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Form I-864A: https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/i-864a.pdf Official USCIS Instructions: https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/i-864ainstr.pdf Why Does a Household Member Complete Form I-864A? A household member completes this contract if the household member’s income and/or assets will be used to demonstrate the sponsor’s ability to meet the income requirements and to maintain the sponsored immigrant at an annual income at the level specified in INA section 213A(f)(l)(E) or section 213A(f)(3). If the Intending Immigrant Is a Household Member, Must He or She Complete This Contract? If you are the intending immigrant and the sponsor is including your income on Form I-864 to meet the eligibility requirements, you need to complete this contract only if you have accompanying dependents. If you are the intending immigrant and the sponsor is including only your assets on Form I-864, you do not need to complete this contract, even if you have accompanying dependents. Filing Fee: There is no filing fee to file Form I-864A with USCIS. Where do I file? This contract MUST be filed with Form I-864. Who completes this form? The sponsor and a household member complete and sign this form. If either the sponsor or the household member is under guardianship, the guardian of that individual’s estate (financial affairs) may sign the form. Principal Immigrant The principal immigrant must submit one original Form I-864 and Form I-864A for his or her file along with supporting financial evidence of the sponsor’s and household member’s income. A Form I-864 or Form I-864A is considered original if it is signed in black ink. The principal immigrant should submit photocopies of the completed Form I-864 and Form I-864A for each of the family members traveling with him or her. Copies of supporting financial documents are not required for the principal immigrant’s family members. Tips on completing Form I-864A SECTION WHAT TO DO Part 1 The household member completes this section. Part 1, Questions 6.a-7 The household member provides his or her Place of Birth and Social Security Number, if you have one. Part 2, Questions 1.a.-1.c. The household member indicates the relationship to the sponsor (or, if appropriate, the joint sponsor or substitute sponsor). Part 3, Questions 1.a.-2.And Part 4, Questions 1-3d The household member provides this employment information and current individual annual income. In the beginning of Part 5 The sponsor (or, if appropriate, a joint sponsor or substitute sponsor) must print their name and the number of intending immigrants being sponsored. This number should include all intending immigrants that were listed in Part 5, Questions 1.a-25 and those listed in Part 9, Additional Information (if any). Part 5 List only the intending immigrants that are being sponsored on Form I-864. Part 5, Questions 31.a.-31.b. The sponsor (or, as appropriate, a joint sponsor or substitute sponsor) must sign and date the form. The signature needs to be original (not a photocopy). Part 6, Questions 6.a-6.c The household member must print, sign and provide the date of signature in black ink. The signature needs to be original (not a photocopy). Supporting Documents Checklist The following items must be submitted with Form I-864A: For ALL sponsors: For SOME sponsors: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS How do I calculate my household size? The Form I-864 asks for the financial sponsor’s household size. When calculating their household size, sponsors must include: A sponsor does not have to include people on other I-864s who have not yet immigrated to the United States. Who can be a Financial Sponsor? A financial sponsor, including a petitioner, must be at least 18 years old and either a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident (LPR). The sponsor must also have a domicile (residence) in the United States. What are Poverty Guidelines? Petitioners must meet a minimum income level, called the Federal Poverty Guidelines, in order to financially sponsor a visa applicant. The Poverty Guidelines in effect on the filing date of an Affidavit of Support are used to determine whether the income requirement is met. You can find these guidelines on USCIS’s website. What happens if the petitioner doesn’t have enough income? Petitioners who cannot meet this level have two choices: 1) find a “joint sponsor” who will agree to also financially support the visa applicant, or 2) use the income of a household member to meet the Poverty Guidelines. These additional financial sponsors also have to submit an Affidavit of Support, proof of their income, and proof of their legal status in the United States. Remember: Even if a petitioner finds a joint sponsor or uses the income of a household member to financially sponsor a visa applicant, that petitioner must still submit an Affidavit of Support. Is a sufficient Form I-864 the only consideration for meeting any public charge issues at the time of the visa interview? No, consular officers also look at other public charge factors affecting the financial situation of both the financial sponsor(s) and the applicant. Age, health, education, skills, financial resources and family status of the applicant and the sponsor are factors. If the poverty guidelines change between the time the petitioner signed the Affidavit of Support and the issuance of an immigrant visa, must the petitioner/sponsor and joint sponsor, if required, submit a new Form I-864? No, the Form I-864 remains valid indefinitely unless evidence of failure to meet the poverty guidelines in effect on the date of I-864 filing arises. Can a credible offer of employment for the visa applicant replace or supplement an insufficient Affidavit of Support? No, the law does not recognize offers of employment in place of the Form I-864. A job offer may show ability of the applicant to overcome ineligibility as a public charge, but does not meet any I-864 requirement. How can a sponsor use assets to meet the minimum Federal Poverty Guidelines? If a sponsor’s income does not meet the minimum Federal Poverty Guidelines, he or she can submit the value of assets to make up the difference unless the sponsor is submitting a Form I-864EZ. When looking at income levels, the consular officer will look at the sponsor’s employment income first. Personal
