Instructions For Form I-864ez - Affidavit Of Support Under Section 213a Of The Ina (Page 2 of 11) in pdf

1. Who Is Required to File Form I-864W Instead of Form I-864 or Form I-864EZ?

The following types of intending immigrants must properly complete and submit Form I-864W, Request for

Exemption for Intending Immigrant’s Affidavit of Support, instead of a Form I-864 or Form I-864EZ:

A. An intending immigrant who has received, or can receive credit for 40 quarters of work. The Social Security

Administration can provide information on how to count and provide evidence of quarters of work;

B. An intending immigrant who will, upon admission, acquire U.S. citizenship under section 320 of the Immigration

and Nationality Act (INA), as amended by the Child Citizenship Act of 2000 (CCA); and

C. A self-petitioning widow(er) or qualifying battered spouse or child.

2. Who Completes Form I-864EZ?

Only the U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or U.S. national who filed Form I-130 for a family member, may

complete this affidavit. A sponsor is required to be at least 18 years of age and domiciled in the United States, its

territories, or possessions. (See the Specific Instructions section of these Instructions.)

3. What Are the Income Requirements?

To qualify as a sponsor, you must demonstrate that you have an income of at least 125 percent of the current Federal

Poverty Guidelines for your household size. The Federal poverty line, for purposes of this affidavit, is updated

annually and can be found on Form I-864P, Poverty Guidelines, at

If you are on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces or U.S. Coast Guard and you are sponsoring your spouse or minor

child, you only need to have an income of 100 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for your household size.

4. How Do I Count Household Size?

Your household size includes yourself and the following individuals, no matter where they live:

A. Any spouse;

B. Any dependent children under 21 years of age;

C. Any other dependents listed on your most recent Federal income tax return;

D. The person being sponsored in this affidavit of support; and

E. Any immigrants previously sponsored with a Form I-864 or Form I-864EZ affidavit of support whom you are still

obligated to support.

5. How Long Does My Obligation as a Sponsor Continue?

Your obligation to support the immigrant you are sponsoring in this Form I-864EZ will continue until the sponsored

immigrant becomes a U.S. citizen, or can receive credit for 40 qualifying quarters of work in the United States.

Although 40 qualifying quarters (credits) of work generally equates to 10 years of work, in certain cases, the work

of a spouse or parent adds qualifying quarters toward eligibility. The Social Security Administration can provide

information on how to count qualifying quarters (credits) of work. The obligation also ends if you or the sponsored

immigrant dies or if the sponsored immigrant ceases to be a lawful permanent resident and departs the United States.

Divorce does not end the sponsorship obligation.

6. Do I Have to Report My Change of Address If l Move?

Federal law requires that a sponsor report every change of address to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

(USCIS) within 30 days of the change. To do this, send a completed Form I-865, Sponsor’s Change of Address, to the

Service Center having jurisdiction over your new address. Please see the USCIS Web site at

for

more information on filing a change of address as a sponsor.

Form I-864EZ Instructions 07/02/15 N

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