Officers of Homeland Security Investigations, the principal investigative arm of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), arrest a previously deported alien who was using another identity to fraudulently obtain an immigration benefit. File photo courtesy: X/@USCISThe US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has restored officers’ discretion to deny immigration benefit requests if applicants submit incomplete applications or fail to provide the required documents to establish eligibility. The earlier policy gave applicants a 12-week period to respond to requests for further evidence made by immigration officers on applications for change or extension of immigration status, green cards, visa, or naturalisation. Under the new guidance, officers may deny a benefit request for the lack of required initial evidence; deny requests that fail to establish eligibility at filing; or issue an RFE if they determine it is appropriate. The USCIS specifically noted concerns that some applicants used incomplete filings to obtain ancillary immigration benefits, including employment authorisation, while waiting for adjudication of the underlying case.