Family-based
Form I-864
Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the INA
A legally enforceable contract where the sponsor agrees to financially support the immigrant. Required for most family-based and some employment-based green card applications.
- Filing fee
- No fee
- Biometrics
- No fee
- Typical processing
- –
Who can file
- U.S. citizen or LPR sponsors of family-based immigrants
- Sponsors must have income at 125% of federal poverty guidelines
- Joint sponsors allowed if primary sponsor income is insufficient
Send with it
- Most recent federal tax return with W-2s
- Proof of U.S. citizenship or LPR status
- Employment verification letter
- Bank statements (if needed to show assets)
- Evidence of domicile in the United States
Worth knowing
- The sponsor obligation lasts until the immigrant becomes a citizen, earns 40 work quarters, or leaves the U.S. permanently
- Joint sponsors must independently meet income requirements
- Assets can supplement income at a 3:1 ratio (5:1 for non-citizen sponsors)
- This is a legally binding contract - take it seriously
Common mistakes
- Not meeting the 125% poverty guideline threshold
- Using an outdated poverty guideline chart
- Not including all required tax documents
- Forgetting to sign the form
Questions
- How much does Form I-864 cost?
- USCIS charges no filing fee for Form I-864.
Related forms
Fees are as published by USCIS. Confirm on USCIS's fee schedule (G-1055) before you pay - a wrong fee gets a filing rejected. General information, not legal advice.