Form I-864
Form guide
Form I-864, the affidavit of support, is the sponsor’s legally enforceable promise that the immigrant will have financial support and will not depend on public benefits. Most family green cards require one; income is measured against the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
Part by part
Who is promising support — usually the petitioner, always a U.S. citizen or resident with a U.S. domicile.
Counted by the form’s own rules: the sponsor, dependents, the immigrants being sponsored, and anyone already sponsored.
The most recent tax return and current income evidence; assets can fill a gap under their own rules.
The signature makes it enforceable — the obligation lasts until citizenship, 40 quarters of work, or other ends set by law.
Watch for
Counting the household wrong — the form’s counting rules, not intuition
Income evidence that does not match the tax return
Not adding a joint sponsor when income is short
Forgetting that the obligation is a real contract, not a formality
Every one of these is a completeness problem — the kind the software checks for before your packet is marked ready.
Where it appears
Form I-864
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