An Affidavit of Support is a legal document that provides proof of an applicant’s financial means of support. An Affidavit of Support, or form I-864, is required for many family-based and employment immigration applications. The Affidavit is filed by the intending immigrant’s financial sponsor, and serves as proof that the applicant has adequate financial support and will not become a burden on social services. The sponsor filing the Affidavit of Support must have been previously approved by the USCIS.

After the Affidavit of Support is filed, the sponsor is contacted by the National Visa Center, or NVC. They are instructed to download necessary forms and after completing them, submitting them in order to prove their intentions to support the immigrant applicant. The Affidavit of Support is required under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), section 213A. It is a contract between the sponsor and the government of the United States in which the sponsor assumes responsibility for financially supporting the intending immigrant to assure that they have sufficient financial resources and will not become a burden on public funds.

The following documents are related to the Affidavit of Support:

• I-864 and I-864EZ – Affidavit of Support
• I-864A - Contract Between Sponsor and Household Member
• I-864P - Poverty Guidelines
• I-864W - Intending Immigrant's Affidavit of Support Exemption