Shihab Burke LLC Immigration Lawyers helps couples respond to a Request for Evidence (RFE) in a marriage green card case. Our Columbus marriage green card RFE lawyers review what USCIS asked for, gather the right evidence, and prepare one complete response before the deadline. From our offices in Columbus and Dublin, Ohio, we serve couples in the Columbus area, throughout Ohio, and across the United States, including spouses who live abroad.
Highlights
- A Request for Evidence (RFE) is a notice from USCIS asking for more documents before it decides a case.
- An RFE does not mean the case will be denied. A complete, well-organized response can lead to approval.
- USCIS gives 30 days and up to 12 weeks to answer an RFE. The notice lists the deadline. The deadline cannot be extended.
- All requested evidence should be sent together in one response. USCIS may decide the case based on whatever it receives.
- Since August 5, 2026, USCIS may deny some cases without sending an RFE first, so a complete filing matters more than ever.
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What Does an RFE Mean in a Marriage Green Card Case?
A Request for Evidence (RFE) is a written notice from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) asking for more documents or information before USCIS decides a case. In a marriage green card case, an RFE can be issued on the spouse petition (Form I-130), the green card application (Form I-485), or both.
The RFE lists what USCIS needs and gives a deadline. An RFE is common and does not mean the case will be denied. It is a chance to fill the gaps that USCIS sees in the file.
Our Approach
Before we answer an RFE, we review your entire file, including, for example, the forms already filed and the evidence USCIS already has, so your response is complete and your case can move forward.
“…even if we had received an rfe, yet they held our hands and helped us through and through to have us approved again.”
— Google review
Talk with a Columbus marriage green card RFE lawyer: 866-665-0001.
What Are the Most Common Marriage Green Card RFEs?
Most marriage green card RFEs ask for one or more of the following:
- More proof of a real marriage. USCIS may ask for evidence that the couple shares a life, such as a joint lease or mortgage, joint bank accounts, joint tax returns, insurance, and photos over time.
- Affidavit of Support (Form I-864) documents. USCIS may ask for the sponsor’s tax returns, proof of current income, or a joint sponsor when the income is too low.
- Medical exam (Form I-693). USCIS may ask for a new or corrected medical exam form.
- Civil documents. USCIS may ask for a birth certificate, a marriage certificate, or a certified translation.
- Proof that earlier marriages ended. USCIS may ask for a divorce decree, annulment, or death certificate for each earlier marriage of either spouse.
- Proof of lawful entry or status. USCIS may ask for the I-94 record or passport pages that show how the spouse entered the United States.
What Is a Request for Initial Evidence?
A Request for Initial Evidence is a notice asking for a document that was required when the case was filed, such as a missing form, a missing signature, or a required supporting document. A Request for Evidence (RFE) asks for more proof after USCIS has started reviewing the case.
Since August 5, 2026, USCIS may deny a case for missing initial evidence instead of sending a request. For this reason, a complete filing is the best protection against delay and denial.
What Does My USCIS Case Status Mean?
USCIS’s online case status uses short standard messages. These are the messages most often seen around an RFE:
| Case status message | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Request for Initial Evidence Was Sent | USCIS mailed a notice asking for a document that was required when the case was filed. | Read the notice and respond by the deadline. |
| Request for Additional Evidence Was Sent | USCIS mailed a Request for Evidence (RFE) asking for more documents or information. | Watch for the notice and respond by the deadline. |
| Response To USCIS’ Request For Evidence Was Received | USCIS received the response and will continue reviewing the case. | Wait for the next notice. Usually no action is needed. |
| Cancellation Notice for Request for Additional Evidence | USCIS withdrew an earlier Request for Evidence. A notice usually explains why. | Read the notice. Ask a lawyer if the reason is not clear. |
The exact wording of a status message can change. The written notice from USCIS controls.
How Long Do We Have to Respond to an RFE?
The deadline is printed on the RFE. USCIS may give up to 12 weeks to respond, and some RFEs give less time. USCIS cannot extend this deadline.
If USCIS does not receive a response by the deadline, it can deny the case or treat it as abandoned. A couple should contact a lawyer as soon as the RFE arrives, so there is time to gather evidence.
How Should a Couple Respond to a Marriage Green Card RFE?
A strong RFE response answers every request, in order, with clear and organized evidence. These steps help:
- Read the entire RFE. List every item USCIS asks for.
- Mark the deadline and plan to send the response well before it.
