Form I-864EZ, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the INA (EZ), is the shorter affidavit of support that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) provides for petitioning sponsors whose qualifying income comes entirely from a salary or pension shown on IRS Form W-2. Signing it creates a contract with the U.S. Government to support the immigrant you sponsor, if that becomes necessary. On FillingPDF you can fill out the form online and download or print the completed PDF; the official PDF and instructions are published by USCIS, and the sponsored immigrant files the affidavit with the visa or adjustment application.
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What is I-864EZ?
Form I-864EZ, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the INA (EZ), is the USCIS shortened Form I-864 that a qualifying sponsor signs to show the immigrant has adequate financial support and is unlikely to become a public charge.
The affidavit is a contract between the sponsor and the U.S. Government. By signing, you agree to use your income and resources to support the intending immigrant if it becomes necessary, and you accept that an agency providing means-tested public benefits will count your income and resources as available to that person. If the immigrant receives such a benefit, the agency may ask you to repay it and may sue if you do not.
The sponsor must show income of at least 125 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for the household size, or 100 percent for a sponsor on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces or U.S. Coast Guard who is sponsoring a spouse or minor child. The guidelines are published on Form I-864P at www.uscis.gov/I-864P.
Form I-864EZ differs from Form I-864, the full affidavit of support: it is limited to cases that meet three conditions in Part 1, and anyone who does not meet them must use Form I-864 instead. The form is divided into nine parts, from sponsor and immigrant details through household size, income, the contract and signature, to interpreter, preparer and additional-information sections.
Who needs to file I-864EZ?
Form I-864EZ is for the U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident or U.S. national who filed, or is filing, Form I-129F, Form I-130, Form I-600 or Form I-800 for the relative being sponsored. You may use it only if all of these apply:
- you are that petitioner;
- the relative you sponsor is the only person immigrating on the underlying visa petition;
- the income you rely on is based entirely on your salary or pension, shown on one or more IRS Form W-2s from current or former employers.
A sponsor must be at least 18 years old and domiciled in the United States, its territories or possessions.
Do not use Form I-864EZ, and file Form I-864 instead, if:
- you are self-employed;
- you filed or are filing Form I-140 for the immigrant;
- you are a joint sponsor;
- you are a substitute sponsor because the original Form I-130 petitioner is deceased;
- your salary or pension does not meet the Federal Poverty Guidelines requirement;
- you are exempt from submitting an affidavit of support;
- a family-based preference immigrant has other family members on the same visa petition immigrating with or within six months of the sponsored immigrant.
If you are under guardianship, your legal guardian may print your name and sign for you, with proof of the appointment and a court order allowing your income and assets to be made available.
When to file I-864EZ
Form I-864EZ is completed when the sponsored immigrant is ready to file for an immigrant visa or adjustment of status, because it travels with that application. No separate due date is printed on the form or its instructions.
The sponsor gives the completed affidavit and its documents to the sponsored immigrant, who files it with either a consular officer together with Form OF-230, Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration, or an immigration officer together with Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status.
The tax return you attach is for the most recent tax year counted from the date you sign. Your obligation continues until the sponsored immigrant becomes a U.S. citizen or can be credited with 40 qualifying quarters of work, or until a death or departure ending lawful permanent residence, as described in Part 6. After you sign, report address changes on Form I-865: the instructions require sponsors who are not U.S. citizens to do so within 10 days of moving, and the contract text in Part 6 says 30 days.
Documents you need
- Proof that you are a U.S. citizen, U.S. national or lawful permanent resident, as listed on the USCIS checklist for this form.
- An IRS transcript, or a photocopy from your own records, of your federal individual income tax return for the most recent tax year counted from the date you sign.
- A copy of every Form W-2 and Form 1099 related to the return, if you submit a photocopy instead of an IRS transcript (not needed with a transcript unless you filed jointly with your spouse).
- An IRS-generated tax return transcript showing late filing, if you were required to file a return for the most recent tax year but did not; file the late returns first.
