Checklist for preparing Affidavit of support
Hello 4real4u,
My sponsor is my elder sister.
She earns an excess of $80,000/year and has 3 young children who are partially dependent on her(since she is married, thus total family size=5).
I am married without any children.
I am also an Electrical Engineering P.hD student currently in a U.S institution full-time, and my wife's graduates with a Bachelor in Dental Surgery from the UNILAG College of medicine at the end of next month.
Is the affidavit of support from my sister sufficient?
This might be of help.
http://travel.state.gov/pdf/AOC_procedures.pdf
If finding it difficult to open see below for the details:
Preparing Affidavit of Support Forms – I-864, I-864EZ, I-864A, and I-864W
Warning: Do not take any action described below without authorization from the National Visa Center (NVC). Taking action without the NVC's authorization could result in a delay in processing.
If the petitioner has received notification to read the Affidavit of Support Instructions and download the appropriate form:
1. Review the General Information and FAQ.
2. Review page 1 of the I-864W, Intending Immigrant's Affidavit of Support Exemption Form, to determine if the petitioner is exempt from the Affidavit of Support Requirement.
3. Download the I-864P - Poverty Guidelines.
4. Review page 1 of the I-864EZ - Affidavit of Support Form, to determine if the petitioner is eligible to submit the I-864EZ.
5. If these forms do not apply, the petitioner is required to submit an I-864 –Affidavit of Support - and possibly an I-864A - Contract Between Sponsor and Household Member - as well.
6. Complete the appropriate Affidavit of Support form. When completing the forms, please keep in mind:
The Department of State prefers that the Affidavit of Support form(s) be completed on your computer using CAPITAL letters.
Following the detailed instructions included with each form (I-864W, I-864EZ, I-864, and I-864A) is very important.
7. After completing the form on the computer, print it. The forms cannot be submitted electronically.
8. Review the appropriate checklist to verify that the proper form has been completed correctly:
I. Intending Immigrant’s Affidavit of Support Exemption, Form I-864W, Checklist
II. I-864EZ, Checklist
III. Affidavit of Support, Form I-864, Checklist
IV. Joint Sponsor’s Documents (if required) Checklist
V. Household Member’s Documents (if required) Checklist
9. Mail the form and any required supporting documents to the NVC. Be sure to include the bar code sheet for the applicant’s case.
*Important Notice For Sponsors
The Affidavit of Support forms are not required to be notarized. You should know however that by signing an Affidavit for Support the sponsor certifies under penalty of perjury that the information provided and any transcript and/or photocopy of tax documentation is true and correct. In order to download forms, you will need to have a recent version of Adobe Reader installed on your computer. If you do not have Adobe Reader on your computer, please visit
http://www.adobe.com. There is no charge to download Adobe Reader. Please note that you may receive a “file corrupted” error message if you are using an older version of Adobe Reader.
Checklists for Preparing Affidavit of Support Forms
Intending Immigrant’s Affidavit of Support Exemption, Form I-864W, Checklist
Verify that, as detailed in the I-864W instructions, the Affidavit of Support is not required. The I-864W should be completed ONLY IF the intending immigrant:
Has, or can be credited with, 40 quarters of covered employment
o As proof, you must attach a signed statement from the person who earned the quarters.
o You must attach an earnings and benefits statement from the Social Security Administration (SSA) showing the number of qualifying quarters he/she has earned. To make a request to the SSA use Form SSA-7004-SM, or in the U.S. call the SSA’s toll free number, 1 800-772-1213.
Is a self-petitioning widow/widower
Is the battered spouse of U.S. citizen or the child of battered spouse of a U.S. citizen
Is a child, who meets the requirements under the Child Citizenship Act of 2000 (CCA) to become a U.S. citizen immediately upon entry under into the U.S.
Checklists for Preparing Affidavit of Support Forms
Affidavit of Support, Form I-864, Checklist
Before mailing the I-864 to the NVC:
1. Ensure that:
All pages are in the correct order and stapled together
Each page is filled-out completely
The form is signed
2. Verify that all family members (a spouse and/or children) listed on the same petition as the sponsored immigrant that are either traveling with the sponsored immigrant (or will be traveling within six months of the immigrant’s entry into the U.S.) have been listed on the I-864 IF the sponsor is sponsoring them, and they are either traveling with the immigrant, or within six months of the immigrant’s entry to the U.S.
3. IF the sponsor filed taxes, the sponsor MUST submit a copy of the most recent federal income tax return with all supporting schedules and/or W-2s or an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) transcript (even if the sponsor filed electronically). To request IRS-generated transcripts or copies of a tax return, visit the IRS website.
The return must have all pages in the correct order and stapled together
If you did not have to file a tax return, attach a written explanation and a copy of the instructions from the IRS publication that shows you were not obligated to file. For general information on income tax obligations, visit the IRS website.
