB2I with NSC.

I have updated address mid last year around Aug 2013 using online AR-11 with pending applications option and have got the confirmation of address change in mail back then and have seen status update about the same on USCIS Case status online. I have to call and check with USCIS as they asked me to wait for 2 weeks since I filed the application.

geevikram,

I received notification in email+text on June 4th saying RFE has been sent on June 4th. PD 15AUg2008 EB2I.NSC
I still have not received it in my mail as of June 18th.
But MY attorney received it on June 11th.

I was also very concerned. I called L2 officer and verified my address is correct since I moved but had filed AR-11 in NOv 2013. L2 said they have recieved new address.
I also contacted my current USPS office and asked what can be done to ensure I recieve mail I spoke to supervisor there who was helping people in line. But he did like me questioning such things and tols that they will deliver what they get and they dont keep anything at USPS incase it mislabelled or something. (I had previously bad experiece with USPS in 2012 when they lost my EAD card).
I also check with my old city USPS but of no use too.




My attorney sent my RFE response on June 16th. BUt I have not received any notification if they received it like what Viz said?

[harapatta2012]

Interesting.
I have already sent my RFE response even though I did not receive it directly but only my lawyer received it.
I dont think you have to wait to receive this if your lawyer already received it.

Yes calling USCIS is not an issue to confirm address.

Hi Harapatta,

I am in the similar situation to yours, I received email & Txt notification on June 5th saying RFE has been sent but U have received it till date. My lawyer emailed me Jun 17th that they have recieved the RFE for medicals. My PD is 29 Sep 2008 EB2I with NSC.

I have updated address mid last year around Aug 2013 using online AR-11 with pending applications option and have got the confirmation of address change in mail back then and have seen status update about the same on USCIS Case status online. I have to call and check with USCIS as they asked me to wait for 2 weeks since I filed the application.

[RoosterC]

I sent in the RFE response on Monday and USCIS status changed from "RFE sent" to "RFE Response review" on Tuesday. Approximately how long does it take for the USCIS to review the RFE response. Will there be a status change again if the USCIS has reviewed the response and is satisfied?

[dreamer]

I have got Medical RFE, got an appointment with civil surgeon in my area and will be sending them out soon to my lawyer. I will call USCIS to confirm address soon so that there will be no issues in the future. If you don't mind please let me know if you have any updates and I'll do the same.

Interesting.
I have already sent my RFE response even though I did not receive it directly but only my lawyer received it.
I dont think you have to wait to receive this if your lawyer already received it.

Yes calling USCIS is not an issue to confirm address.

[qbloguser]

Got RFE today for myself and dependent- case status updated but don't know what is it about. They are looking at my file..whoo!!

[vizcard]

I sent in the RFE response on Monday and USCIS status changed from "RFE sent" to "RFE Response review" on Tuesday. Approximately how long does it take for the USCIS to review the RFE response. Will there be a status change again if the USCIS has reviewed the response and is satisfied?

That status is "Decision". Essentially there are 3 ways it could go now. They could ask for more info (another RFE), Approve or send a Notice to Deny. 99.9% likelihood will be Approval.

[Sirisha]

I got RFE for employment letter along with medical report

his policy is reflected in Chapter 23.5(f)(4) of the Adjudicator's Field Manual (AFM).
Specifically, review of your application shows that:
- You are an Employment-Based Principal Applicant
- An immigrant visa is not immediately available, and
- A valid job offer may be required for your adjustment.

First, please submit proof of your continuous employment authorization in the U.S. from the date you
filed your Form 1-485 to the present. Such evidence may include copies of:
- Employment Authorization Documents (EADs, Forms 1-688 or 1-766) granted to you by USCIS
- Form 1-797 approval notices, showing you were granted status in an employment-authorized
nonimmigrant classification, or
- Copies of Form 1-94 Arrival/Departure Records showing you were admitted to the U.S. in an
employment-authorized nonimmigrant status.

Second, you must submit a currently dated letter from your petitioning (Form 1-140) employer, verifying
that their job offer to you continues to exist. If their job offer no longer exists or you no longer intend to
work for the original 1-140 employer, you may be eligible to adjust pursuant to visa portability under
section 204(j) of the Immigration and Nationality Act if:
- Your Form 1-485 application has been pending for 180 days or more, AND
- Your new intended permanent employment is in the same or similar occupational classification
as the original Form 1-140 job.

Note that the current job offer letter from your original or new employer must state the title and duties
of the offered position, the minimum educational or training requirements, the date you began (or will
begin) employment and the offered salary or wage. This letter should be on company letterhead and
signed, in the original, by a person authorized by the organization to make or confirm an offer of
permanent employment.

Failure to submit a response is grounds for the denial of your application. A response is required
regardless of whether an immigrant visa is currently available to you. Your case must remain pending
until a visa becomes available to you as per the U.S. Department of State's monthly Visa Bulletin,
available online at Welcome to Travel.State.Gov under 'Visas'. Even though you have 87 days to respond to this
Request for Evidence, the sooner you respond the sooner USCIS may be able to finalize your case if and
when a visa becomes immediately available to you.

