--- title: RFE Meaning: Request for Evidence and How to Respond | Lando url: https://trylando.com/rfe-request-for-evidence description: RFE meaning: what a USCIS Request for Evidence is, the response deadline, and how to respond. 19.7% of O decisions in FY2025 involved one, and most ended. --- # RFE Meaning: Request for Evidence and How to Respond RFE meaning: what a USCIS Request for Evidence is, the response deadline, and how to respond. 19.7% of O decisions in FY2025 involved one, and most ended in approval. Page reviewed October 8, 2026. **Quick answer.** An RFE is a Request for Evidence: a notice from USCIS saying the petition as filed does not yet establish eligibility, and asking for more documents. It is not a denial. For the O classification, 19.7% of decisions in fiscal year 2025 involved an RFE, and 70.9% of those decisions were approvals. USCIS sets the response deadline in the notice, up to 12 weeks, and the response must be sent as one complete package. of O decisions involved an RFE, FY202519.7%of O decisions involved an RFE, FY2025 of those RFE decisions were approvals70.9%of those RFE decisions were approvals of O decisions involved an RFE, Oct 2025 to Jun 202624.2%of O decisions involved an RFE, Oct 2025 to Jun 2026 ## What an RFE is USCIS issues a Request for Evidence when it cannot decide a petition on the record it received. The notice lists what is missing or unclear, for example evidence for a criterion, details of the itinerary, or the advisory opinion. It gives you a chance to fix the record before a decision. ## An RFE is not a denial - Among O decisions in fiscal year 2025, 70.9% of those that involved an RFE ended in approval, and 66.8% from October 2025 to June 2026. - Decisions that involved an RFE were 19.7% of all O decisions in fiscal year 2025 and 24.2% from October 2025 to June 2026. - These are USCIS figures for all O petitions together, not a prediction for any one case. - [O-1 visa approval rate, with the full data](https://trylando.com/o1-visa-approval-rate) ## The response deadline The notice states the due date. USCIS sets it, up to 12 weeks from the date of the notice, and it generally does not extend it. Plan the response the day the notice arrives. ## How to respond - Read the notice and list every item USCIS asks for. - Answer each item with evidence, and with a short explanation that ties the evidence to the criterion. - Send the complete response together, with the original RFE notice on top. USCIS treats a partial response as a request for a decision on the existing record. - Keep a copy of everything you send and the proof of delivery. ## What an RFE means for an O-1 petition O-1 RFEs often ask for stronger evidence of a criterion, more detail on the itinerary or the contracts, or a clearer advisory opinion. Lando includes the RFE response in its fee, prepared with the attorneys on the case. - [O-1 visa cost](https://trylando.com/o1-visa-cost) - [O-1 visa glossary](https://trylando.com/o1-visa-glossary) ## Common questions ### What does RFE mean? RFE stands for Request for Evidence. It is a notice from USCIS saying the petition as filed does not yet establish eligibility and asking for more documents. It is not a denial. ### Is an RFE a bad sign? Not by itself. Among O decisions in fiscal year 2025 that involved an RFE, 70.9% ended in approval. USCIS figures cover all O petitions, not any one case. ### How long do I have to respond to an RFE? The notice states the due date. USCIS sets it, up to 12 weeks from the notice, and it generally does not extend it. ### Can I send part of the evidence now and the rest later? No. Respond with everything at once. USCIS treats a partial response as a request for a decision on the existing record. ### Does premium processing change an RFE? Premium processing speeds USCIS's action on the petition. If USCIS issues an RFE, the response is still due by the deadline in the notice, and USCIS then acts on the response within its premium timeframe. ### Does Lando handle RFE responses? Yes. Responding to an RFE is included in Lando's flat fee, prepared in coordination with licensed U.S. immigration attorneys. Lando is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. ## Sources - [USCIS Immigration and Citizenship Data (I-129 quarterly workbooks)](https://www.uscis.gov/tools/reports-and-studies/immigration-and-citizenship-data) - [8 CFR 103.2(b)(8) on eCFR](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-8/section-103.2) Checked October 2026. Lando is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Petitions are prepared in coordination with licensed U.S. immigration attorneys. --- Lando is not a law firm. Petitions are prepared in coordination with licensed U.S. immigration attorneys. Source: https://trylando.com/rfe-request-for-evidence