Form I-864
Explained
What is Form I-864?
Form I-864, often known as the Affidavit of Support, is required by law for the vast majority of family-based immigrants. Some immigrants who are here for work may require it as well.
It is a formal agreement between a sponsor or petitioner, a visa applicant, and the United States government. This demonstrates that you will be financially supported as an immigrant if you are unable to function on your own. In other words, it's essentially a contingency plan, a solution in the event of financial trouble.
How to Complete the I-864? (all forms)
You're probably interested in accurately completing form I-864 now that you know what it means. First and foremost, double-check that you have filled out all of the required documents on your computer.
When filling out the forms, keep in mind that you should use capital letters. Fill in the blanks on each page as needed. You should sign the paperwork after you've double-checked that. A additional piece of paper, or more if needed, should also be included.
You must also write your name, your US social security number, and the words – form I-864, or the correct form number, for a change, in the top right corner of the sheet. At the same time, you must write the case number in the upper-right corner of each page. This holds true for form I-864 as well.
You must provide the number of the question you are responding when providing additional information to more extensive inquiries.
Finally, prepare two sets of photocopies of the documents before sending them. One set will be sent to the intended recipient.
My income is too low to be an I-864 sponsor. What can I do?
It is possible that the government will reject your application in this scenario. However, this does not rule out the possibility of other options. One of the following alternatives is available to you:
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Include income from additional household members - if the sponsor has a spouse, siblings, or adult children who all live at the same primary residence, their income may be combined. Aside from the I-864, each member of the household who contributes will be required to submit a form I-864A.
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Obtain a joint sponsor - the good news is that anyone can serve as a joint sponsor, and as an intending immigrant, you can have two joint sponsors. The dual sponsor does not have to be related to the immigrant in any way. However, we'll go into greater detail below.
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A sponsor may use his or her assets, such as residences, bank account balances, and savings, to meet the income requirements. In this scenario, however, working with an attorney may be beneficial, as assigning value to assets might be difficult.
What is a joint sponsor?
There is also the possibility of a joint sponsor if the primary sponsor's revenue is insufficient. To be eligible, you must be at least 18 years old and a US citizen, US national, or lawful permanent residence. Up to two joint sponsors are allowed.
Even if you choose a shared sponsor, this does not absolve the petitioning sponsor of responsibility. Essentially, both the petitioning sponsor and the joint sponsor are responsible for providing financial assistance.
The form I-864 must be completed and signed by the petitioning sponsor.
Let's go over the primary differences between a household member and a joint sponsor, as this is a common source of misunderstanding. Throughout the process, the petitioning sponsor will be referred to as the main sponsor. Because the joint sponsor may be a family member or relative residing in the same household, there has been some confusion between household member and joint sponsor.
The household member must meet the following requirements: he or she must be a family dependent or family member, live in the same house as the primary sponsor, and be at least 18 years old.
The law also requires household members to complete Form I-864A. This is a contract between the sponsor and the household member. Please note that this is a different paperwork than the I-864.
How long am I responsible for the beneficiary?
The following conditions terminate a sponsor's obligations:
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If the individual becomes a US citizen.
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If the person is no longer a US resident and has left the country.
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If the individual has worked or is eligible to earn credit for 40 quarters of coverage under the Social Security Act.
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If the person is about to be removed from the country.
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If the person passes away.
Upon arrival in the United States, my relative will have a job. Is Form I-864 still required of him?
Yes, filing Form I-864 is still required if your relative will begin working after they arrive in the United States. Obtaining employment is a beneficial component that every immigrant should strive towards. Nonetheless, the law demands that this form be completed in order to have a backup plan in the event of financial troubles.
Do I (the petitioner) still have to file Form I-864 for my relative if I have a shared sponsor?
Yes. Even if you were able to find another individual to function as a joint person, you still have to submit an affidavit of support. This also includes providing the supporting documents that we mentioned earlier. Your role as the petitioning sponsor remains unaffected even if your relative obtains a dual sponsor.
Do I meet the requirements to be a sponsor on Form I-864, Affidavit of Support?
When it comes to I-864, navigating the list of prerequisites can be difficult. However, this is true of most visa-related information, including the K3 Visa. Moving on to becoming a sponsor, however, there are a few requirements to meet:
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Over the age of 18, one must be a US native, a US citizen, or a lawful permanent residence.
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Demonstrate that the United States symbolizes his or her home nation.
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The federal poverty limit should be exceeded by 125 percent.
Form I-864P should be used if you wish to find out the income criteria based on the size of your home.
Essentially, the rule mandates that every green card application include an affidavit of support from a petitioning sponsor. The petitioning sponsor is the relative who completed the immigrant visa petition for the intended immigrant.
Additional sponsors may be included if the petitioning sponsor does not have enough financial resources to be regarded suitable, as we mentioned before.
Conclusion
Overall, completing Form I-864 may appear daunting. However, if you follow the instructions to the letter, you may find that the tension connected with the process is substantially reduced. Being well-informed always pays off, which is why we attempts to provide you with useful, instructive articles on visa-related topics and beyond.
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