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Q: What is the Affidavit of Support?
The Affidavit of Support, or form I-864, is a contract between the sponsor (petitioner) of an immigrant visa petition and the U.S. Government, which obligates the petitioner to financially support the intending immigrant(s) once they arrive in the U.S. The Affidavit of Support is legally required for the petitioning sponsor of most family-based immigrants in order to prove that the intending immigrant(s) will not become dependent on U.S. welfare assistance.
Q: What must the sponsor submit along with the I-864 form?
All sponsors must submit the following documentation with their I-864:
• Proof of current employment or self employment (i.e. job letter)
• Complete certified federal taxes for the petitioner’s most recent tax year (1040s and W2s)
• If your sponsor is using the income of persons in his/her household or dependents to qualify as a sponsor, he/she must also submit a separate Form I-864A, Contract between Sponsor and Household Member, for each person whose income he/she will use, federal taxes for the current year, and proof of legal status for each household member.
Q: What if my sponsor does not have sufficient income to support me?
If your petitioner does not met the minimum income level required, you may submit an Affidavit of Support I-864 from another sponsor willing to support you and any other immigrating family members on the same petition.
In addition to the primary sponsor (who signed the visa petition), the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service allows two joint sponsors per family unit based upon the same family petition. No individual may have more than one joint sponsor, but it will no longer be necessary for all family members to have the same sponsor. If two joint sponsors are used, each joint sponsor is responsible for supporting only for the intending immigrant(s) listed on that joint sponsor’s Form I-864, Affidavit of Support.
For more information on evidence of financial support, please consult the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov or call (800) 870-3676. The I-864 and I-864A can be downloaded from the website at: http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/formsfee/forms/
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