How to Complete USCIS Form I-864 When Sponsoring an Immigrant

If you are a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident and you are sponsoring a family member to immigrate to the United States, you will likely need to file an I-864 Affidavit of Support form. The purpose is to show that your immigrating relative will not likely become a public charge, because you will either support them financially or reimburse any government agency from which your relative claims need-based financial assistance.

Step-by-Step Instructions to Completing Form I-854

Here are some tips for the trickier questions on USCIS Form I-864. (For an overview of when to use this form, and which version applies, see Preparing I-864 Affidavit of Support Forms.) The below guidance refers to the 04/01/2024 version of the form.

Part 1: Basis for Filing Affidavit of Support

Here, the main sponsor writes their name and checks Box "1.a" if it's purely a family immigration case. A sponsor that's an employer/family petitioner must check Box "1.b" or "1.c". Friends or non-petitioning relatives who agree to fill in this form as joint sponsors check either Box "1.d" or "1.e".

Box "f" is for situations where the immigrant's original sponsor died after the I-130 petition that's used to initiate the immigration process was approved and the immigrant is asking U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to allow the application to go forward for humanitarian reasons (called "reinstatement"). In this case, the immigrant must find another family member in the United States who is willing to serve as a substitute sponsor and meets the basic sponsorship requirements (age 18, domiciled in the U.S., and a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or national). Family members who qualify to do this include the immigrant's spouse, parent, mother- or father-in-law, brother or sister, child (if at least 18 years of age), son or daughter-in-law, sister- or brother-in-law, grandparent, grandchild, and legal guardian.

Part 2: Information About the Principal Immigrant

These are basic questions concerning the person immigrating. If the immigrant hasn't been assigned an A-Number or USCIS Online Account Number, that's okay; leave these blank.

Part 3: Information About the Immigrant(s) You Are Sponsoring

Although you might be listing a foreign-born spouse and children here, you don't need to name any children who were born in the United States. That's because the U.S. sponsor has no obligation to promise to support them (at least not under U.S. immigration laws, though the children will be counted elsewhere within this form to test the sponsor's overall financial capacity).

Notice that Form I-864 says, "Do not include any relatives listed on a separate visa petition." This would be the case if they were immediate relatives of the petitioner, in which case each would need a separate I-130 petition and also their own Form I-864, filled out just for them, rather than a photocopy of their mother or father's form. For example, if a U.S. citizen father petitions for his wife and stepchildren, they are all considered immediate relatives under the law, will all need separate I-130 petitions, and therefore will all need separate Form I-864s.

But if a lawful permanent resident father petitions for his wife and stepchildren, the children are allowed to accompany the mother as "derivatives" on her I-130 petition without having petitions separately filed for each of them, and they therefore won't need separate Form I-864s prepared on their behalf, so should all be listed on this one form. (For more information, see Derivative Immigration Status for Family Members of Immigrating Aliens.)

Foreign-born family members might not have A-numbers or USCIS online account numbers. They likely would only if they'd applied for past U.S. immigration benefits or been in removal proceedings.

Part 4: Information About You (Sponsor)

Mostly self explanatory, concerning the U.S. citizen or resident preparing the form and petitioning for the immigrants.

Remember that the sponsor's place of residence must be in the United States in order to be eligible as a financial sponsor. If the U.S. sponsor is living overseas and doesn't want to return to the United States until the immigrant can enter as well, the sponsor must still prepare and sign this Affidavit of Support. The sponsor will also need to show an intent to live in the United States (make it their "domicile") and a source of income there. This is further explained in Income Requirements to Sponsor an Immigrant for a U.S. Green Card.

Part 5: Sponsor's Household Size

This section is self-explanatory. Remember not to count anyone twice!

Part 6: Sponsor's Employment and Income

The sponsor needs to fill in information about their employment here.

Self-employment is fine. Be aware, however, that if a self-employed sponsor has under-reported income to the IRS in the past, the earnings shown might not be sufficient to support the immigrant. In that case, the U.S. sponsor will need to file an amended tax return with the IRS and pay a penalty before the newly reported income is accepted as meeting the guidelines for sponsorship.

For the sponsor's current income, if the amount is higher than shown on the sponsor's last tax return, be sure to include supporting documentation (such as copies of pay stubs or a letter from the sponsor's employer stating the current salary). Such proof will be especially important if the raise in salary since the last tax return takes the sponsor over the Poverty Guidelines minimum (as shown on USCIS Form I-864P).

Questions about household members are especially important for sponsors whose income is not enough by itself, but who will be using the income of members of their household to help meet the Poverty Guidelines minimum requirements. Any of these household members who is not the actual immigrant must plan to complete a separate agreement with the sponsor, using Form I-864A.

Part 7: Use of Assets to Supplement Income (Optional)

U.S. sponsors need to complete this section only their income isn't enough by itself to meet the Poverty Guidelines minimum requirements. Remember to attach documents proving the assets' existence and value.

If the combination of the sponsor's household available income and assets (counted at a fraction of their value; a fifth of the income shortfall in most cases, and a third in the case of U.S. citizens' spouses and minor children) don't yet meet the Poverty Guidelines minimum, you'll still need to hand in this affidavit. But you'll definitely want to look for a joint sponsor.

Part 8: Sponsor's Contract, Statement, Contact Information, Declaration, Certification, and Signature

Sponsors must remember to enter their name again and sign the form.

You do not need to fill out Parts 9 and 10 unless you used an interpreter or attorney, and if so, they can help you complete these.

Part 11 gives you extra space for whatever didn't fit in the main form.

Documents to Include With Form I-864.

The sponsor will need to provide at least one year's worth of tax returns or tax transcripts, an employer letter (if not self-employed), and prove of ownership of any assets listed on the I-864, including appraisals or loan documents indicating how much debt is still owed on the asset.

In addition, the sponsor must either proof U.S. citizenship or U.S. national status (using a copy of their birth certificate, passport, or certificate of naturalization or citizenship) or prove lawful permanent resident status (using a copy of both sides of their green card, otherwise known as Form I-551, Permanent Resident Card).

More specific requirements might apply depending on the facts of your case. See USCIS's instructions to Form I-864.

What Is the I-864 Fee?

USCIS does not charge a filing fee to people adjusting status (getting their green card without leaving the United States).

The National Visa Center (NVC), however, will collect a fee if handling your case as an intermediary in consular processing. The amount was $120 in 2024.

Do You Need a Lawyer to Help With Form I-864?

If you run into any issues, be sure to talk to an immigration lawyer. We're not providing any legal advice here, and a personal analysis of your family's green card eligibility can be useful. The lawyer can also spot any issues that need to be overcome (financial or otherwise), strategize the fastest path to a green card, prepare the paperwork, and help monitor the case's progress through slow and inefficient government agencies.