USCIS issues new guidance on evidence for selected forms
Updated guidance explains how officers should evaluate supporting documents and what applicants can do when evidence is missing.
- Supporting documents should directly address the eligibility requirement.
- A missing document does not always mean automatic denial, but an explanation is expected.
- Keep copies of everything submitted through the online system.
USCIS has updated its guidance on how adjudicators should review evidence submitted with selected applications. The notice emphasises that documents should be relevant, credible and sufficient to establish the facts they are meant to prove.
Where a required document is unavailable, applicants should explain why and provide secondary evidence where possible. A short cover letter that identifies each document and the requirement it supports can make a large file easier to review.
The guidance does not replace the instructions for a specific form. Always check the current edition of the form and any country-specific filing instructions before submitting.