Source: https://fam.state.gov/FAM/09FAM/09FAM030208.html
Timestamp: 2019-08-23 01:28:45
Document Index: 190141974

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 3', 'art 1', 'arts 2', 'art 5', 'art 4', 'art 6', 'art 5', 'art 1', 'art 8', 'art 6', 'art 8', 'art 6', 'art 8', 'art 6', 'art 9', 'art 9', 'art 8', 'art 6', 'art 1', 'art 2', 'art 3']

(CT:VISA-483; 01-03-2018)
(U) INA 212(a)(4) provides that an applicant who is likely to become a public charge is inadmissible. All immigrant visa (IV) and nonimmigrant visa (NIV) applicants, except those mentioned in 9 FAM 302.8-2(B)(6), are subject to a public charge ineligibility.
9 FAM 302.8-2(B)(1) (U) What is "Public Charge"
(1) (U) An applicant is likely to become a public charge if he or she is likely, at any time after admission, to become primarily dependent on the U.S. Government (Federal, state, or local) for subsistence. This means:
(a) (U) Receipt of public cash assistance for income maintenance (see paragraph b below);
(b) (U) Institutionalization for long-term care at U.S. Government expense (see paragraph c below).
(2) (U) When considering the likelihood of an applicant becoming a public charge, you must take into account the totality of the alien's circumstances at the time of visa application, including at a minimum, age, health, family status, assets, resources, financial status, education, and skills. (See 9 FAM 302.8-2(B)(2).)
(3) (U) An applicant required to submit an affidavit of support who fails to submit a sufficient affidavit of support is inadmissible as a public charge. (See 9 FAM 302.8-2(B)(3).)
c. (U) Institutionalization for Long Term Care:
d. (U) Benefits Not Considered for Public Charge as Cash Assistance For Income Maintenance:
(1) (U) There are many forms of public assistance that an applicant may have accepted in the past, or that you may reasonably believe an applicant might receive after admission to the United States, that are of a non-cash and/or supplemental nature and should not be considered to be benefits when examining the applicant under INA 212(a)(4), and may only be considered as part of the totality of the applicant’s circumstances in determining whether an applicant is likely to become a public charge.
(2) (U) Although the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 prohibit aliens from receiving many kinds of public benefits, it specifically exempts from this prohibition several of the public benefits indicated below.
(3) (U) Benefits that are not to be considered as public cash assistance or income include, but are not limited to:
(a) (U) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (formerly called “Food Stamps”);
(b) (U) The Medicaid Program (other than payment under Medicaid for long-term institutional care);
(h) (U) Child care benefits;
(j) (U) Transportation vouchers
(o) (U) In-kind emergency community services, such as soup kitchens and crisis counseling;
(p) (U) State and local programs that serve the same purposes as the Federal in-kind programs listed above; and
(q) (U) Any other Federal, State, or local program in which benefits are paid in-kind, by voucher or by any means other than payment of cash benefits to the eligible person for income maintenance.
(4) (U) Cash benefits that have been earned (e.g., social security payments, old age survivors disability insurance (OASDI), unemployment benefits, U.S. Government pension benefits, and veterans benefits) are not considered public cash assistance for the purposes of a public charge determination under INA 212(a)(4).
9 FAM 302.8-2(B)(2) (U) Determining “Totality of Circumstances”
(1) (U) In making a determination whether an applicant is inadmissible under INA 212(a)(4)(B), in every case, you must consider at a minimum the applicant's:
(d) (U) Assets, resources, and financial status; and
(e) (U) Education and skills.
(2) (U) These factors, and any other reasonable factors considered relevant by an officer in a specific case, will make up the "totality of the circumstances" that you must consider when making a public charge determination.
(3) (U) Value of the Affidavit of Support: A properly filed, non-fraudulent Form I-864 in those cases where it is required, is a positive factor in the totality of the circumstances. The applicant must still meet the INA 212(a)(4) requirements and satisfy the “totality of the circumstances” analysis, which requires the consideration of the factors listed in paragraph (1) above .
b. (U) Health:
(1) (U) You must take into consideration the panel physician's report regarding the applicant's health, especially if there is a prognosis that might prevent or ultimately hinder the applicant from maintaining employment successfully or indicate the likelihood that the alien would require institutionalization at government expense. As noted above in 9 FAM 302.8-2(B)(1) paragraph (c), the likelihood that an applicant will receive Medicaid that is used to support applicants who reside in an institution for long-term care – such as a nursing home or mental health institution – may be considered as an adverse factor in the totality of the circumstances for purposes of public charge determinations.
(2) (U) Additionally, certain health issues which might affect employment, increase likelihood of future medical expenses, or otherwise affect the applicant's ability to adequately provide for himself or herself or dependents should increase the burden on the applicant to provide evidence that they will not become a public charge.
