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Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the INA

USCIS Affidavit of Support; sponsor's contract to maintain the immigrant at 125 percent of poverty.

Jurisdiction: US Deadline: No statutory deadline; respond to USCIS or NVC request within the time the notice gives you (typically 60-87 days).

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What is I-864?

Form I-864 is a contract between you (the sponsor) and the U.S. government. By signing it, you promise to support the immigrant you are sponsoring at 125 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (or 100 percent if you are active-duty military petitioning your spouse or child) until that person becomes a U.S. citizen, has worked 40 quarters under Social Security, leaves the U.S. permanently, or dies. The contract is enforceable in court by the immigrant and by any government agency that pays them means-tested public benefits (Medicaid, SNAP, TANF, SSI, etc.). I-864 is required for almost every family-based immigrant visa or adjustment of status (I-130 / I-485 path), most employment-based filings where a relative is the U.S. employer, and certain humanitarian categories. Because the affidavit is a binding contract with significant financial obligations, read the I-864 Instructions carefully and consider talking to a legal-aid clinic or an immigration attorney before signing.

What happens if you miss the deadline: Failure to submit the I-864 by the deadline in a USCIS RFE or NVC notice causes the immigrant visa or adjustment case to be denied or administratively closed. The principal immigrant must usually start over with a new petition.

How to file

Filing fee
I-864 has no separate USCIS filing fee. The cost is bundled into the underlying immigration case. For adjustment of status, the I-864 is filed with the I-485 (which has its own fee). For an immigrant visa case, the I-864 is sent to the National Visa Center (NVC), which charges a separate AOS fee currently $120 paid through the CEAC online portal.
Filing method
with I-485 packet (adjustment of status, mailed to USCIS lockbox), uploaded to NVC's CEAC online portal (immigrant visa cases)
Filing deadline
I-864 has no statutory deadline of its own; it is filed when the underlying I-485 is filed, or when NVC requests it for an immigrant visa case. Practical deadline is whatever USCIS or NVC says: USCIS RFE typically allows 87 days; NVC AOS request typically allows 60 days. Missing those windows results in case denial or administrative closure.
How to serve
Not applicable. The sponsor signs as a party to the contract; the immigrant gets a copy as the third-party beneficiary. There is no separate service step.
Wet signature
Yes, sign in pen after printing.
Notarization
No
Original and copies
Original to USCIS or upload to CEAC. Keep copies of the entire packet, including the signed affidavit, all attachments (most-recent tax return, recent pay stubs or employer letter, proof of U.S. citizenship / national / LPR status, proof of relationship for joint sponsors), and any I-864A from household member contributors.

You'll likely also file

Other Ezel-supported forms that commonly file alongside I-864. Each one has its own guided fill, AI review, and PDF render.

I-130A
Supplemental Information for Spouse Beneficiary
Supplemental Information for Spouse Beneficiary. When the I-130 is for a spouse, the spouse beneficiary fills I-130A and the petitioning spouse fills I-864 as the sponsor; the two travel together in the same family-based packet.
 I-912
Request for Fee Waiver
Request for USCIS Fee Waiver. Used for the underlying I-485 fee, not the I-864 itself (I-864 has no separate fee). However, an I-864 sponsor at low income may consider asking the immigrant to file I-912 for the I-485.
 I-131
Application for Travel Document
Application for Travel Document. Family-based AOS beneficiaries concurrently file I-131 (advance parole) with the I-485 + I-864 packet so they can travel internationally without abandoning the pending adjustment; the I-864 travels in the same case file.
 I-765
Application for Employment Authorization
Application for Employment Authorization. AOS beneficiaries (category c.9) concurrently file I-765 with the I-485 + I-864 packet so they can work while the green card is pending; the I-864 travels in the same case file.

Field-by-field guidance

Plain-English notes on every field on the form, with severity for what the AI completeness review treats as a blocker.

Show all 151 fields
Sponsor Basis
blocker

Part 1: basis for filing.

  • Joint sponsor (1.d) picked when actually a substitute sponsor (1.f) is needed; substitute is only when the original petitioner died.
  • 5%-owner (1.b) picked by an LLC owner with less than 5% interest. Must verify ownership.
Petitioner Relationship
blocker

Part 1.a: relationship to immigrant when filing as petitioner.

Five Percent Business
blocker

Part 1.b: business in which 5% ownership held.

Five Percent Relationship
blocker

Part 1.b: relationship to the immigrant.

Joint Sponsor Order
blocker

Part 1.e: first or second of two joint sponsors.

