How to prepare a response to an RFE covering multiple areas, such as costs, academic evaluation, and national impact?

An RFE (Request for Evidence) in an EB-2 NIW case is a request for additional documentation issued by USCIS when some aspect of the petition was not sufficiently clear. The strongest response addresses each area raised separately, in an organized and objective way, showing that the petition presents consistent evidence.

One key point to keep in mind: the EB-2 NIW is evaluated based on the merit and national importance of your work, not on how much you invested or spent. When an RFE touches on costs, the goal is to document and explain expenses that already appeared in the case, never to demonstrate a minimum volume of investment.

• Costs: provide supporting documentation and a clear explanation of what each expense covered, without treating the amount spent as a visa criterion.
• Academic evaluation: include the credential analysis and educational documents that demonstrate the equivalency of your qualifications.
• National impact: gather qualitative evidence, such as publications, expert letters, and outcomes, that connects your work to benefits for the United States.

Organize each section with a table of contents and a cover letter directing the officer to each document. Since every case is evaluated individually, it is worth reviewing the updated requirements on the USCIS website and considering the support of a specialist before filing your response.

About the author

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Meet the author

As a journalist and lead editor at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps ensure that immigration topics are covered in a clear, trustworthy, and easy-to-understand way. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.