(3) (U) This could include the need to provide proof of medical insurance or other ability to pay medical expenses in the United States.
c. (U) Family Status: You should consider the number of dependents for whom the applicant would have financial responsibility. Having a significant number of dependents may be a negative factor, because greater resources are required to avoid relying on public assistance and benefits from the government. An applicant generally should at least be able to support the number of dependents at 125 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
d. (U) Applicant’s Age: You should consider the age of the applicant. For a person who is under the age of 18 and either is not accompanied by a parent or guardian or not following to join a parent or guardian, age is a negative factor in the totality of the circumstances. If the applicant is 18 years of age or older, you should consider what skills the applicant has to make him or her employable in the United States. An applicant’s advanced age may be a negative factor, if you believe it adversely affects the person’s employability and may increase the potential for healthcare related costs.
e. (U) Education and Work Experience:
(1) (U) For applicants with an approved Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker, you should review the applicant's education and work experience to determine if these are compatible with the duties of the applicant's job offer (if any).
(2) (U) You should consider the applicant's skills, length of employment, and frequency of job changes. You may conclude that work experience is evidence of skills.
(3) (U) Even if a job offer is not required for the visa classification, you should assess the likelihood of the alien's ability to become or remain self-sufficient in the United States. (See paragraph f below.) You may consider employment plans or tentative job offers as evidence towards the totality of the circumstances for non-Employment based applicants.
(4) (U) Employment Considerations and the I-864: You may not consider an offer of employment to an applicant in place of a Form I-864 in cases where the I-864 is required. For more information on the impact of employment on the affidavit of support requirement see 9 FAM 302.8-2(C)(1) paragraph c.
(5) (U) Information Contained on Approved Labor Certification: The majority of employment-based immigrants are subject to the labor certification requirement under INA 212(a)(5) (see 22 CFR 40.51 and 9 FAM 302.1-5(B)). You may presume, that in cases such as this, when a Labor Department Form ETA-9089, Application for Permanent Employment Certification, or Form ETA-750-Part A & B, Application for Alien Employment Certification is certified, that the position is permanent and the prevailing wage has been met. If you identify new facts that indicate that the position is not permanent or that the prevailing wage has not been met, you must follow the procedures at 9 FAM 504.2-8, Revocation and Revalidation of Immigration Visa Petitions. Some employment-based immigrants require an affidavit of support, see 9 FAM 302.8-2(C)(1) paragraph a(3) for more information on that requirement.
f. (U) The Applicant's Financial Resources:
(1) (U) Consideration of Current or Prior Receipt of Public Assistance:
(a) (U) The public charge provision in INA 212(a)(4) is prospective in nature. You must, therefore, base the determination of the likelihood that the applicant will become a public charge in the future on the assessment of the alien's totality of the circumstances, including whether those circumstances reasonably lead to a determination that the alien is likely to obtain public benefits if he or she enters the United States.
(b) (U) Receipt of Public Assistance by the Applicant:
(i) (U) Past or current receipt of public assistance of any type by the visa applicant or a family member in the visa applicant’s household is relevant to determining whether the applicant is likely to become a public charge in the future but the determination must be made on the present circumstances.
(ii) (U) If the applicant's financial circumstances are significantly different than when the applicant received public assistance, that would be a factor against a public charge finding under INA 212(a)(4). However, if the applicant's financial circumstances are similar, that would be a strong factor in favor of a public charge finding.
(iii) (U) You must review carefully Form I-864 or Form I-134 and all attachments submitted with Form I-134, as well as evidence of the sponsor's current financial circumstances, in such cases.
(iv) (U) See 9 FAM 302.8-2(C) for more information on the affidavit of support.
(2) (U) Evidence of Financial Resources:
(a) (U) In general: If an applicant has sufficient resources, it is a positive factor in the totality of the circumstances as the applicant is less likely to become a public charge. You should refer to 9 FAM 302.8-2(C)(12), Poverty Income Guidelines, published by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Income above 125% of the Federal Poverty Guideline and assets in the amount of 5 times 125% of the Federal Poverty Guideline generally constitutes sufficient resources. See USCIS, Public Charge Fact Sheet, April 29, 2011.
(b) (U) Family members:
(i) (U) All accompanying dependent family members and other dependent family members already in the United States are considered to be within the family unit for purposes of applying the poverty income guidelines.
(ii) (U) A dependent family member’s receipt of public benefits is a heavily negative factor in the totality of circumstances unless the applicant can demonstrate that his or her prospective income and assets with the income and assets of the others in the family will be sufficient for the family to overcome the poverty income guideline for the family.
(c) (U) Informing Applicants of Required Documentation: You should make every effort to inform applicants in advance of the visa interview of the required support documents. You should be in a position to issue or deny the visa under INA 212(a)(4) at the end of the initial visa interview, assuming that the applicant has made reasonable efforts to submit the evidence originally requested. Applicants who are not likely to overcome the public charge provision even after the presentation of additional evidence should be refused under INA 212(a)(4) instead of INA 221(g). Adequate time and effort spent prior to and during the initial interview can save work for the post and the applicant in this respect.
(d) (U) Evidence of Resources: An applicant may establish the adequacy of financial resources by submitting evidence of bank deposits, ownership of property or real estate, ownership of stocks and bonds, insurance policies, or income from business investments sufficient to provide for his or her needs, as well as those of any dependent family member, until suitable employment is located. (The amount sufficient will depend on the applicant's age, physical condition, and the circumstances and size of the applicant’s family.)