- A typed or printed explanation with evidence of the exemption, if you were not required to file a federal return for any other reason.
- A typed or printed explanation and documentary evidence of domicile, if your mailing address or residence is outside the United States but your country of domicile is the United States.
- Evidence of current active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces or U.S. Coast Guard, if you are claiming the 100 percent income level for a spouse or minor child.
- A full English translation with the translator's signed certification, for any document in a foreign language.
- Proof of appointment as legal guardian and a court or agency order, if a legal guardian signs for you.
- Form G-28 or G-28I, if an attorney or accredited representative represents you (selected in the box at the top of page 1).
How to fill out I-864EZ
Confirm you qualify in Part 1
Answer Items 1 to 3 in Part 1. You must select Yes for all three: you are the petitioner, you are using your own earned or retirement income documented on Form W-2, and the sponsored immigrant is the only person immigrating on the visa petition. Any No means you must use Form I-864.
Enter your name and addresses
In Part 2, enter your name (Item 1) and current mailing address (Item 2). Answer Item 3 on whether it matches your physical address, and give the physical address in Item 4 if it does not.
Provide domicile and identity details
Enter your country of domicile (Item 5), date of birth in mm/dd/yyyy (Item 6), country of birth (Item 7) and your required U.S. Social Security Number (Item 8). Select your status in Item 9: U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident or U.S. national.
Add A-Number, account number and military status
Enter your A-Number in Item 10 and USCIS Online Account Number in Item 11, or "N/A" if you have none. Select Yes or No in Item 12 depending on whether you are currently on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces or U.S. Coast Guard.
Describe the immigrant you sponsor
In Part 3, enter the immigrant's name, mailing address, country of citizenship or nationality, date of birth, A-Number and USCIS Online Account Number if any, and daytime telephone number (Items 1 to 7).
Figure your household size
In Part 4, Item 1 is already filled with 2. Enter your spouse, dependent children under 21, previously sponsored immigrants you still support, and other dependents on your latest tax return in Items 2 to 5, using "0" for anyone already counted. Add Items 1 to 5 in Item 6.
Report your employment and income
In Part 5, select Employed or Retired (Item 1), then give your occupation and employer names (Item 2) or your retirement date (Item 3). Enter your current individual annual income in Item 4.
Enter your federal tax information
Answer Item 5 on whether you filed a federal return for each of the three most recent tax years. In Item 6, enter the total income for the three most recent years, and attach the return or transcript for the most recent year.
Read the contract and make your statement
Read Part 6 carefully. Select Item 1.a if you read and understood the affidavit yourself, or 1.b if an interpreter read it to you; select Item 2 if a preparer prepared it. Enter your telephone numbers and email address in Items 3 to 5.
Sign and date your affidavit
Sign and date in Part 6, Item 6 in ink or by hand; a stamped or typewritten name is not accepted. A legal guardian may sign for a sponsor under guardianship.
Complete the interpreter and preparer parts
If an interpreter helped you, the interpreter completes Part 7 and signs. If anyone other than you prepared the affidavit, that person completes and signs Part 8. One person who did both completes both parts.
Use Part 9 for extra space
If an answer needs more room, use Part 9 or a separate sheet. Print your name and A-Number at the top, give the Page, Part and Item Number, and sign and date each sheet.
Review, download and assemble the package
Check every item and that the form shows no blank answers; enter "N/A" or "None" where the instructions direct. Download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF, add your required documents and give the package to the sponsored immigrant to file.
How to submit I-864EZ
You do not usually file Form I-864EZ yourself: you give the completed affidavit with all required documents to the sponsored immigrant, who files it through one of two channels.
- With a consular officer: together with a completed Form OF-230, Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration.
- With an immigration officer: together with a completed Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status.
For the current filing location, see https://www.uscis.gov/i-864ez; for filing with the Department of State (DOS), see www.travel.state.gov. A fee question applies to this form: USCIS says there is no fee if you file outside the United States with USCIS or DOS, while filing within the United States must be done with DOS, which charges a fee. Check Form G-1055 and the USCIS Fee Schedule page, or the DOS website, for current amounts.
