U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a policy update clarifying that applicants are expected to establish eligibility for an immigration benefit and submit all required initial evidence at the time they file their application. Under the updated guidance, USCIS officers may deny a benefit request without first issuing a Request for Evidence (RFE) or Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID) if the applicant fails to demonstrate eligibility or does not include the required supporting documentation. According to USCIS, the change reinforces existing regulations, promotes the integrity of the immigration system, and discourages the filing of frivolous or incomplete applications. The agency stated that the new policy reverses a Biden-era approach that generally encouraged officers to issue RFEs or NOIDs before denying incomplete filings. USCIS argues that the previous policy allowed applicants to submit "placeholder" applications to obtain temporary immigration benefits, such as employment authorization, while their cases remained pending, which contributed to processing delays for other applicants. The updated policy restores officers' discretion to deny insufficient applications outright and took effect immediately on August 5, 2026, applying to pending cases and all benefit requests filed on or after that date unless otherwise specified by law or USCIS policy.