(U) The date the account was opened;
(U) The number and amount of deposits and withdrawals during the last 12 months;
(U) The present balance. This information may prevent attempted abuse such as an initial deposit of a substantial sum of money being made within a relatively short time prior to the immigrant visa application; and
(U) How the money, if in a foreign bank in foreign currency, is to be transferred to the United States.
(iv) (U) Income from business investments;
(v) (U) Insurance policies; or
(vi) (U) Sufficient support from a combination of the above sources.
(c) (U) The submission of Form I-134 alone is not sufficient to establish that the beneficiary is not likely to become a public charge. You must make a thorough evaluation of other factors, such as:
(U) NOTE: When there are compelling or forceful ties between the applicant and the sponsor, such as a close family relationship or friendship of long standing, you may favorably consider the affidavit. On the other hand, an affidavit submitted by a casual friend or distant relative who has little or no personal knowledge of the applicant has more limited value. If the sponsor is not a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (LPR), the likelihood of the sponsor's support of an immigrant visa (IV) applicant until the applicant can become self-supporting is a particularly important consideration.
(v) (U) Other obligations and expenses of the sponsor, as indicated on the I-134.
(f) (U) If the sponsor has a well-established business and submits a rating from a recognized business rating organization, you may accept evidence other than a copy of the sponsor's latest income tax return to establish the sponsor's ability to provide financial support to the applicant.
g. (U) Public Charge Bonds:
(1) (U) Submission to the Department: In rare cases where you have to consider the use of a bond in either a NIV or IV case, you must consult with CA/VO/L/A for assistance. In cases where the applicant appears to be ineligible as a public charge, the sponsor or another person may wish to post a public charge bond pursuant to INA 213. The public charge bond should be used sparingly. When an applicant appears likely on the facts to become a public charge (for example because of an acute physical condition and lack of adequate resources), the filing of a bond would not serve any purpose if the needs of the applicant would easily overcome the value of the bond.
(2) (U) The visa issued in such cases must carry a notation that the bond was posted and the notification (or a certified copy thereof) that the bond had been posted must also be attached to the visa.
9 FAM 302.8-2(B)(3) (U) Applying INA 212(a)(4) to Immigrants
a. (U) Determining Likelihood of Inadmissibility: INA 212(a)(4) applies to all visa applicants, with a few exceptions (see 9 FAM 302.8-2(B)(6) below).
(1) (U) You must base the determination of the likelihood that the applicant will become a public charge based on an assessment of the totality of the circumstances regarding the applicant.
(2) (U) You must be able to point to circumstances which make it not merely possible, but likely, that the applicant will become a public charge at any time in the future, as defined in 9 FAM 302.8-2(B)(1), above.
b. (U) Effect of Affidavit of Support Requirement on Public Charge Determinations:
(1) (U) Under INA 213A, an affidavit of support is a requirement for certain applicants as a part of the public charge inadmissibility determination under INA 212(a)(4). The requirements under both INA 212(a)(4) and INA 213Amust be satisfied when the applicant is subject to INA 213A.
(a) (U) A properly filed and sufficient, non-fraudulent Form I-864, may not necessarily satisfy the INA 212(a)(4) requirements, but may provide additional evidence in the review of public charge determination.
(b) (U) You may consider the likelihood that the sponsor(s) will support the applicant in determining public charge.
(c) (U) If you have concerns about whether a particular Form I-864 may be “fraudulent,” you should contact CA/FPP for guidance.
c. (U) Who is Subject to INA 213A: For information on applicants subject to the requirements of INA 213A see 9 FAM 302.8-2(C)(1).
d. (U) Diversity Immigrants (DV) Applicants: DV applicants differ from most IV applicants in that the Diversity Immigrant program was designed to permit immigration without petitioners or sponsors. As in other IV cases, you should review the totality of the DV applicant’s circumstances to assess her or his likelihood of becoming a public charge. Although the DV program requires a certain level of education or work experience (see 9 FAM 502.6-3), these are minimums and must be considered in the totality of the DV applicant’s circumstances to determine his ability to become or remain self-sufficient in the United States.
9 FAM 302.8-2(B)(4) (U) Applying INA 212(a)(4) in NIV Cases
a. (U) NIV Applicants and INA 212(a)(4):
(1) (U) All NIV applicants, except those mentioned in 9 FAM 302.8-2(B)(6) below, are subject to a INA 212(a)(4).
(2) (U) Additionally, if an applicant cannot overcome INA 214(b), you should not expend resources on pursuing a possible INA 212(a)(4) ineligibility, as the applicant's circumstances might be very different should he or she apply again in the future.
