What is the I-864 form?
Form I-864, or Affidavit of Support, is a document required by the U.S. government. Its purpose is to show that an immigrant applying for a green card has financial support and is unlikely to rely on certain public benefits. This form is typically completed by the sponsor (most often the family member who filed the petition) to show they can support the immigrant at 125% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (or 100% in some cases, such as certain active-duty military sponsors).
What is the I-864 form used for?
Form I-864 is an important document in many green card cases that require an Affidavit of Support. Here’s what it’s used for:
- To show the petitioning sponsor has enough income (or assets) to financially support the immigrant.
- To help the government decide whether the immigrant is likely to rely on certain public benefits (become a public charge).
How to fill out Form I-864
- 1
Choose why you’re filing (Part 1). Pick the option that matches your role.
- 2
Fill in sponsor & immigrant info (Parts 2–3). Enter your details and the principal immigrant’s details exactly as they appear on official documents.
- 3
Calculate household size (Part 5). Count people using the form’s rules, not your household in real life.
- 4
Complete income section & add evidence (Part 6 + attachments). Provide income info and include the required financial proof.
- 5
Sign & submit. Sign and submit via the channel you’re using (USCIS or NVC/CEAC), then save a copy.
Optional steps needed to be filled out on special occasions
- 1
Additional immigrants (Part 4). Only if you’re sponsoring other immigrants on the same affidavit.
- 2
Backup option (joint sponsor/household member income/assets). Only if your income alone doesn’t meet the minimum income requirement.
- 3
Interpreter/preparer sections. Only if someone translated or filled out the form for you.
Who is required to fill out Form I-864?
The I-864 Affidavit of Support form is completed by sponsors with U.S. citizenship who promise to financially support an immigrant. This includes family members or employers.
After submission, the form is reviewed as part of the green card process for immigrants. USCIS reviews it for adjustment of status cases within the U.S., and the Department of State/NVC reviews it for immigrant visa cases processed at a U.S. embassy or consulate.
When is Form I-864 not required?
Not every green card category requires the I-864 fillable form. It’s mainly required for family-based cases (and for a limited set of employment-based cases), while many other categories use different requirements.
Some applicants are exempt from the Affidavit of Support requirement and may file Form I-864W instead (for example, certain applicants with qualifying work history or other exemption categories).
When is Form I-864 due?
Form I-864 doesn’t have a single fixed deadline. You usually submit it during the green card process, either when the immigrant applies for a visa abroad (through NVC/CEAC) or when they file for adjustment of status in the U.S. (with USCIS).
To avoid delays, submit Form I-864 with the rest of the required case documents, following the instructions for your filing route.
How to get a blank Form I-864
To get a blank PDF of the aforementioned form, open our editor. The template is already loaded and ready for you to fill in. PDF Guru assists with Form I-864 download and completion, but we don’t submit or file it on your behalf.
How to sign Form I-864
Immigration Form I-864 must be signed and dated by the sponsor. In many cases, a scanned copy of a hand-signed form is acceptable for submission (for example, when uploading to NVC/CEAC), but a typed name typically won’t meet the signature requirement.
PDF Guru can help you add an e-signature for your records, but if an agency asks for a hand signature, download the form, sign it, and upload or mail it as instructed.
Where to file Form I-864?
You usually don’t submit Form I-864 on its own; you submit it as part of the green card process. If your case is routed through the National Visa Center (NVC), you typically upload the signed form in CEAC along with your financial evidence; if your case is filed with USCIS, you usually include it with your adjustment of status package or as instructed by USCIS.
Follow the official instructions for your case type, and keep a copy of everything you submit.
What other forms are related to Form I-864?
Add a household member’s income to strengthen the sponsor’s financial support, using a simple agreement between the sponsor and that household member.
Who uses it: Sponsors who want to count a spouse/relative’s income from the same household complete Form I-864A.
Use a shorter, simplified version of the Affidavit of Support form when your case is straightforward, and you qualify for the “easy” format.
Who uses it: Sponsors who meet the requirements to file the streamlined version instead of the full I-864.
Show that the immigrant is exempt from the Affidavit of Support requirement, so an I-864 isn’t needed for the case.
Who uses it: Applicants who qualify for an exemption (and need to document it).
