What Is Form I-864 (Affidavit of Support)?
Form I-864, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the INA, is a legally binding financial sponsorship form filed on behalf of a relative applying for a family-based green card. By signing it, a sponsor accepts a legal obligation to financially support the immigrating relative and to reimburse certain federal, state, or local agencies if that relative receives designated means-tested public benefits. It’s one of the most consequential forms in a family-based case precisely because of that binding financial commitment.
Who Files Form I-864
The petitioning sponsor in most family-based immigrant cases is required to file Form I-864 on behalf of the relative they petitioned for (typically the person who also filed Form I-130). In some situations, a joint sponsor — someone other than the petitioner who meets the income requirements — may also need to submit a separate I-864 if the petitioning sponsor’s income alone doesn’t meet the threshold.
What Form I-864 Actually Asks
At a high level, the form collects:
- Sponsor’s identifying information — legal name, address, and immigration or citizenship status.
- Relationship to the immigrant — how the sponsor is connected to the applicant.
- Household size — everyone counted for purposes of the income calculation, including dependents and other sponsored immigrants.
- Income and employment information — current income, and in many cases, federal tax return information from recent years.
- Assets — optional information about savings or property that can supplement income if it falls short of the required threshold.
USCIS publishes the current income requirements directly, based on federal poverty guidelines and household size — figures that update annually and shouldn’t be restated here as if fixed.
Form I-864 Fee
Form I-864 does not have a separate USCIS filing fee of its own — it’s typically submitted as part of a broader application package (most often alongside Form I-485 or as part of consular processing), rather than filed independently for a fee.
What Makes I-864 Different From Other Forms
Unlike most forms in this series, I-864 isn’t primarily about eligibility or biographic history — it’s a contract. The sponsor’s obligation generally continues until the sponsored immigrant becomes a U.S. citizen, can be credited with a certain number of qualifying work quarters, permanently leaves the United States, dies, or loses permanent resident status through removal proceedings — whichever happens first. That’s a meaningful, long-term commitment, which is part of why questions about who should sign one, and what it means for a specific household, are worth raising with a licensed immigration attorney rather than treating as a routine paperwork step.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Form I-864 optional? No — in most family-based immigrant cases, it’s a required part of the application package, not an optional financial disclosure.
Can more than one person sponsor an immigrant on Form I-864? Yes, in situations where a joint sponsor is needed because the petitioning sponsor’s income doesn’t meet the required threshold on its own.
How long does the sponsor’s financial obligation last? Generally until the sponsored immigrant becomes a U.S. citizen, can be credited with enough qualifying work quarters, permanently leaves the U.S., dies, or loses permanent resident status — whichever comes first.
Does Form I-864 have its own filing fee? No — it doesn’t carry a separate USCIS fee and is typically submitted as part of another application, such as I-485.
Passage Forms is not a law firm and we are not lawyers. We do not give legal advice and we are not affiliated with USCIS or any other government agency. This article explains what a form asks — it does not tell you what your answers should be or predict an outcome. Because Form I-864 creates a binding legal and financial obligation, talking with a licensed immigration attorney before signing is especially worth considering.