(3) (U) In determining inadmissibility under INA 212(a)(4), you must be aware of the differences in the requirements imposed on immigrant, as opposed to NIV applicants. The amount and type of evidence generally required in an immigrant visa case is much greater than that which is required in a nonimmigrant visa case. Evidence that establishes the applicant is entitled to an NIV is generally sufficient to meet the requirements of INA 212(a)(4), absent evidence that gives you reason to believe that a public charge concern exists.
b. (U) Additional Evidence of Support in NIV Cases: If the evidence of nonimmigrant status submitted does not indicate adequate provision for the applicant's support while in the United States and for the return abroad, you may request specific financial evidence. Such evidence may take the form of a Form I-134 from a sponsor that clearly indicates the sponsor's willingness to act in such capacity and the extent of financial responsibility undertaken for the applicant, or a surety bond (See 9 FAM 302.8-2(B)(2) paragraph g)
c. (U) Alien’s Government Requiring Evidence of Support: Some foreign governments require their nationals to present evidence of support from a U.S. sponsor prior to the issuance of a passport or exit permit. Such documentation is usually required in the form of an Affidavit of Support guaranteeing that, while in the United States, the applicant will not become a burden on the applicant's country. Consular officers who are serving in a country with this requirement should not automatically require all applicants applying for visas to submit a copy of the support evidence submitted to the applicant's government. However, you may request a copy, as warranted.
d. (U) Aliens Seeking Admission For Medical Treatment: If the personal resources of an applicant seeking admission to the United States for medical treatment are not sufficient or are unavailable for use outside the country of residence, detailed documentation regarding the arrangements made for the applicant's medical care and support may confirm the financial ability of the guarantor to pay for medical treatment. Normally, this would include letters from the treating physician or hospital explaining the course and cost of treatment, including financial arrangements therefor, and letters from family, friends, or charitable organizations undertaking to cover the costs of medical care and support.
e. (U) Alien Seeking Admission as K Nonimmigrants: See 9 FAM 302.8-2(B)(2) paragraph f(3).
f. (U) Public Charge Bonds: In cases where the applicant is otherwise eligible for a visa, including under INA 214(b), the procedures for posting bond for NIVs are the same as those for immigrant visas (IV). (See 9 FAM 302.8-2(B)(2) paragraph g.)
9 FAM 302.8-2(B)(5) (U) INA 221(g) versus INA 212(a)(4) Refusals
(U) The determination of whether INA 221(g) or INA 212(a)(4) is the appropriate ground of refusal is determined by whether or not you have decided that you have enough information to make a finding of whether the applicant is likely to become a public charge under INA 212(a)(4).
(2) (U) On the other hand, if the Affidavit of Support is technically complete but does not reflect sufficient financial resources even after any possible joint sponsors have submitted an Affidavit of Support, or the applicant has no Form I-864, then a substantive problem exists insofar as the petitioner or sponsor does not meet the qualifying criteria set forth in INA 213A, and you must refuse the visa under INA 212(a)(4).
(3) (U) You should note that applications refused under INA 212(a)(4), unlike those refused under INA 221(g), are not subject to termination under INA 203(g). See 9 FAM 504.13, Termination of Immigrant Visa Registration for more information on termination.
9 FAM 302.8-2(B)(6) (U) Aliens Exempt from INA 212(a)(4)
(CT:VISA-508; 03-12-2018)
(U) The following visa classes are exempt from INA 212(a)(4):
(1) (U) Nonimmigrants who qualify under INA 101(a)(15)(A) or INA 101(a)(15)(G), who are exempt from the public charge provisions of the law under INA 102 or under INA 212(d)(8);
(2) (U) Nonimmigrants who qualify for a C-2 visa under INA 101(a)(15)(C) or for a NATO-1, NATO-2, NATO-3, NATO-4, or NATO-6 visa, who are exemption from public charge provisions as codified in 22 CFR 41.21(d)(2)(iii) and (v);
(3) (U) Nonimmigrants who qualify under INA 101(a)(15)(T);
(4) (U) Nonimmigrants who qualify under INA 101(a)(15)(U);
(5) (U) VAWA self-petitioners; and
(6) (U) Qualified aliens described in section 431(c) of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1641(c)).
9 FAM 302.8-2(C) (U) Affidavit of Support
9 FAM 302.8-2(C)(1) (U) Affidavit of Support Requirement and Purpose
(CT:VISA-626; 07-10-2018)
a. (U) Who Requires Form I-864, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the Act? Pursuant to INA 213A the following applicants are required to submit a properly executed Affidavit of Support (Form I-864):
(c) (U) Child of a U.S. citizen (including adopted orphans or Hague Convention adoptees unless the child will automatically become a citizen upon fulfillment of conditions of section 320 of the Act); (See paragraph b(1) below); and
(d) (U) K nonimmigrants adjusting to lawful permanent resident (LPR) status (See paragraph b(3)(d) below).
(a) (U) Unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens and their minor children, if any (F1);
(b) (U) Spouses, children, and unmarried sons and daughters of permanent resident applicants (F2A/F2B);
(c) (U) Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens (F3) including spouses and minor children; and
(d) (U) Brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens including spouses and minor children (F4).
