The Affidavit of Support confirms that the Sponsor earns enough income to support their relative in the US. The income requirement is usually between $20,000 - $30,000 per year. However if the Sponsor doesn't earn enough, there are other ways to show that they can support their relative.
Form I-134, Affidavit of Support is a legal document used to show the United States government that a visa applicant is being sponsored by someone already in the United States. This Affidavit of Support is filed by the U.S. resident who is supporting the visa application of a foreign resident.
Petitioners and any joint or co-sponsors are required to submit an Affidavit of Support form (Form I-864) and evidence of their income. Form I-864 is legally required and legally enforceable for most family-based and some employment-based immigrants.
Intending immigrant who has earned or can be credited with 40 qualifying quarters (credits) of work in the U.S. You can acquire 40 qualifying quarters in the following ways: Working in the U.S. for 40 quarters in which you received the minimum income established by the Social Security Administration.
Do not submit a fee when submitting Form I-864. There is a $120 fee per case for reviewing the Affidavit of Support (Forms I-864, I-864A, I-864W and/or I-864EZ) when the form(s) is (are) filed in the United States.
The government believes that the individual has the intention of permanently moving to the United States. Specifically the person typically wants to become a lawful permanent resident. When you are the beneficiary of a valid immigrant visa petition, the intending immigrant refers to you planning to move to the U.S.
There is a Form I-864 and I-864A; both are similar but unique forms with their own purposes. A joint sponsor prepares another Form I-864. A household member prepares Form I-864A, Contract Between Sponsor and Household Member.
The principal immigrant must submit one original Form I-864EZ for the intending immigrant's file along with supporting financial evidence of his or her income. Form I-864EZ is considered original if it is signed in black ink.
You, the sponsor, should complete Form I-864 when your relative has been scheduled for an immigrant visa interview with a consular officer overseas or when your relative is about to submit an application for adjustment to permanent resident status with USCIS or with an Immigration Court in the United States.
Often abbreviated as c/o, “care of” means through someone or by way of someone. This phrase indicates that something is to be delivered to an addressee where they don't normally receive correspondence. In practice, it lets the post office know the recipient is not the normal recipient at that street address.
Section 213a. A section of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) which establishes that sponsors have a legal duty to support immigrants they want to bring (sponsor) to the United States. They must complete Form I-864 Affidavit of Support. Source: Department of State.
To find out if you qualify to use this tool, please visit
- STEP ONE: MAKE ELECTRONIC COPIES OF YOUR DOCUMENTS.
- STEP TWO: LOG ONTO CEAC.
- STEP THREE: UPLOADING CIVIL DOCUMENTS FOR VISA APPLICANTS.
- STEP FOUR: OPTIONAL CIVIL DOCUMENTS.
- STEP FIVE: UPLOADING AFFIDAVIT OF SUPPORT DOCUMENTS FOR THE PETITIONER.
Yes, you may sponsor more than one person if you want to. If you are invited to apply, you can sponsor your parents and grandparents. To do so, you will need to submit separate applications for each person (or couple) you sponsor. Find out more about who you can sponsor under the Parents and Grandparents Program.
The sponsor's responsibility lasts until the immigrant becomes a U.S. citizen, has earned 40 work quarters credited toward Social Security (a work quarter is about three months, so this means about ten years of work), dies, or permanently leaves the United States.
The processing time of the Affidavit of Support takes at least 6 weeks. After the NVC receives the documents from USCIS, they process them. The NVC will look at the sponsor's Affidavit of Support and supporting documents. The applicant must have paid the fees for the Affidavit of Support to receive processing.
You do not have to file the I-864 with the I-130, but you will need to prepare it for the NVC after the I-130 is approved.
A: Yes. The petitioner is still a sponsor and must file an affidavit of support, even if he or she cannot meet the income requirements. The petitioner remains fully liable, along with the joint sponsor, for any benefits the sponsored immigrant(s) may use. The joint sponsor must file a separate affidavit of support.
The purpose of the Affidavit of Support is to assure the U.S. government that the immigrant is not inadmissible as someone likely to become a public charge; that is, receive need-based government assistance (often called "welfare").
There can be a maximum of two joint sponsors. Each joint sponsor is responsible only for the intending intending immigrant(s) listed on his/her Form I-864.
You can petition to bring family members to the United States (often called "sponsoring" them) only if you are a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident (green card holder). Even then, you can bring in only those family members listed on the chart below.
