In an alarming shift in visa policy, the Trump administration has empowered USCIS to outright reject visa petitions if the required ‘initial evidence’ wasn’t submitted or if the petition failed to establish eligibility for the visa sought. The new policy will apply to all applications and requests received by USCIS from September 11 onwards. Visa applicants are less likely to get a second chance to submit more documentary evidence or provide explanations that would substanti