(a) (U) Beneficiary of a petition filed by a U.S. citizen or LPR who is the beneficiary’s relative or the beneficiary of a petition filed by an entity in which the beneficiary’s U.S. citizen or LPR relative has a significant ownership interest. (Note, however, that no I-864 is required if the beneficiary’s relative is a brother or sister unless that brother or sister is a U.S. citizen, in which case an I-864 is still required);
(b) (U) Beneficiary of a petition filed by an entity in which a U.S. citizen or LPR relative of the applicant has a 5 percent or greater ownership interest. The citizen or LPR relative of the applicant to be employed by the petitioning entity must file Form I-864 on behalf of the applicant;
b. (U) Applicants Not Required to Submit a Form I-864:
(1) (U) Certain IR-2, IR-3, and IH-3 Applicants who will qualify under INA 320, part of the Child Citizenship Act of 2000:
(a) (U) Certain categories of children born abroad acquire U.S. citizenship automatically upon fulfillment of the conditions of INA 320. INA 320 may apply to:
(i) (U) An orphan classified as an IR-3 who meets the requirements of INA 101(b)(1)(F) or Hague Convention adoptee classified as an IH-3 who meets the requirements of INA 101(b)(1)(G), provided the child is residing in the United States in the legal and physical custody of the adoptive U.S. citizen parent pursuant to a lawful admission for permanent residence while under the age of 18;
(ii) (U) An adopted child classified as an IR-2 who meets the requirements of INA 101(b)(1)(E), provided the child is residing in the United States in the legal and physical custody of the adoptive U.S. citizen parent pursuant to a lawful admission for permanent residence while under the age of 18; and
(iii) (U) A child classified as an IR-2 (born in or out of wedlock) to a parent who is now a U.S. citizen, provided the child is residing in the United States in the legal and physical custody of the adoptive U.S. citizen parent pursuant to a lawful admission for permanent residence while under the age of 18 and will be residing permanently in the United States in the legal and physical custody of the U.S. citizen parent as of the time of admission.
(iv) (U) Automatic acquisition of U.S. citizenship occurs when the last of the conditions of INA 320 has been fulfilled (while the child is under the age of 18). Because it can be difficult to ascertain the exact day the “is residing in” requirement is met, in general, provided there is sufficient evidence that the child and parents in fact will be residing in the United States once the child is admitted as a lawful permanent resident (and if all other conditions have already been met), the date of lawful admission for permanent residence may be used as the date of automatic acquisition.
(b) (U) Because the obligations that INA 213A imposes on a sponsor who executes a Form I-864 terminate when the sponsored alien acquires citizenship, Form I-864 should not be required for those categories of immigrants who will acquire citizenship upon admission to the United States.
(c) (U) Instead, the applicant (or U.S. citizen parent if the immigrant is under 14 years of age) must file Form I-864W, Intending Immigrant's Affidavit of Support Exemption.
(d) (U) Although the visa applicant is still subject to INA 212(a)(4), the public charge concern will no longer apply to the applicant once the immigrant acquires citizenship. You should consider the applicant’s acquisition of citizenship immediately upon admission when you determine whether the applicant is likely to become a public charge at any time while in the United States as an alien.
(e) (U) In any case in which post questions whether or not the visa applicant will immediately qualify for U.S. citizenship upon admission to the United States as an LPR, posts should consult Consular Affairs/Overseas Citizens Services (CA/OCS) on the citizenship issue. If CA/OCS advises that the applicant will acquire U.S. citizenship at the moment of admission at the port of entry (POE), and not at any later point; then the applicant is exempt from the Form I-864 requirement, but the applicant or petitioner instead must file the Form I-864W.
(f) (U) In these cases it is unlikely in the absence of unusual circumstances that the individual will become a public charge while still an alien prior to obtaining U.S. citizenship. For IR-3 and IH-3 adoption cases, you should also keep in mind that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) does not approve Form I-600, Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative, Form I-600A, Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition, Form I-800, Petition to Classify Convention Adoptee as an Immediate Relative, or Form I-800A, Application for Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from a Convention Country, unless satisfied that the adoptive parents are capable of supporting the child.
(i) (U) terminates once the sponsored alien has worked in the United States in a job covered under Title II of the Social Security Act (SSA); and
(b) (U) If the applicant alien can demonstrate 40 quarters of work under the SSA, the applicant is not required to file Form I-864. (9 FAM 302.8-2(C)(11) for procedures to follow in such cases.)
(c) (U) Post should advise an applicant seeking to demonstrate 40 quarters of the SSA coverage to submit Form I-864W and to attach an earnings and benefits statement from the SSA.
(d) (U) To obtain an earnings and benefits statement from SSA, immigrant visa (IV) applicants should complete Form SSA-7004-SM, Request for Social Security Statement.
(e) (U) If you have questions about Social Security please call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 (toll free). For General Information TDD/TTY, call 1 (800) 325-0778 (toll free).
(f) (U) The term "quarter" means:
(g) (U) Every year the SSA establishes the requisite per quarter minimum income. Any individual earning three times this established amount during the calendar year, for example, would be credited with three quarters of coverage, even if the individual worked for only one month. The sponsored immigrant is not to be credited with any quarter beginning after December 31, 1996 during which the sponsored immigrant received any Federal means-tested public benefit.
(h) (U) INA 213A(a)(3)(B) states that, in determining the number of qualifying quarters of coverage under title II of the Social Security Act, an alien is to be credited with:
(i) (U) A parent-child relationship need not have existed when the parent worked the 40 quarters. For example, an alien can claim those quarters that the parent worked prior to the alien's birth or adoption.
(j) (U) If the intending immigrant has or can be credited with 40 quarters of coverage under the Social Security Act, and thus is not required filing an I-864, the applicant must file the I-864W instead.
