Needs action

Request for Initial Evidence Was Sent

USCIS sent you a request for initial evidence for your case.

What it means

USCIS needs documents it did not receive with your filing. The notice lists exactly what is missing and gives a deadline -- usually a fixed number of days from the date on the notice, not from the day you read it.

What happens next

Send everything requested before the deadline. USCIS decides on what it has, so a late or partial response can mean a denial.

Is this the status on your case?

Ask me. I'll walk you through what it means for you, with data from the cases I follow.

My status says "Request for Initial Evidence Was Sent". What does it mean for my case? What usually happens after "Request for Initial Evidence Was Sent", and how long does it take? My case says "Request for Initial Evidence Was Sent". What do I need to do now?

Official USCIS wording

On September 9, 2026, we sent a request for initial evidence for your Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, Receipt Number XXXXXXXXXXXXX. The request for evidence explains what we need from you. We will not take action on your case until we receive the evidence or the deadline to submit it expires. Please follow the instructions in the request for evidence. If you do not receive your request for evidence by September 24, 2026, please go to www.uscis.gov/e-request to request a copy of the notice. If you move, go to www.uscis.gov/addresschange to give us your new mailing address.

The numbers

1,596 cases I track in this state

I-485 most common form

Which forms show this

Form	Cases
I-485	1,107
I-130	355
I-765	104