Fill Form I-864 online
Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the INA
or choose your own copy:
- ✓ Official current version
- ✓ Free download, no account
- ✓ No card, no trial
- ✓ Never uploaded
Form I-864 in short
Form I-864 is a sponsor's promise to financially support an immigrant. Most family-based immigrants and some employment-based immigrants need one. Signing it creates a contract with the U.S. government and shows the sponsor has income or assets of at least 125 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, or 100 percent for some active duty military sponsors.
| Issued by | U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) |
|---|---|
| Current version | Edition 08/24/26 (checked 2026-10-25) |
| Who fills it in | The sponsor. This is usually the petitioner who filed the immigrant petition. A joint sponsor or substitute sponsor may also file one if the petitioner's income is not enough. A sponsor must be at least 18 and domiciled in the United States. |
| Who receives it | USCIS when the immigrant is adjusting status in the United States with Form I-485, or the Department of State (National Visa Center or a U.S. embassy or consulate) when the immigrant applies for an immigrant visa abroad. |
| Where to send it | The sponsor gives the signed form and evidence to the immigrant, who files it with Form I-485 or with the immigrant visa application (Form OF-230). If the National Visa Center sent instructions, follow those. For USCIS filings, see the USCIS Lockbox Filing Locations Chart for Certain Family-Based Forms. |
| Deadline | No separate deadline. It is filed with the immigrant's adjustment of status or immigrant visa case. |
| Fee | USCIS: $0 (Form G-1055, edition 10/16/26). Department of State: $120 Affidavit of Support Review fee, only when reviewed domestically (travel.state.gov Fees for Visa Services). Checked 2026-10-25. |
| Official links | Official page · Official PDF · Official instructions |
What changed
USCIS published the 08/24/26 edition on Aug. 31, 2026. From Oct. 1, 2026, USCIS only accepts the 08/24/26 edition. The new edition includes a privacy release that lets USCIS and the Department of State request information, including credit reports and scores, from consumer reporting agencies. Sponsors with a credit freeze may be asked to release it.
How to fill out Form I-864, line by line
| Part 1 | Basis for filing Choose one box: petitioner, relative who filed an alien worker petition, owner of at least 5 percent of the petitioning company, only joint sponsor, one of two joint sponsors, or substitute sponsor. |
| Part 2 | Information about you (sponsor) Your name, mailing and physical address, country of domicile, date and place of birth, Social Security number, citizenship or residence status, and A-Number if any. If you live abroad, you must show how you meet the U.S. domicile rule. |
| Part 3 | Principal immigrant Name, address, date of birth, A-Number and other details of the main person you are sponsoring. |
| Part 4 | Immigrants you are sponsoring Say if you sponsor the principal immigrant, and list any family members immigrating at the same time who are covered by this affidavit. |
| Part 5 | Household size Count yourself, your spouse, dependent children, other dependents, the immigrants you sponsor, and people you sponsored before whose obligation has not ended. The total is compared with Form I-864P. |
| Part 6 | Employment and income Your job, current individual annual income, income of household members who sign Form I-864A, and your federal income tax information for the most recent tax year. Do not leave the most recent tax year box blank. |
| Part 7 | Use of assets (optional) Only needed if income is below the guideline. Assets usually must equal five times the shortfall, or three times for a U.S. citizen sponsoring a spouse or a child age 18 or older. |
| Part 8 | Sponsor's contract and signature Read the contract, which explains what you promise and when the duty ends. Sign and date by hand. The signature also covers the new consumer report authorization. |
| Parts 9 to 11 | Interpreter, preparer, and additional information Fill in only if someone helped you. Part 11 is for extra answers and extra family members. |
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using the old 10/17/24 edition. From Oct. 1, 2026, USCIS only accepts the 08/24/26 edition.
- Leaving out the sponsor's family name, address, Social Security number, or signature. USCIS lists these as required fields.
- Leaving the most recent tax year boxes in Part 6 blank. The instructions say to write the year and income, or zero or N/A as needed.
- Sending a tax return photocopy without every W-2 and 1099. The instructions ask for all of them with a photocopied return.
- Sending state tax returns. The instructions say not to.
- Counting household income from relatives who did not sign Form I-864A.
- Getting the household size wrong in Part 5, which changes the poverty guideline used.
- Not responding to a request to lift a credit freeze, which can delay the review under the new edition.
Questions about Form I-864
Who has to sign Form I-864?
The petitioner must complete and sign it, even if a joint sponsor also files one. A joint sponsor does not have to be related to the immigrant.
How much income does a sponsor need?
At least 125 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for the household size, or 100 percent for active duty U.S. Armed Forces or Coast Guard members sponsoring a spouse or child. The amounts are on Form I-864P.
When does the sponsor's obligation end?
According to the form, it ends when the immigrant becomes a U.S. citizen, earns or can be credited with 40 quarters of work, loses permanent resident status and leaves the U.S., gets a new adjustment in removal proceedings, or dies. It also ends if the sponsor dies. Divorce does not end it.
Is there a fee for Form I-864?
USCIS charges no fee. The Department of State charges a $120 Affidavit of Support Review fee when the affidavit is reviewed domestically.
Do I need tax returns for three years?
You must give the most recent tax year. You may add up to the three most recent years if you think it helps you qualify.
What is new in the 08/24/26 edition?
It adds a privacy release that lets USCIS and the Department of State request credit reports and scores from consumer reporting agencies to check the affidavit.
Related forms
Tools for this form
Sources
Checked against the official sources on 2026-10-25. PDF Editor Hub is not affiliated with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services or any government agency. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice.
- https://www.uscis.gov/i-864
- https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/i-864.pdf
- https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/i-864instr.pdf
- https://www.uscis.gov/g-1055
- https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/g-1055.pdf
- https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/fees/fees-visa-services.html