Form I-864: How to Fill Out the Affidavit of Support

Form I-864 is the legally binding contract a U.S. sponsor signs to show an intending immigrant will not become a public charge. You can type into the official PDF on your computer, but USCIS requires an original ink signature, so the workflow is fill, print, sign, and mail. This guide walks through each part, with the 2026 income numbers.

This is general information about completing a form, not legal advice. For questions about eligibility or your specific case, talk to an immigration attorney or check the official instructions at USCIS.gov.

Who needs an I-864 and which version

Most family-based green card cases need an Affidavit of Support from the petitioning relative. Before you download anything, confirm which version applies, because the State Department advises sponsors to determine this first (State Department notice, accessed October 2026):

• I-864: the full form, used by most sponsors.
• I-864EZ: a shorter version for sponsors who meet specific conditions, such as being the petitioner, sponsoring a single immigrant, and relying on your own income as shown on an IRS tax transcript. Check the form instructions for the full conditions.
• I-864W: an exemption form for immigrants who already have 40 qualifying quarters of work or meet other exemptions.
• I-864A: a separate contract between a sponsor and a household member whose income is counted.

If you are still earlier in the process, see our guides on Form I-130 and Form I-485, which are commonly filed alongside the affidavit.

Gather income and tax records first

The form asks for numbers you should have in front of you. Collect these before you open the PDF:

1. Your most recent federal tax return, or an IRS tax transcript, plus W-2s and 1099s.
2. Recent pay stubs and an employer letter if your income changed.
3. Your household size, including yourself, dependents, and people you already sponsor.
4. Details of the immigrant or immigrants you are sponsoring, including their A-Number if they have one.
5. Asset records, such as bank statements, only if your income falls short.

USCIS says a sponsor who does not use an IRS printout must submit tax returns and W-2s, or explain why they did not file (USCIS tips for filing Form I-864, last reviewed July 2016).

Step by step: filling out the PDF

You can complete the form directly in your browser. Open the I-864 template or upload the official PDF at Fill PDF, click each field, type, and download the result.

Parts 1 and 2: Basis for filing and the sponsor

Part 1 asks why you are filing, for example as the petitioner. Part 2 asks for the intending immigrant's details. Use legal names exactly as they appear on passports and petitions. Mismatches cause delays, so copy from the source document rather than from memory.

Part 3 to Part 5: Sponsor information and household size

Enter your own name, address, date of birth, and citizenship or permanent resident status. In the household size section, the total is the sum of the numbers entered in Part 5, questions 1 through 7 (USCIS tips). Count carefully:

• Yourself and your spouse if you are married.
• Your unmarried children under 21 and any other dependents claimed on your tax return.
• Any relatives you previously sponsored whose obligation is still active.
• The immigrants you are sponsoring now.

Part 6: Employment and income

List your employer, occupation, and total income. Use the figure from your most recent tax return or transcript, and be consistent with the documents you attach. If a household member's income will count, list them and have them complete Form I-864A. USCIS says household members whose income counts must live at the sponsor's residence, be listed on the form, and sign the I-864A.

Part 7 and Part 8: Use of assets and signing

If your income is below the requirement, you may list assets in the relevant section. Then move to the signature block. Type all other fields, but leave the signature blank for the paper copy.

Check the income requirement

Most sponsors must show income of at least 125 percent of the federal poverty guidelines for their household size. USCIS lists these amounts for sponsors who are not on active duty (Form I-864P, effective March 1, 2026):

Example: A sponsor in Ohio with a spouse and one child, sponsoring one parent, has a household of four. The threshold is $41,250. If their income is $38,000, they fall short and need an I-864A from a qualifying household member, a joint sponsor, or qualifying assets. Check the current I-864P for the exact table in force when you file, since the guidelines update each year.

If you or your petitioner cannot meet the requirement, USCIS says another person must sign a separate form as a joint sponsor.

Signing and what to attach

USCIS states that the sponsor signs and dates in black ink, that the signature must be original rather than a photocopy, and that all 12 pages of the form must be submitted. That means an electronic signature is not enough for the paper filing, so print the completed PDF and sign by hand. If you only need to sign other documents in a package, Sign PDF can place a signature on forms that accept one.

A typical package includes:

• One original signed I-864 for the principal immigrant, with proof of income.
• Photocopies of the form, without the financial documents, for any accompanying family members (USCIS tips).
• Tax transcripts or returns with W-2s.
• Proof of citizenship or permanent residence, such as a passport or green card copy.
• Any I-864A forms and the joint sponsor's documents, if used.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Leaving fields blank. Write N/A where something does not apply rather than skipping it.
• Wrong household count. Under-counting makes the threshold look easier than it is.
• Submitting an old edition. Always download the current edition from USCIS and check the edition date.
• Missing pages. USCIS wants all 12 pages, including the ones with nothing typed on them.
• Photocopied signatures. The original ink signature is required.

Joint sponsors and household members

If your income falls short, you have two common routes. A household member who lives with you can add their income by signing Form I-864A, which makes them financially responsible alongside you. Alternatively, a joint sponsor files their own complete I-864 with their own tax records. A joint sponsor must meet the income threshold for their own household, so ask them to run the same household count you did. Each person completes and signs their own copy, so send each of them the blank PDF instead of a filled-in version of yours.

Filling it out with PDF Editify

The government form is free to download, but the time you spend retyping, correcting, and reprinting is not. In PDF Editify you upload the form, type into the fields, fix mistakes without starting over, and download a clean PDF for printing. You can try the editor without a card. Exporting needs a plan, and the One Week Plan is $3 one-time with nothing to cancel, which usually covers an entire filing project. For comparison, many online PDF tools bill $9 to $15 a month and renew until you cancel. Standard is $10 per month or $100 per year, and Lifetime starts at $99. See pricing for the full list, and browse more U.S. government form templates. Your files are deleted automatically after processing, which matters for a form containing income and identity details.

After you file

Keep a complete copy of the signed form and every attachment. The obligation you sign is long lasting, so store your copy securely. If your address or circumstances change, follow USCIS guidance on updating your information.