Substitute Relationship
blocker

Part 1.f: substitute sponsor's relationship to immigrant.

Sponsor Family Name
blocker

Part 2 item 1a: sponsor's family name.

Sponsor Given Name
blocker

Part 2 item 1b: sponsor's given name.

Sponsor Middle Name
none

Part 2 item 1c: sponsor's middle name.

Sponsor In Care Of
none

Part 2 item 2: sponsor's in-care-of name.

Sponsor Street
blocker

Part 2 item 2: sponsor's street.

Sponsor Unit Type
none

Part 2 item 2: unit type.

Sponsor Unit Number
none

Part 2 item 2: unit number.

Sponsor City
blocker

Part 2 item 2: city.

Sponsor State
warning

Part 2 item 2: state.

Sponsor Zip
warning

Part 2 item 2: ZIP.

Sponsor Province
none

Part 2 item 2: province.

Sponsor Postal Code
none

Part 2 item 2: postal code.

Sponsor Country
warning

Part 2 item 2: country.

  • Sponsor abroad must show domicile in U.S.; Country of Domicile field separately captures intent to re-establish.
Sponsor Mail Same As Physical
blocker

Part 2 item 3: mailing same as physical?

Sponsor Phys Street
warning

Part 2 item 4: sponsor's physical street.

Sponsor Phys Unit Type
none

Part 2 item 4: physical unit type.

Sponsor Phys Unit Number
none

Part 2 item 4: physical unit number.

Sponsor Phys City
warning

Part 2 item 4: physical city.

Sponsor Phys State
warning

Part 2 item 4: physical state.

Sponsor Phys Zip
warning

Part 2 item 4: physical ZIP.

Sponsor Phys Province
none

Part 2 item 4: physical province.

Sponsor Phys Postal
none

Part 2 item 4: physical postal code.

Sponsor Phys Country
warning

Part 2 item 4: physical country.

Country Of Domicile
blocker

Part 2 item 5: country of domicile.

  • Sponsors living abroad must enter the country where they currently reside, then attach evidence they have re-established (or will re-establish) U.S. domicile before the immigrant visa is issued. Misstating this is a frequent RFE trigger.
Sponsor Dob
blocker

Part 2 item 6: sponsor's DOB.

  • Sponsors must be 18 years old or older. Verify before filing.
Sponsor City Birth
blocker

Part 2 item 7: sponsor's city of birth.

Sponsor Country Birth
blocker

Part 2: sponsor's country of birth.

Sponsor Ssn
blocker

Part 2 item 10: sponsor's U.S. Social Security Number.

  • Listing an ITIN instead of an SSN. Sponsorship by an ITIN holder is not allowed under section 213A; the sponsor must have an SSN.
Sponsor Immigration Status
blocker

Part 2 item 11: U.S. citizen, national, or LPR.

  • Misclassifying as 'national' (rare; only American Samoa and Swain's Island).
Sponsor Alien Number
blocker

Part 2 item 12: sponsor's A-Number.

  • LPR sponsor with no A-Number filled is the most common RFE; the A-Number is on the green card.
Sponsor Uscis Acct
none

Part 2 item 13: sponsor's USCIS Online Account.

Sponsor Active Military
warning

Part 2 item 14: sponsor on active duty military.

  • Picking yes triggers the 100% poverty rule (instead of 125%); USCIS verifies via DD-214 / military ID.
Imm Family Name
blocker

Part 3 item 1a: principal immigrant's family name.

Imm Given Name
blocker

Part 3 item 1b: given name.

Imm Middle Name
none

Part 3 item 1c: middle name.

Imm In Care Of
none

Part 3 item 2: principal immigrant's in-care-of.

Imm Street
blocker

Part 3 item 2: principal immigrant's street.

Imm Unit Type
none

Part 3 item 2: unit type.

Imm Unit Number
none

Part 3 item 2: unit number.

Imm City
blocker

Part 3 item 2: city.

Imm State
warning

Part 3 item 2: state.

Imm Zip
warning

Part 3 item 2: ZIP.

Imm Province
none

Part 3 item 2: province.

Imm Postal
none

Part 3 item 2: postal code.

Imm Country Addr
warning

Part 3 item 2: country.

Imm Country Citizenship
blocker

Part 3 item 3: principal immigrant's country of citizenship.

Imm Dob
blocker

Part 3 item 4: principal immigrant's DOB.

Imm Alien Number
warning

Part 3 item 5: A-Number.