I changed company and filed AC 21, so my attorney is sending these:
1) Employment letter
2)My EAD Cards and I797
3) my H1 797
4)Medical forms

[venkat]

You were spot on Viz. I got the 'RFE Response Received' status email at 7pm ET today. But I didn't get the text but that's ok

No bother at all. That's what this forum is for - to share info and experiences.

My attorney (Fragomen) sent me an email on 6/11 at 8pm ET that they had filed the response. I got the USCIS email on 6/12 at 6:45pm ET. I wouldn't worry about getting a confirmation text / email. They told me that they have these email/ text glitches. I would wait till Friday and give them a call to confirm. In any case, if the parcel service tracking confirms delivery, then you should be good.

[venkat]

Its boilerplate RFE that everyone is receiving nowadays. I'm surprised when people say don't know what it is about

[RMS_V13]

Lawyers sent the RFE response yesterday. Today, status changed to RFE Response Review...On pins and needles. How long would it take now? Does this mean someone is actually physically reviewing our response or is this a standard update?

VIZCARD, Since your's was sent a week ago, did you receive your decision or is it still Review status?

That status is "Decision". Essentially there are 3 ways it could go now. They could ask for more info (another RFE), Approve or send a Notice to Deny. 99.9% likelihood will be Approval.

[suninphx]

Lawyers sent the RFE response yesterday. Today, status changed to RFE Response Review...On pins and needles. How long would it take now? Does this mean someone is actually physically reviewing our response or is this a standard update?

VIZCARD, Since your's was sent a week ago, did you receive your decision or is it still Review status?

RMZ- to get decision date needs to be current. just few more weeks

[RMS_V13]

RMZ- to get decision date needs to be current. just few more weeks

So, once dates become current is it first come first served or priority date based or just random

[vizcard]

Lawyers sent the RFE response yesterday. Today, status changed to RFE Response Review...On pins and needles. How long would it take now? Does this mean someone is actually physically reviewing our response or is this a standard update?

VIZCARD, Since your's was sent a week ago, did you receive your decision or is it still Review status?

RMZ- to get decision date needs to be current. just few more weeks

So, once dates become current is it first come first served or priority date based or just random

Someone is or will be looking at it soon. As sun mentions, it cannot be "approved" until you are current. The boilerplate timeline is 60 days from RFE response receipt. Once dates become current its pretty random for the dates that are current in that window. You (and me for that matter) could get approved on July 1 or July 31 or even later (as long as dates are current) :P

Don't worry about it. Its the end of the long road for us.

[helpful_leo]

Our situation is this - I got the expected RFE but wife did not. Our lawyer got RFEs for both of us. Seems wife's RFE sent to our address is lost - now 3 days plus since I got it, and she still doesn't have it (same address, sent at same date).

The lawyer is telling us to just send them the new medicals and they will get the EVL and post all of them.

On this and other forums, it seems it is mostly the applicants that are responding to RFEs.
Is there any negative with the lawyer responding to the RFEs?

Our past experience with them this past 6 years, they have been quick and thorough.

Thanks!

[ksur23]

Online status changed to RFE issued on 6th and my attorney received RFE notice for me and spouse today. Today morning though we opened SR with USCIS as per the suggestion of the officer himself when I mentioned notices have not been received (I knew only late in the afternoon from the lawyer about receipt).

Should I call USCIS and cancel the SR? Will there be issues because of acting either way?

Thanks to all who respond.

[vizcard]

Our situation is this - I got the expected RFE but wife did not. Our lawyer got RFEs for both of us. Seems wife's RFE sent to our address is lost - now 3 days plus since I got it, and she still doesn't have it (same address, sent at same date).

The lawyer is telling us to just send them the new medicals and they will get the EVL and post all of them.

On this and other forums, it seems it is mostly the applicants that are responding to RFEs.
Is there any negative with the lawyer responding to the RFEs?

Our past experience with them this past 6 years, they have been quick and thorough.

Thanks!

I got it done thru my lawyers (fragomen). No issues at all. The general rap is that lawyers are slower but it's up to the individual to decide.

[vizcard]

Online status changed to RFE issued on 6th and my attorney received RFE notice for me and spouse today. Today morning though we opened SR with USCIS as per the suggestion of the officer himself when I mentioned notices have not been received (I knew only late in the afternoon from the lawyer about receipt).

Should I call USCIS and cancel the SR? Will there be issues because of acting either way?

Thanks to all who respond.

It won't affect the case but I would do it just cause it's polite. It's like canceling a reservation at a restaurant - u don't have to but it's nicer if you do. Just my opinion.

[ksur23]

It won't affect the case but I would do it just cause it's polite. It's like canceling a reservation at a restaurant - u don't have to but it's nicer if you do. Just my opinion.

Thanks. I really want to call and cancel as, like you implied, it's the decent thing to do. But I don't want another SR to be opened to cancel an existing SR and have things cascade! Anyway, I think I will call and gauge....

[harapatta2012]

I received update (email + text) today June 20th, 7 AM, RFE under review. Ditto for my wife.
Earlier my lawyer has sent application Monday , June 16th.

I have got Medical RFE, got an appointment with civil surgeon in my area and will be sending them out soon to my lawyer. I will call USCIS to confirm address soon so that there will be no issues in the future. If you don't mind please let me know if you have any updates and I'll do the same.