- Gather documents for each item. Where a document does not exist, explain why and provide other evidence.
- Add short written explanations where facts may look unclear, such as a different address or a gap in time living together.
- Include sworn letters from family and friends who know the couple.
- Put the RFE notice on top, organize the evidence in the same order as the RFE, and send everything in one package.
USCIS may treat any response, even a partial one, as a request to decide the case on the evidence it has. For that reason, the couple should send all requested evidence together, not in pieces.
What Happens After an RFE Response, and How Long Does It Take?
After USCIS receives the response, it may approve the case, schedule an interview, send a Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID), or deny the case. A NOID is more serious than an RFE. Learn more on our marriage green card NOID page. If the case is denied, learn more on our denied green card page.
USCIS does not set a fixed time to decide a case after an RFE response. A decision often takes several weeks to several months, depending on the form and the office.
RFEs in I-751 Removal of Conditions Cases
USCIS also sends RFEs in Form I-751 cases, the petition to remove conditions on a two-year green card. These RFEs usually ask for more proof that the couple shared a life during the conditional period, such as recent joint tax returns, a lease or mortgage, and joint bank statements. The same deadline rules apply. Learn more on our I-751 removal of conditions page.
How Our Columbus Marriage Green Card RFE Lawyers Help
A complete response depends on a complete review. Before we answer an RFE, we review the entire file, not only the items USCIS listed. This includes, for example, the forms already filed, the evidence USCIS already has, the interview notes if there was an interview, and any facts that could raise new questions. Because USCIS may decide the case on whatever it receives, we aim to send one clear, complete response. This approach does not guarantee approval, but it helps avoid preventable problems and helps your case move forward.
We:
- Explain what the RFE asks for and why
- Make a checklist of every item and track the deadline
- Help you gather the right documents and sworn letters
- Prepare written explanations and legal arguments where needed
- Prepare a cover letter that explains how each document answers USCIS’s request
- Organize and send one complete response package
Every family case is different. At the consultation, we review your situation, explain what our representation will cover, and quote a fee. Most cases are handled for a flat fee.
Frequently Asked Questions About Marriage Green Card RFEs
Does an RFE mean my marriage green card will be denied?
No. An RFE means USCIS needs more evidence before it decides the case. Many marriage green card cases are approved after a complete RFE response.
Can I ask USCIS for more time to answer an RFE?
USCIS cannot extend an RFE deadline. The response should be prepared right away and sent before the date printed on the notice.
Can we send part of the RFE response now and the rest later?
This is not recommended. USCIS may treat any response as a request to decide the case on the evidence it has. All requested evidence should be sent together.
What if a document USCIS asked for does not exist?
If a requested document does not exist, the response should explain why and provide other evidence. For civil documents, the U.S. Department of State’s reciprocity schedule shows which documents are available in each country.
Should we answer an RFE without a lawyer?
A couple may answer an RFE on their own. An RFE is often the last chance to add evidence before USCIS decides the case, so many couples ask a lawyer to review the response before it is sent.
+1 (866) 665-0001Schedule Consultation
Recent Changes Affecting RFEs
These recent changes affect RFEs in marriage green card cases. We update this section whenever possible.
- Denials without an RFE. Since August 5, 2026, USCIS may deny a case without first sending a Request for Evidence or a Notice of Intent to Deny when required initial evidence is missing or the filing does not show eligibility.
- Partial responses. Under the same policy, USCIS may treat any response to an RFE, including a partial response, as a request to decide the case on the existing record.
- No extra time for mail abroad. USCIS no longer adds the extra 14 days it used to give for notices mailed to addresses outside the United States.
Related Videos and Articles
- Received a Request for Evidence or NOID? What Changed in 2026 and How to Respond (article)
- Request for Evidence (RFE) Best Practices (article)
- Adjustment of Status RFE: 5 Critical Trends for 2026 and How to Prepare (article)
- Common I-485 Request For Evidence (video)
- USCIS RFEs: Originals vs. Photocopies (video)
Talk With a Columbus Marriage Green Card RFE Lawyer
Our Columbus office is at 4449 Easton Way #200, Columbus, OH 43219. Our Dublin, Ohio office is at 565 Metro Pl S #100, Dublin, OH 43017. Both offices are open by appointment only, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Contact our Columbus or Dublin, Ohio office, or call 866-665-0001, to schedule a consultation in person, by phone, or by video conference.