4. IF the sponsor is submitting assets to meet the minimum income requirement:
Attach evidence of assets with a cash value that equals at least five times the difference between the sponsor’s total household income and the poverty guideline for the sponsor’s household size
Attach evidence of ownership, location and the value of each asset
Attach evidence of liens, mortgages and liabilities (if any) for each asset
Attach additional evidence, when annual income does not meet minimum income requirements. Evidence of current employment or self-employment includes a recent pay statement or a statement from your employer on business stationery. The letter from the sponsor’s employer should show the beginning date of employment, type of work done and income.
Checklists for Preparing Affidavit of Support Forms
Affidavit of Support, Form I-864EZ, Checklist
Before mailing the I-864EZ to the NVC:
1. Verify that the person completing the form IS the person who filed the petition.
2. Verify that the sponsor is only using his/her own employment to meet the affidavit of support requirements.
3. IF the sponsor is sponsoring any family members of the intending immigrant that are listed on the same petition as the sponsored immigrant, the sponsor MUST complete an I-864.
4. IF the sponsor filed taxes, the sponsor MUST submit a copy of the most recent federal income tax return with all supporting schedules and/or W-2s or an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) transcript (even if the sponsor filed electronically). To request IRS-generated transcripts or copies of a tax return, visit the IRS website.
The return must have all pages in the correct order and stapled together
If you did not have to file a tax return, attach a written explanation and a copy of the instructions from the IRS publication that shows you were not obligated to file. For general information on income tax obligations, visit the IRS website.
5. Ensure that:
All pages are in the correct order and stapled together
Each page is filled-out completely
The form is signed
6. IF the sponsor is submitting assets to meet the minimum income requirement, the sponsor MUST complete an I-864.
Checklists for Preparing Affidavit of Support Forms
Joint Sponsor’s Documents (if required) Checklist
1. Verify that the person submitting the form meets the definition of a joint sponsor and NOT the definition of a household member.
2. Ensure that:
All pages are in the correct order and stapled together
Each page is filled-out completely
The form is signed
3. Verify that the petitioner has submitted an I-864 or I-864EZ.
4. Verify that all family members (a spouse and/or children) listed on the same petition as the sponsored immigrant that are either traveling with the sponsored immigrant (or will be traveling within six months of the immigrant’s entry into the U.S.) have been listed on the I-864 IF the joint sponsor is sponsoring them, and they are either traveling with the immigrant, or within six months of the immigrant’s entry to the U.S.
5. Verify that the joint sponsor has submitted proof of U.S. Citizenship or Permanent Resident status.
6. IF the joint sponsor filed taxes, the joint sponsor MUST submit a copy of the most recent federal income tax return with all supporting schedules and/or W-2s or an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) transcript (even if the sponsor filed electronically). To request IRS-generated transcripts or copies of a tax return, visit the IRS website.
The return must have all pages in the correct order and stapled together
If you did not have to file a tax return, attach a written explanation and a copy of the instructions from the IRS publication that shows you were not obligated to file. For general information on income tax obligations, visit the IRS website.
7. IF the sponsor is submitting assets to meet the minimum income requirement:
Attach evidence of assets with a cash value that equals at least five times the difference between the sponsor’s total household income and the poverty guideline for the sponsor’s household size
Attach evidence of ownership, location and the value of each asset
Attach evidence of liens, mortgages and liabilities (if any) for each asset
Attach additional evidence, when annual income does not meet minimum income requirements. Evidence of current employment or self-employment includes a recent pay statement or a statement from your employer on business stationery. The letter from the joint sponsor’s employer should show the beginning date of employment, type of work done and income.
Checklists for Preparing Affidavit of Support Forms
Household Member’s Documents Checklist
You need a separate Form I-864A Contract Between Sponsor and Household Member for each household member whose income and assets are to be considered.
1. Verify that the person submitting the form meets the definition of a household member and NOT the definition of a joint sponsor.
2. Ensure that:
All pages are in the correct order and stapled together
Each page is filled-out completely
The form is signed
3. Verify that the household member completed the household member’s information.
4. Verify that the sponsor completed the sponsor’s information.
5. IF the household member filed taxes, the household member MUST submit a copy of the most recent federal income tax return with all supporting schedules and/or W-2s or an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) transcript (even if the household member filed electronically). To request IRS-generated transcripts or copies of a tax return, visit the IRS website.
The return must have all pages in the correct order and stapled together
If you did not have to file a tax return, attach a written explanation and a copy of the instructions from the IRS publication that shows you were not obligated to file. For general information on income tax obligations, visit the IRS website.
6. IF the household member is submitting assets to meet the minimum income requirement:
Attach evidence of assets with a corresponding cash value
Attach evidence of ownership, location and the value of each asset
Attach evidence of liens, mortgages and liabilities (if any) for each asset
Attach additional evidence, when annual income does not meet minimum income requirements. Evidence of current employment or self-employment includes a recent pay statement or a statement from your employer on business stationery. The letter from the household member’s employer should show the beginning date of employment, type of work done and income.