If you print the form to mail it, the edition date and page numbers must be visible at the bottom of every page, and all pages must come from the same edition, or USCIS may reject it. Do not send the USCIS checklist with the form, and do not send original documents unless the instructions or regulations request them. Do not mail the completed form to the Camp Springs, MD address in the Paperwork Reduction Act notice. A photocopy, fax or scan of the original with a handwritten signature is valid for filing. For questions, call the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283 (TTY 800-767-1833). FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using Form I-864EZ when you are self-employed; the instructions require you to answer No to Part 1, Item Number 2 and use Form I-864.
- Answering Yes to Part 1, Item Number 3 when other family members on the same visa petition are immigrating with or within six months of the sponsored immigrant.
- Using this form as a joint sponsor, as a substitute sponsor for a deceased Form I-130 petitioner, or for an immigrant sponsored through Form I-140.
- Counting the same person twice in Part 4; enter "0" on a line when the person is already counted in Item Number 1.
- Leaving out your U.S. Social Security Number in Part 2, Item Number 8, which the form marks as required.
- Submitting an unsigned affidavit or a stamped or typewritten name in place of a signature; USCIS rejects it.
- Attaching a photocopy of your tax return without every Form W-2 and Form 1099 that relates to it.
- Submitting state tax returns, or foreign tax returns when you were required to file a U.S. federal return.
- Mailing a printout with pages from different form editions or without the edition date and page numbers visible.
- Sending original documents that were not requested; USCIS may destroy them.
Frequently asked questions
What is Form I-864EZ?
Form I-864EZ is the shortened version of Form I-864 that USCIS provides for sponsors who meet set criteria. It is a contract in which you agree to support the immigrant you sponsor, and it shows the immigrant has adequate financial support and is unlikely to become a public charge.
What is the difference between Form I-864EZ and Form I-864?
Form I-864EZ is a shorter form you may use only when you are the petitioner, the relative is the only person immigrating on the petition, and your income is salary or pension on Form W-2. In every other case, including joint sponsors and the self-employed, you must use Form I-864.
Can I use Form I-864EZ if I am self-employed?
No. Part 1, Item Number 2 requires income documented on IRS Form W-2, and the instructions say self-employed sponsors must answer No and cannot use Form I-864EZ. Complete Form I-864 instead.
Where do I file Form I-864EZ?
You give the completed affidavit and documents to the sponsored immigrant, who files it with a consular officer along with Form OF-230, or with an immigration officer along with Form I-485. USCIS lists current filing details at uscis.gov/i-864ez.
Is there a fee for Form I-864EZ?
It depends on where you file. USCIS says there is no fee if you file outside the United States with USCIS or the Department of State; within the United States you must file with the Department of State, which charges a fee. Check Form G-1055 or the Fee Schedule for amounts.
What do I attach to Form I-864EZ?
Attach proof of your citizenship, nationality or permanent residence and your IRS transcript or a copy of your federal return for the most recent tax year, with every Form W-2 and Form 1099 if you send a copy. Add an explanation if you were not required to file a return.
How long does my sponsorship obligation last?
It lasts until the sponsored immigrant becomes a U.S. citizen or can receive credit for 40 qualifying quarters of work, which generally equals 10 years. It also ends if you or the immigrant dies, or if the immigrant gives up permanent residence and leaves the United States. Divorce does not end it.
Can someone sign Form I-864EZ for me?
Only a legal guardian may sign for a sponsor under guardianship, and must provide proof of the appointment and a court or agency order allowing your income and assets to support the immigrant. USCIS rejects an unsigned affidavit or one with a stamped or typewritten name.
Can I fill out Form I-864EZ online on FillingPDF?
Yes. You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF does not file the affidavit with USCIS or the Department of State: the sponsored immigrant files it through the channels described under How to submit.
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