(a) (U) The Form I-864 requirement does not apply to employment-based visa cases, including Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs), other than those involving a relative who is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident who have a significant ownership interest in the petitioning entity. Thus, if the Form I-864 is not required of the principal applicant in these employment-based cases, the accompanying or follow to join aliens are similarly not required to file the I-864.
(b) (U) The Form I-864 is not required for Diversity Immigrants (DV applicants), returning resident (SB) applicants, special immigrant juveniles, applicants for registry, individuals granted U nonimmigrant status, refugees, or asylees.
(c) (U) The Form I-864 is not required for self-petitioning widows or widowers; or the abused spouse, parent, or child of a U.S. citizen, the abused spouse or child of a lawful permanent residence, or any derivative child of an abuse spouse or child of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent residence who have an approved I-360,Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant. However, these applicants must file the Form I-864W, Intending Immigrant’s Affidavit of Support Exemption.
(d) (U) The Form I-864 is not required for K visa applicants. However, such applicants will have to submit Form I-864 to DHS/USCIS at the time of application for adjustment of status to that of a lawful permanent resident (LPR).
c. (U) Effect of Applicant's Own Employment in the United States: You may consider the applicant's employment in determining whether the 125 percent minimum income requirement has been met in a visa case only if the beneficiary of Form I-864 has worked in the same job he or she will have after entry as an immigrant. Under these circumstances, the applicant's income may be considered part of the sponsor's income. If the above criteria are met, and any of the applicant's family members will be accompanying him or her to the United States, the principal applicant in such cases may provide Form I-864A, Contract between Sponsor and Household Member, on their behalf to help reach the additional income level that will be required.
d. (U) Purposes: The purpose of Form I-864:
(1) (U) Creates a legally binding and enforceable contract between the sponsor(s) and the U.S. Government;
(2) (U) Requires the sponsor(s) to provide the applicant support necessary to maintain the applicant at an income that is at least 125 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (or 100 percent if the petitioning sponsor is an active member of the U.S. Armed Forces, other than for training, and is sponsoring his or her spouse or child(ren)) to ensure that newly-arrived aliens will be able to subsist for an extended period at a level above the poverty level; and
9 FAM 302.8-2(C)(2) (U) What is in the Affidavit of Support Packet
a. (U) The documents listed below, make up the affidavit of support packet and are designed to assist the sponsor’s understanding and proper completion of the Affidavit of Support required by INA 213A:
(1) (U) Form I-864 or Form I-864EZ;
(2) (U) Current Federal Poverty Guidelines Schedule, Form I-864P;
(3) (U) Form I-864A, Contract Between Sponsor and Household Member;
(4) (U) Form I-865, Sponsor's Notice of Change of Address; and
(5) (U) Checklist for preparing Form I-864.
b. (U) The National Visa Center (NVC) will include the checklist and other documents in the Instruction Package for Immigrant Visa Applicants, indicating the supporting documents required with Form I-864 or Form I-864EZ. Posts may reproduce the checklist for local use and include it with Form I-864 or Form I-864-EZ that are distributed locally. Posts should also, when possible, make it available through websites and information units. Posts must maintain updated poverty guidelines and ensure that they are included with all Affidavit of Support forms. NVC and posts should also make sponsors aware of the facts that their income must meet the poverty guidelines at the time of Affidavit of Support filing with NVC or with post.
c. (U) This documentation, supported by items listed in paragraph a above, constitutes necessary (but not sole) evidence for establishing that the applicant is not inadmissible under INA 212(a)(4)(C) for those applicants required to submit an Affidavit of Support, and establishes the sponsor's income and, if need be, assets.
d. (U) A sponsor may use the Form I-864EZ in place of Form I-864 if he or she meets all of the following requirements:
(1) (U) The sponsor is the visa petitioner (who filed the Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative);
(2) (U) The Affidavit of Support is filed on behalf of only one intending immigrant, who is the only person listed on the Form I-130;
(3) (U) The sponsor is seeking to qualify based solely on his or her income from salary or pension (not on the basis of any other income or assets) as shown on the most recent Federal income tax return that the sponsor filed prior to the time of signing the Form I-864EZ; and
(4) (U) All of the sponsor’s income is shown on one or more IRS Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement to demonstrate employment income, and/or Form IRS-1099-MISC, Miscellaneous Income, to document pension income (except, in cases where the copy of the tax return is an IRS-generated transcript, a copy of the W-2 or 1099-MISC is not necessary). The Form I-864EZ may not be filed if the sponsor will be submitting a Form I-864A, if a joint sponsor will be required, or if the sponsor is an “alternative sponsor” who is substituting for the original sponsor, who has died (see 9 FAM 302.8-2(C)(3) paragraph e below).
9 FAM 302.8-2(C)(3) (U) Sponsors
(1) (U) To qualify as a sponsor, an individual must be a human being (not a corporation or other business entity) who:
(a) (U) Is a citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident (LPR) of the United States (including conditional residents);
(b) (U) Is at least 18 years of age;
(c) (U) Filed the petition which forms the basis for the visa application (or has a significant ownership interest in the entity which filed the petition); and
(d) (U) Is domiciled in any of the 50 States of the United States, the District of Columbia, or any territory or possession of the United States. (9 FAM 302.8-2(C)(5) below.)