Imm Uscis Acct
none

Part 3 item 6: USCIS Online Account.

Imm Phone
none

Part 3 item 7: principal immigrant's daytime phone.

Sponsoring Principal
blocker

Part 4 item 1: sponsoring the principal immigrant?

Sponsoring Family Timing
warning

Part 4 item 2 vs 3: family member timing.

Fam1 Family Name
warning

Part 4 item 4a: family member 1 name.

Fam1 Given Name
warning

Part 4 item 4b: family member 1 given name.

Fam1 Middle Name
none

Part 4 item 4c: family member 1 middle.

Fam1 Relationship
warning

Part 4 item 5: family member 1 relationship.

Fam1 Dob
warning

Part 4 item 6: family member 1 DOB.

Fam1 Alien Number
none

Part 4 item 7: family member 1 A-Number.

Fam1 Uscis Acct
none

Part 4 item: family member 1 USCIS Online Account.

Fam2 Family Name
none

Family member 2 name.

Fam2 Given Name
none

Family member 2 given.

Fam2 Middle Name
none

Family member 2 middle.

Fam2 Relationship
none

Family member 2 relationship.

Fam2 Dob
none

Family member 2 DOB.

Fam2 Alien Number
none

Family member 2 A-Number.

Fam2 Uscis Acct
none

Family member 2 USCIS Online Account.

Fam3 Family Name
none

Family member 3 name.

Fam3 Given Name
none

Family member 3 given.

Fam3 Middle Name
none

Family member 3 middle.

Fam3 Relationship
none

Family member 3 relationship.

Fam3 Dob
none

Family member 3 DOB.

Fam3 Alien Number
none

Family member 3 A-Number.

Fam3 Uscis Acct
none

Family member 3 USCIS Online Account.

Fam4 Family Name
none

Family member 4 name.

Fam4 Given Name
none

Family member 4 given.

Fam4 Middle Name
none

Family member 4 middle.

Fam4 Relationship
none

Family member 4 relationship.

Fam4 Dob
none

Family member 4 DOB.

Fam4 Alien Number
none

Family member 4 A-Number.

Fam4 Uscis Acct
none

Family member 4 USCIS Online Account.

Hh Total Immigrants Sponsored
blocker

Part 5 item 1: total number of immigrants sponsored.

  • Counting principal twice (once here and once in items 2-7).
Hh Yourself
blocker

Part 5 item 2: yourself (always 1).

Hh Spouse
blocker

Part 5 item 3: spouse (1 if married, 0 otherwise).

  • Counting spouse twice when spouse is also the principal immigrant; should be 0 in that case.
Hh Dependent Children
blocker

Part 5 item 4: dependent children NOT already counted.

Hh Other Dependents
blocker

Part 5 item 5: other dependents.

Hh Other Sponsored
blocker

Part 5 item 6: other I-864 sponsored persons still under obligation.

  • Forgetting prior sponsorships. The 213A obligation runs until the immigrant naturalizes, has 40 quarters, leaves U.S. permanently, or dies; many sponsors do not realize prior obligations are still active.
Hh Same Residence
blocker

Part 5 item 7: same-residence relatives whose income is being used.

Hh Total
blocker

Part 5 item 8: total household size.

  • Arithmetic errors are very common. The total must match the I-864P row used to compute the threshold.
Emp Employed
warning

Part 6 item 1: I am employed checkbox.

Emp Employer1
warning

Part 6 item 1a: employer 1 name.

Emp Employer2
none

Part 6: employer 2 name.

Emp Employer3
none

Part 6: employer 3 name.

Emp Self Employed
none

Part 6 item 4: self-employed checkbox.

Emp Self Employed As
warning

Part 6 item 4a: self-employment occupation.

Emp Retired
none

Part 6 item 5: retired checkbox.

Emp Retired Date
warning

Part 6 item 5a: retirement date.

Emp Unemployed
none

Part 6 item 6: unemployed checkbox.

Emp Unemployed Date
warning

Part 6 item 6a: unemployment start date.

Emp Current Income
blocker

Part 6 item 7: sponsor's current annual individual income.

  • Underreporting current income because tax-return income from prior years was lower. Current income is what matters for qualifying.
  • Not converting hourly or biweekly pay to annual; USCIS expects an annualized figure.
Hh Inc1 Name
none

Part 6 item 8: household income contributor 1 name.

Hh Inc1 Relationship
none

Part 6: contributor 1 relationship.

Hh Inc1 Income
none

Part 6: contributor 1 income.

