Reply to an official request
The deadline runs from delivery. Start with the date.
A request to supplement formal shortcomings sets a deadline that is binding, and missing it can end the case. We analyse the letter, assemble what it names and file the reply on time.
If you have a request, write with the date
Write in a messenger and give both the date printed on the letter and the date of delivery. These are two different dates, and the deadline runs from the second. Checking how much of it is left takes a moment and decides what can still be done.
How to read a request
A request is not a decision and does not mean the case is going badly. In it the office states what is missing or what needs explaining. Ignoring it, however, is a serious mistake, because the consequence can be your application being left without examination.
- Check the date of delivery, because the deadline runs from it.
- Write out every point the request covers separately.
- Work out which shortcomings need a document from a third party, since those take the longest.
- Do not reply partially without explanation; an incomplete reply is sometimes treated as no reply at all.
What we do in this matter
- We analyse the wording of the request and identify what it is really about.
- We establish the scope of the shortcomings and the order in which to close them.
- We prepare the submission with attachments and file it within the deadline.
- Once you grant a power of attorney, we handle further correspondence with the office.
A request and a refusal are different things
A request is a stage in the proceedings; a refusal ends them in the first instance. If what you have is a decision rather than a request, the right route is an appeal to the second-instance authority.
The content of this page is informational and is not legal advice in an individual case.
Questions about this
What happens if I do not reply within the deadline?
Your application can be left without examination, meaning the case ends without being considered on the merits. That is why we check the deadline first, before the content.
Can I send the documents myself and have you only review the letter?
Yes, we also do a stand-alone analysis of the request and prepare the reply. We agree the scope at the consultation, together with the price.
Should I send you a scan of the request straight away?
Not in the first message. The date and what the letter is about are enough. Documents are collected once the case is accepted, in a way agreed with the client.