Affidavit of Support – Form I-864 - U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Japan

Form I-864

Affidavit of Support

All immigrant visa applicants in the categories below must present a contractually binding Affidavit of Support (Form I-864), signed by the petitioner:

All family-based immigrants (Note: The following Applicants are not required to submit an affidavit of support: those who will acquire citizenship upon admission to the U.S.; applicants who can demonstrate 40 quarters of SSA coverage; orphans; self-petitioning widows or widowers, the abused spouse, parent, or child of a U.S. citizen, and the abused spouse or child of a lawful permanent resident who have an approved I-360.)
Those employment-based immigrants who are petitioned by a relative or by a business in which a relative has significant ownership interest

The purpose of the Affidavit is to assist consular officers in determining whether a visa applicant will have adequate means of financial support in the U.S. and will not become a public charge. By signing Form I-864, your petitioner (including co-sponsor(s) and joint sponsor(s)) are agreeing to use their resources to support you and any dependents, if it becomes necessary. If you or your dependents immigrating with you receive any of the designated federal, state or local means-tested public benefits, you should expect the agency providing the benefit to request repayment from your sponsor(s). The sponsor/joint sponsor’s obligation continues until the sponsored immigrant becomes a U.S. citizen, can be credited with 40 qualifying quarters of work, departs the United States permanently, or dies. Divorce does not terminate the obligation.

Note: Mistakes in completing the I-864 are a common reason for delays with an immigrant visa application. Please read all instructions and the following information carefully before filling out the I-864.

Affidavit of Support Forms:

Note: Form I-864A may only be used when a sponsor’s income and assets do not meet the income requirements of Form I-864 and the qualifying household member chooses to combine his or her resources with the income and/or assets of a sponsor to meet the requirements. For example, Jane is sponsoring her brother, Jack, but Jane’s income is combined with that of her spouse, Ronald. In order to use Ronald’s income in the I-864, Jane fills out the I-864 and Ronald fills out the I-864A. Both are thereby agreeing to sponsor Jack.

Who May Be Considered a “Household Member” for Purposes of This Form?

A relative who has the same principal (physical) residence as the sponsor and is related to the sponsor as a spouse, adult child, parent, or sibling;
A relative or other person whom the sponsor has lawfully claimed as a dependent on the sponsor’s most recent Federal income tax return even if that person does not live at the same residence as the sponsor;
The intending immigrant, in certain circumstances. (Detail please See “How Can the Intending Immigrant Be Considered a Household Member?” on the instruction page of this form)

Who May Use Form I-864EZ? I-864EZ (Affidavit of Support for Cases Meeting Specific Criteria) is a shorter version of Form I-864 designed for cases that meet certain criteria.

You may use Form I-864EZ IF ALL the following conditions apply:

You are the person who filed or is filing the Form I-130, Petition for Noncitizen Relative, for a relative being sponsored;
The relative you are sponsoring is the only person listed on the Form I-130 petition;
The income you are using to qualify is based entirely on your salary or pension and is shown on one or more Forms W-2 provided by your employer(s) or former employer(s).

Frequently Asked Questions: