Washington, DC: The United States has tightened its immigration benefit processing rules, allowing US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officers to deny incomplete or insufficiently documented applications for visas, green cards and other immigration benefits without first seeking additional evidence. According to a USCIS press release, applicants must establish their eligibility for an immigration benefit at the time of filing. According to USCIS, the earlier policy allowed incomplete or substantially deficient applications to delay the processing of other pending cases. The agency said it has restored officers' discretion to deny immigration benefit requests without first issuing an RFE or NOID in appropriate cases. The new policy took effect immediately and applies to immigration benefit requests pending or filed on or after August 5, 2026, unless otherwise provided under existing regulations or USCIS policy.