(2) (U) The “sponsor” for purposes of the Affidavit of Support is the petitioner; anyone else is either a joint or co-sponsor. All references to requirements for the “sponsor” or “sponsors” would apply not only to the petitioning sponsor, but also to any co-sponsor household members executing Form I-864A and joint sponsors submitting a supplementary Form I-864.
b. (U) Petitioner Must Submit Form I-864 or Form I-864EZ: The petitioner must file the I-864 for all applicants contained in the petition.
(1) (U) An original or a copy of the I-864 should be included for each applicant included on the petition. In most cases, the petitioner must submit Form I-864 or Form I-864EZ, Affidavit of Support under Section 213A of the Act.
(2) (U) A joint sponsor may be used to overcome the Federal poverty level income requirements if the petitioner is unable to overcome the Federal poverty level.
(3) (U) If a joint sponsor is used, the petitioner may not use Form I-864EZ and must use Form I-864. (9 FAM 302.8-2(C)(5) below.)
(4) (U) There are, however, two exceptions to the requirement of the petitioner completing Form I-864. (See paragraph d below)
c. (U) Petitioner May Limit Number of Applicants Sponsored: A petitioner may limit sponsorship to just the principal applicant and any dependents that will be traveling to the United States at the same time. By limiting the number of sponsored individuals, the petitioner will reduce the household size and thereby lower the income requirement. The petitioner could file another Affidavit of Support on behalf of the other (following-to-join) dependents at a later date when the petitioner and the principal applicant have improved their financial situation. Alternatively, in cases that involve more than one visa applicant, a petitioner may sponsor one or more immigrants and choose to use a joint sponsor for the remainder of the applicants, so as to comply with the poverty guidelines. Regardless, a Form I-864 would have to be executed by the petitioner for all applicants. Only then could a joint sponsor be used if needed.
d. (U) Sponsor When The Petitioner Is A Business Entity: When the petitioner is a business entity, a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (LPR) relative (defined at 8 CFR 213a.1 as a husband, wife, father, mother, child, adult son or daughter, or sibling) who has a significant ownership interest in the petitioning entity, the petitioner must submit Form I-864. The alternative sponsor must be the U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (LPR) relative who filed the petition or has a significant ownership interest in the petitioning entity and he or she must meet the other criteria outlined in 9 FAM 302.8-2(C)(4).
(1) (U) INA 213A(f)(5)(B) allows certain family members to become “substitute sponsors” if a visa petitioner dies following approval of the visa petition, but before the beneficiary obtains his or her permanent residence. If the visa petition was approved prior to the death of the petitioner, the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS), may, in its discretion, reinstate the petition for humanitarian reasons, (8 CFR 205.1(a)(3)(i)(C)), and determine that the original sponsor’s petition should not be revoked. (See 9 FAM 504.2-8(C)(4).) The substitute or alternative sponsor must be the spouse, parent, mother-in-law, father-in-law, sibling, child (at least 18 years of age), son, daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, brother-in-law, grandparent, or grandchild of the sponsored alien, or the legal guardian of the sponsored alien. The substitute or alternative sponsor must meet the other criteria outlined in paragraph a above..
(2) (U) Eligibility of derivative applicants seeking to follow-to-join a principal applicant who has already acquired lawful permanent resident (LPR) status is dependent on the continuing LPR status of the principal, not on the status of the petitioner. Therefore, if the petitioner dies after the principal applicant has already become an LPR and one or more derivative applicants seek to follow to join the principal applicant, the derivatives retain eligibility to follow-to-join despite the death of the petitioner, and there is no need for reinstatement of the petition. In such circumstances, the derivative applicant seeking to follow-to-join is inadmissible unless a substitute or alternative sponsor, as described in the paragraph above, executes a Form I-864 with respect to the derivative applicant. The substitute or alternative sponsor may not file a Form I-864EZ.
9 FAM 302.8-2(C)(4) (U) Required Supporting Evidence
(1) (U) Use of the Term Sponsor: The sponsor is the petitioner; anyone else is a joint or co-sponsor. All references to requirements for the sponsor or sponsors would apply not only to the petitioner sponsor, but also to any co-sponsor household members executing Form I-864A and joint sponsors submitting a supplementary Form I-864.
(2) (U) What is Income? Income, for the purpose of Form I-864, means the total unadjusted income as shown on the tax return, before deductions. Total unadjusted income includes not only salary (if any) but also monetary gains from any other source, such as rent, interest, dividends, etc.
b. (U) Required Documentation: The sponsor(s) must provide the following documentation to satisfactorily complete Form I-864:
(1) (U) Federal Income Tax Return:
(a) (U) Each sponsor must submit with Form I-864 a photocopy or Internal Revenue Service (IRS)-generated transcript of the most recent income tax return that the sponsor had filed prior to the time of the Affidavit of Support signing. A person may obtain a free IRS-generated transcript by filing IRS Form 4506-T (Form IRS-4506-T), Request for Transcript of Tax Return. Ordinarily, the sponsor's signature on Form I-864 is sufficient to qualify the photocopy or transcript as a "certified" copy. In those cases where you question the authenticity of the submitted tax return or transcript, you may require the sponsor to submit an IRS-certified copy of the tax return.
