An affidavit of support is a pivotal document for family-based U.S. immigration applicants. For family-based visa applications, Form I-864, Affidavit of Support, must be filed with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). This form proves that you have obtained the financial means to reside in the United States through sponsorship.
Find Form I-864 filing instructions, federal poverty guidelines, and information on who qualifies for joint sponsorship below.
Form I-864 Instructions
In general, all family-based visa applicants must submit Form I-864. This includes applicants in the following categories:
- First preference (F1) – unmarried children (21 years old or older) of U.S. citizens
- Second preference (F2A) – spouses and unmarried children (under 21 years old) of lawful permanent residents
- Second preference (F2B) – unmarried children (21 years older or older) of lawful permanent residents
- Third preference (F3) – married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens
- Fourth preference (F4) – siblings of U.S. citizens (if the U.S. citizen is 21 years old or older).
The I-864 filing process differs based on whether the applicant is inside or outside the U.S.
Steps for I-864 Filed Inside the U.S.
Step 1. File I-864 and its supporting documents with Form I-485 and mail to the appropriate USCIS filing address. There is no filing fee for I-864, but there is a filing fee for I-485.
Step 2. Wait 8 to 24 months for a decision on I-485 from USCIS after processing.
Steps for I-864 Filed Outside the U.S.
Step 1. Complete Form DS-260, Immigrant Visa Electronic Application.
Step 2. Upload I-864 and its supporting documents online to the U.S. Department of State CEAC online application form.
Step 3. Pay the National Visa Center (NVC) processing fee ($120).
Step 4. Wait 1 week to 2-3 months for NVC processing to be completed.
Form I-864P Poverty Guidelines
Form I-864P, Poverty Guidelines for Affidavit of Support, is a Health and Human Services (HHS) provision under Section 213A of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). HHS releases the federal poverty guidelines (FPL) each year in January, therefore we are currently still under the 2024 FPL.
The FPL is determined based on the current state of the global economy. You will meet the FPL if your sponsor’s salary equals 125% of the HHS guideline for the sponsor’s household size or 100% if the sponsor is on active duty in the U.S. armed forces.
View the 2024 I-864P poverty guidelines here.
Who is a Joint Sponsor?
A joint sponsor is a U.S. citizen or Green Card holder who co-sponsors the beneficiary with the petitioner to jointly meet the poverty guidelines with their combined salaries.
A joint sponsor can be any person who is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident. The beneficiary is not required to have a relationship to the sponsor.
A joint sponsor cannot be a corporation, organization, or another entity—it must be a single person.
