diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/preset_submission.yml b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/preset_submission.yml
index bb41d5fe18..a5c3d02e06 100644
--- a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/preset_submission.yml
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/preset_submission.yml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 name: Preset Submission
 description: Submit your preset to the Spec Kit preset catalog
 title: "[Preset]: Add "
-labels: ["enhancement", "needs-triage"]
+labels: ["triage-must-have"]
 body:
   - type: markdown
     attributes:
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ body:
         - Create a GitHub release with a version tag (e.g., v1.0.0)
         - Test installation from the release archive: `specify preset add --from <download-url>`
 
-        **After submitting:** a maintainer applies the `preset-submission` label during issue triage, which starts the automated catalog validation. You don't need to apply any label or ask for one.
+        **After submitting:** GitHub automatically applies the `triage-must-have` intake verdict. A maintainer separately applies the `preset-submission` label during issue triage, which starts the automated catalog validation. You don't need to apply any label or ask for one.
 
   - type: input
     id: preset-id
diff --git a/presets/PUBLISHING.md b/presets/PUBLISHING.md
index ece79bfa0c..061e2eaf1a 100644
--- a/presets/PUBLISHING.md
+++ b/presets/PUBLISHING.md
@@ -337,13 +337,15 @@ git push origin add-your-preset
 
 ## Verification Process
 
-> **How submissions get picked up:** the automated catalog-validation workflow only runs
-> once the `preset-submission` label is on the issue. On this public repository, contributors
-> cannot apply that label themselves — a maintainer applies it during issue triage. Until then
-> the issue simply waits in triage; there is no action required from you, and there is no need to
-> re-request the label in a comment.
+### What Happens After You Submit
 
-After submission, maintainers will review:
+1. GitHub applies the `triage-must-have` verdict when the issue is opened through the Preset Submission form. This intake automation is specific to preset submissions and does not change the manual triage rubric for other issues.
+2. A maintainer reviews the issue during issue triage and applies the separate `preset-submission` label, which starts the automated catalog validation. On this public repository, contributors cannot apply that label themselves, so there is nothing to label or re-request — the issue simply waits in triage.
+3. The automated workflow validates the submission and, when validation passes, updates `presets/catalog.community.json` and `docs/community/presets.md` in a draft pull request
+4. A maintainer reviews the generated pull request and merges it when approved
+5. Your preset becomes discoverable via `specify preset search`
+
+### What Maintainers Check
 
 1. **Manifest validation** — valid `preset.yml`, all files exist
 2. **Template quality** — templates are useful and well-structured
diff --git a/tests/test_github_workflows.py b/tests/test_github_workflows.py
index ac45915c31..d30623abd3 100644
--- a/tests/test_github_workflows.py
+++ b/tests/test_github_workflows.py
@@ -504,12 +504,24 @@ def test_extension_submission_form_applies_only_automatic_intake_verdict():
     assert extension_form["labels"] == ["triage-must-have"]
     assert "extension-submission" not in extension_form["labels"]
 
+
+def test_preset_submission_form_applies_only_automatic_intake_verdict():
+    forms_dir = REPO_ROOT / ".github" / "ISSUE_TEMPLATE"
+    preset_form = yaml.safe_load(
+        (forms_dir / "preset_submission.yml").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+    )
+
+    assert preset_form["labels"] == ["triage-must-have"]
+    assert "preset-submission" not in preset_form["labels"]
+
+
+def test_other_issue_forms_do_not_apply_automatic_intake_verdict():
+    forms_dir = REPO_ROOT / ".github" / "ISSUE_TEMPLATE"
     for form_name in (
         "agent_request.yml",
         "bug_report.yml",
         "bundle_submission.yml",
         "feature_request.yml",
-        "preset_submission.yml",
     ):
         form = yaml.safe_load((forms_dir / form_name).read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
         assert "triage-must-have" not in form["labels"]