Affidavit of Support (Form I-864) — family sponsor guide

Form I-864 (Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the INA) is one of the most serious documents in family immigration. It’s a legally binding contract the petitioner of a family petition signs promising to financially support the immigrant so they don’t become a “public charge.”

Which edition USCIS accepts (as of September 24, 2026)

The USCIS Form I-864 page (read September 24, 2026; last updated 09/04/2026) lists the edition date 08/24/26. Its alert says USCIS published this edition on August 31, 2026 with a 30-day grace period for the previous 10/17/24 edition, and then:

“Beginning Oct. 1, 2026, we will only accept the 08/24/26 edition of Form I-864. USCIS will not process any 10/17/24 edition of Form I-864 postmarked or electronically submitted on or after Oct. 1, 2026.”

The same alert says USCIS “does not reject Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, if it is filed with a previous edition of Form I-864,” and that if an edition other than 08/24/26 is submitted on or after October 1, 2026, “USCIS will follow 8 CFR 103.2(b)(8) regarding the applicant’s failure to submit the required initial evidence.” The edition date is printed at the bottom of each page of the form and its instructions, and USCIS says all pages must come from the same edition. For cases where the National Visa Center mailed the sponsor the form, the USCIS page points to the instructions the National Visa Center provided.

The credit-report release in the 08/24/26 edition

USCIS: “The 08/24/26 edition of Form I-864 includes a privacy release that authorizes USCIS to request information from one or more consumer reporting agencies.” In the form’s own wording, the sponsor authorizes USCIS and the Department of State to request, and any consumer reporting agency to provide, information “including credit reports and scores, in connection with the sufficiency determination of my Form I-864,” and authorizes disclosure of that information to the sponsored immigrant for responding to derogatory information under 8 C.F.R. 103.2(b)(16). The authorization lasts until the earliest of three events: the sponsored visa, admission or adjustment applications are approved; they are refused and the one-year period to overcome the refusal under 22 CFR 42.81(e) has lapsed; or a properly submitted request to withdraw the Form I-864 takes effect.

Credit or security freezes. USCIS says that if a sponsor has a credit or security freeze on their consumer or credit report file, USCIS “may not be able to access the information necessary to assess the sufficiency of Form I-864,” and it asks sponsors to respond promptly to any request to release the freeze to avoid delays.

Why does I-864 exist?

If you (citizen or permanent resident) are petitioning for an immigrant family member, the US government wants to ensure that immigrant won’t depend on public welfare programs (SNAP, Medicaid, SSI) once in the US.

I-864 obligates the sponsor to:

  1. Support the immigrant financially if necessary
  2. Pay reimbursement to government if immigrant uses means-tested programs
  3. These commitments have no fixed term. There is no 10-year expiry: under 8 U.S.C. § 1183a(a)(2)-(3) the affidavit stays enforceable until the immigrant naturalizes or is credited with 40 qualifying quarters of work (a minimum of ten years of work, not a deadline), and USCIS also ends it if the immigrant dies or gives up permanent residence and leaves the US

Who must sign I-864?

Main petitioner (always)

The family petition (Form I-130) petitioner must sign I-864 when case reaches visa stage.

Joint sponsor (if petitioner doesn’t financially qualify)

If petitioner does NOT meet income requirements, can use:

  • Joint Sponsor: another adult (citizen or permanent resident) with sufficient income signs THEIR OWN I-864
  • Household Income combination: sum of petitioner + spouse + adult children + other household members

Income requirements (Form I-864P, effective March 1, 2026)

Most sponsors must show annual income of at least 125% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for their household size. A sponsor on active duty in the U.S. armed forces petitioning for a spouse or child uses the 100% column instead.

Household size100% FPL125% FPL
1$15,960$19,950
2$21,640$27,050
3$27,320$34,150
4$33,000$41,250
5$38,680$48,350
6$44,360$55,450
7$50,040$62,550
8$55,720$69,650

48 contiguous states + DC — for each additional person above 8, add $5,680 (at 100% FPL). Source: HHS Poverty Guidelines 2026 (Federal Register 2026-00755), effective January 13, 2026 · verify at federalregister.gov

USCIS applies these figures to Form I-864 beginning March 1, 2026, and its own Form I-864P chart adds, for each person beyond 8, $7,100 to the 125% figure and $5,680 to the 100% figure. The table above covers the 48 contiguous states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands; Alaska and Hawaii thresholds are higher — read them on the I-864P chart.

“Household” includes: you + spouse + dependent children + dependents on your tax returns + the immigrant you’re sponsoring + any other immigrants you previously sponsored under I-864.

Documents accompanying I-864

  • Form I-864 completed
  • Federal income tax return for the most recent tax year — an IRS transcript or a photocopy from your own records, with W-2s, 1099s and schedules (Form I-864 instructions, edition 08/24/26)
  • Returns for the three most recent tax years — optional; the instructions allow them if you believe they help show sufficient income
  • Proof of sponsor citizenship/residency (passport, naturalization cert, green card)
  • Current employment proof: employer letter with salary, recent pay stubs
  • If self-employed: Schedule C, K-1, complete tax returns
  • If using assets: bank statements, property evidence, investments

How assets work

If your income is low but you have significant assets, you can combine:

  • For spouses of citizens: assets must be 3 times the difference between income and 125% threshold
  • For other family: assets must be 5 times the difference

It is legally binding. Take it seriously.

  1. Support immigrant financially if necessary (immigrant can sue you for support)
  2. Pay government reimbursement if immigrant uses means-tested programs
  3. Notify USCIS within 30 days if address changes
  4. Notify USCIS if your financial situation significantly changes

When obligation ends

  • Immigrant naturalizes as US citizen
  • Immigrant works 40 Social Security quarters (~10 years)
  • Immigrant dies
  • Immigrant permanently leaves US and abandons permanent residency

Divorce does NOT end obligation

If you sponsor your spouse then divorce, you remain obligated financially. Divorce does NOT release from I-864.

Common errors causing I-864 rejection

  1. Missing the most recent year’s tax return — an IRS transcript or a photocopy is required (see Documents above)
  2. Not including ALL pages of tax return (including schedules)
  3. Insufficient income without joint sponsor
  4. Recent employment changes without adequate documentation
  5. Self-employed with volatile income without proper averaging
  6. Wrong form edition — on or after October 1, 2026, USCIS will not process a 10/17/24-edition Form I-864 (see the edition section above)

Last verified: 2026-09-24. Form I-864 is a long-term legal contract with no fixed expiry date — consult an immigration attorney before signing if you don’t understand all implications.

Last verified: 2026-09-24.

General procedural information for educational purposes. Not legal, tax, or immigration advice. Laws and fees change — verify with the issuing agency before taking action. For case-specific guidance, consult a licensed immigration attorney or other appropriate professional.