Last Updated June 13, 2023 Form I-864A: https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/i-864a.pdf Official USCIS Instructions: https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/i-864ainstr.pdf FORM-I-864A-GUIDEDownload WHY DOES A HOUSEHOLD MEMBER COMPLETE FORM I-864A? A household member completes this contract if the household member’s income and/or assets will be used to demonstrate the sponsor’s ability to meet the income requirements and to maintain the sponsored immigrant at an annual income at the level specified in INA section 213A(f)(l)(E) or section 213A(f)(3). If the Intending Immigrant Is a Household Member, Must He or She Complete This Contract? If you are the intending immigrant and the sponsor is including your income on Form I-864 to meet the eligibility requirements, you need to complete this contract only if you have accompanying dependents. If you are the intending immigrant and the sponsor is including only your assets on Form I-864, you do not need to complete this contract, even if you have accompanying dependents. Filing Fee: There is no filing fee to file Form I-864A with USCIS. Where do I file? This contract MUST be filed with Form I-864. WHO COMPLETES THIS FORM? The sponsor and a household member complete and sign this form. If either the sponsor or the household member is under guardianship, the guardian of that individual’s estate (financial affairs) may sign the form. PRINCIPAL IMMIGRANT The principal immigrant must submit one original Form I-864 and Form I-864A for his or her file along with supporting financial evidence of the sponsor’s and household member’s income. A Form I-864 or Form I-864A is considered original if it is signed in black ink. The principal immigrant should submit photocopies of the completed Form I-864 and Form I-864A for each of the family members traveling with him or her. Copies of supporting financial documents are not required for the principal immigrant’s family members. TIPS ON COMPLETING FORM I-864A SECTION WHAT TO DO Part 1 The household member completes this section. Part 1, Questions 6.a-7 The household member provides his or her Place of Birth and Social Security Number, if you have one. Part 2, Questions 1.a.-1.c. The household member indicates the relationship to the sponsor (or, if appropriate, the joint sponsor or substitute sponsor). Part 3, Questions 1.a.-2.And Part 4, Questions 1-3d The household member provides this employment information and current individual annual income. In the beginning of Part 5 The sponsor (or, if appropriate, a joint sponsor or substitute sponsor) must print their name and the number of intending immigrants being sponsored. This number should include all intending immigrants that were listed in Part 5, Questions 1.a-25 and those listed in Part 9, Additional Information (if any). Part 5 List only the intending immigrants that are being sponsored on Form I-864. Part 5, Questions 31.a.-31.b. The sponsor (or, as appropriate, a joint sponsor or substitute sponsor) must sign and date the form. The signature needs to be original (not a photocopy). Part 6, Questions 6.a-6.c The household member must print, sign and provide the date of signature in black ink. The signature needs to be original (not a photocopy). Supporting Documents Checklist The following items must be submitted with Form I-864A: For ALL sponsors: For SOME sponsors: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS HOW DO I CALCULATE MY HOUSEHOLD SIZE? The Form I-864 asks for the financial sponsor’s household size. When calculating their household size, sponsors must include: A sponsor does not have to include people on other I-864s who have not yet immigrated to the United States. WHO CAN BE A FINANCIAL SPONSOR? A financial sponsor, including a petitioner, must be at least 18 years old and either a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident (LPR). The sponsor must also have a domicile (residence) in the United States. WHAT ARE POVERTY GUIDELINES? Petitioners must meet a minimum income level, called the Federal Poverty Guidelines, in order to financially sponsor a visa applicant. The Poverty Guidelines in effect on the filing date of an Affidavit of Support are used to determine whether the income requirement is met. You can find these guidelines on USCIS’ website. WHAT HAPPENS IF THE PETITIONER DOESN’T HAVE ENOUGH INCOME? Petitioners who cannot meet this level have two choices: 1) find a “joint sponsor” who will agree to also financially support the visa applicant, or 2) use the income of a household member to meet the Poverty Guidelines. These additional financial sponsors also have to submit an Affidavit of Support, proof of their income, and proof of their legal status in the United States. Remember: Even if a petitioner finds a joint sponsor or uses the income of a household member to financially sponsor a visa applicant, that petitioner must still submit an Affidavit of Support. IS A SUFFICIENT FORM I-864 THE ONLY CONSIDERATION FOR MEETING ANY PUBLIC CHARGE ISSUES AT THE TIME OF THE VISA INTERVIEW? No, consular officers also look at other public charge factors affecting the financial situation of both the financial sponsor(s) and the applicant. Age, health, education, skills, financial resources and family status of the applicant and the sponsor are factors. IF THE POVERTY GUIDELINES CHANGE BETWEEN THE TIME THE PETITIONER SIGNED THE AFFIDAVIT OF SUPPORT AND THE ISSUANCE OF AN IMMIGRANT VISA, MUST THE PETITIONER/SPONSOR AND JOINT SPONSOR, IF REQUIRED, SUBMIT A NEW FORM I-864? No, the Form I-864 remains valid indefinitely unless evidence of failure to meet the poverty guidelines in effect on the date of I-864 filing arises. CAN A CREDIBLE OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT FOR THE VISA APPLICANT REPLACE OR SUPPLEMENT AN INSUFFICIENT AFFIDAVIT OF SUPPORT? No, the law does not recognize offers of employment in place of the Form I-864. A job offer may show ability of the applicant to overcome ineligibility as a public charge, but does not meet any I-864 requirement. HOW CAN A SPONSOR USE ASSETS TO MEET THE MINIMUM FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINES? If a sponsor’s income does not meet the minimum Federal Poverty Guidelines, he or she can submit the value of assets to make up the difference unless the sponsor is submitting a Form I-864EZ. When looking at income levels, the consular officer will look at