Hh Inc2 Name
none

Part 6: contributor 2 name.

Hh Inc2 Relationship
none

Part 6: contributor 2 relationship.

Hh Inc2 Income
none

Part 6: contributor 2 income.

Hh Inc3 Name
none

Part 6: contributor 3 name.

Hh Inc3 Relationship
none

Part 6: contributor 3 relationship.

Hh Inc3 Income
none

Part 6: contributor 3 income.

Hh Inc4 Name
none

Part 6: contributor 4 name.

Hh Inc4 Relationship
none

Part 6: contributor 4 relationship.

Hh Inc4 Income
none

Part 6: contributor 4 income.

Hh Total Income
warning

Part 6 item 15: total annual household income.

Hh Inc I864a Attached
warning

Part 6 item 16: I-864A attached for contributors.

  • Forgetting to attach I-864A from each household contributor; USCIS will RFE.
Hh Inc Principal No 864a
none

Part 6 item 17: contributor exempt from I-864A (intending immigrant with no dependents).

Hh Inc Principal No 864a Name
warning

Part 6 item 17: name of immigrant exempt from I-864A.

Filed Three Years
blocker

Part 6 item 18a: filed federal tax return for each of last 3 years?

  • Misanswering yes when one of the last three years was missed. USCIS verifies through IRS transcripts.
Tax Year Most Recent
blocker

Part 6 item 19a: most recent tax year.

Tax Income Most Recent
blocker

Part 6 item 19a: most recent tax year total income (AGI).

  • Listing wages alone instead of total income (AGI). Use the AGI line on the federal return; the line number changes by year.
Tax Year 2nd Recent
info

Part 6 item 19b: 2nd most recent tax year.

Tax Income 2nd Recent
info

Part 6 item 19b: 2nd most recent year income.

Tax Year 3rd Recent
info

Part 6 item 19c: 3rd most recent tax year.

Tax Income 3rd Recent
info

Part 6 item 19c: 3rd most recent year income.

Tax Below Filing Level
none

Part 6 item 17: not required to file (income below IRS threshold).

  • Checking this without attaching evidence. USCIS requires the IRS publication explaining the threshold and an explanation of the year(s).
Asset Balance Accounts
none

Part 7 item 1: cash, savings, checking balances.

Asset Real Estate
none

Part 7 item 2: net real estate.

  • Listing market value instead of net (market minus mortgage).
Asset Stocks Bonds
none

Part 7 item 3: stocks, bonds, CDs, other.

Asset Total Sponsor
none

Part 7 item 4: sponsor assets total.

Asset Household Total
none

Part 7 item 5: household members' assets (from I-864A).

Imm Asset Balance Accounts
none

Part 7 item 6: principal immigrant's cash, savings, checking.

Imm Asset Real Estate
none

Part 7 item 7: principal immigrant's net real estate.

Imm Asset Stocks
none

Part 7 item 8: principal immigrant's stocks, bonds, etc.

Imm Asset Total
none

Part 7 item 9: principal immigrant's assets total.

Asset Grand Total
warning

Part 7 item 10: grand total of all assets.

  • Asset total must equal at least 5x the gap between income and the I-864P threshold (3x for spouses or children of U.S. citizens, 1x for orphans being adopted in the U.S.).
Applicant Statement
blocker

Part 8 item 1: sponsor's statement on language.

Interpreter Language
blocker

Part 8 item 1.b: interpreter language.

Preparer Used
none

Part 8 item 2: preparer checkbox.

Preparer Name
warning

Part 8 item 2: preparer name.

Sponsor Phone
blocker

Part 8 item 3: sponsor's daytime phone.

Sponsor Mobile
none

Part 8 item 4: sponsor's mobile phone.

Sponsor Email
none

Part 8 item 5: sponsor's email.

Sponsor Signature
blocker

Part 8 item 9a: sponsor's signature.

  • E-signing or typing the signature only. USCIS requires wet ink on the printed form because this is a contract.
Sponsor Signature Date
blocker

Part 8 item 9b: signature date.

G28 Attached
none

Top of page 1: G-28 attached?

Attorney Bar Number
none

Top of page 1: attorney state bar number.

Attorney Uscis Acct
none

Top of page 1: attorney USCIS Online Account.

Ezel is a self-help tool. Ezel is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. You are the filer. Review the form carefully before submitting it to the court, and consult a licensed attorney if you have questions about your case. For free legal help, contact your local legal aid office or court self-help center.