(b) (U) A person obtains an IRS-certified copy by submitting form IRS-4506, Request for Copy of Tax Return, and paying the requisite filing fee. In such cases, you should generally require that the sponsor have the IRS-certified copy sent directly to post by the IRS. The sponsor should ask the IRS to include the applicant's name and case number on the form so that it can be readily attached to the correct file upon receipt at post. You may not require IRS-certified copies of tax returns of all sponsors prior to review of the submitted tax return. IRS-certified copies may only be required on a case-by-case basis when you question the validity of the submitted tax return.
(c) (U) Failure to file a required income tax return does not excuse the sponsor from the requirement of providing tax returns as supporting documents. If a tax return should have been filed, the Affidavit of Support will not be considered sufficient until the sponsor has done so and supplied the appropriate copies for consideration with Form I-864. If the sponsor did not file a tax return, the sponsor must prove that he or she was not required to file because the sponsor’s income was below the IRS earning threshold, however, the sponsor must still submit a W-2. If the income requirement cannot be met, based on the income reported in the tax return, but the sponsor claims to have reported his or her income on the tax return, you may advise applicants or sponsors that an original or amended tax return will be required in order to process the immigrant visa (IV) application to conclusion.
(d) (U) You do not have the authority to require an individual to pay taxes or correctly report income.
(e) (U) If the sponsor is claiming to meet the poverty guidelines based on money earned at work (salary) and submitted an original tax transcript, the sponsor will only need to submit a Form W-2 if his or her status is "married filing jointly." If the sponsor submitted a copy of a tax return (Form-1040) – not a transcript – then the sponsor, regardless of filing status, will need to include a W-2.
(2) (U) Household Member Tax Returns: If the sponsor is relying on income from any household member or dependents (as defined at 9 FAM 302.8-2(C)(6) below) to reach the minimum income requirement, an IRS transcript or a copy of each such individual’s most recent tax return is also required, and each such person must complete a Form I-864-A.
(3) (U) Employment evidence:
(a) (U) Except as provided in paragraph(5), below, if the information on the Affidavit of Support and tax return establish that the sponsor's current income meets or exceeds the poverty guidelines for the year the sponsor submitted Form I-864 in support of the Immigrant Visa (IV) application, either by submitting to NVC directly or to post at the time of application, you may determine that Form I-864 is sufficient without requesting any further evidence of the sponsor’s income. (9 FAM 302.8-2(C)(12), Poverty Income Guidelines.)
(b) (U) You should request additional evidence (i.e., employment letter, recent pay statements, or other financial data) if there is a specific reason to question the veracity of the income stated on Form I-864 or the accompanying document(s).
(c) (U) If the Affidavit of Support or tax return reflects income below the Federal Poverty Guidelines for the year Form I-864 was submitted, you should request additional evidence of:
(i) (U) Current employment or self-employment; and
(ii) (U) Recent pay statements, a letter from the employer on business letterhead - showing dates of employment, wages paid, and type of work performed - or other financial data.
(iii) (U) If the sponsor with income below the Federal Poverty Guidelines is unemployed or retired, you should request evidence of ongoing income from other means, such as retirement benefits, other household members' income, or other significant assets.
(d) (U) Tax-free income (such as a housing allowance for clergy or military personnel) and other tangible benefits in lieu of salary are considered income. The sponsor bears the burden of proving the nature and amount of income.
(4) (U) Evidence of Eligibility to Sponsor: Evidence to establish eligibility as a sponsor, including citizenship or lawful permanent resident (LPR) status, age, and domicile (as defined in 9 FAM 302.8-2(C)(5)).
(5) (U) Additional Assets Evidence:
(a) (U) The Form I-864 does not require sponsors to submit evidence of assets, if income alone is sufficient to meet the minimum Federal Poverty Guidelines income requirement described in paragraph a(2) above. The mere fact that the petitioner and/or sponsor have met the minimum requirement, however, does not preclude a finding of inadmissibility under INA 212(a)(4). You may request evidence of assets and liabilities, if such information is necessary to determine the applicant's eligibility. If a sponsor or joint sponsor uses assets to prove the ability to support the sponsored immigrant, he or she may not use the Form I-864EZ.
(b) (U) The sponsor or joint sponsor may include his or her assets (and offsetting liabilities), and/or the assets of any household members signing Form I-864A, as income to make up any shortfall toward meeting the Federal Poverty Guidelines. The assets (bank accounts, stock, other personal property, and real estate) must be available in the United States for the applicant's support and must be readily convertible to cash within one year. In most cases, the sponsor must present evidence as described in 9 FAM 302.8-2(C)(12) paragraph c(3), establishing location, ownership and value of each asset listed, including liens and liabilities for each asset listed. The combined cash value of all the assets (i.e., the total value of the assets less any offsetting liabilities) must total at least five times the difference between the total household income and the minimum Federal poverty income requirement.
(c) (U) Sponsors of immediate relative spouses and children of U.S. citizens, however, must only show combined cash value of assets in the amount of three times the difference between the poverty guideline and actual household income. In addition, sponsors of alien orphans or Hague Convention adoptees who require re-adoption in the United States (e.g., aliens with IR-4 and IH-4 visa classifications) and who will not acquire citizenship immediately upon admission to the United States need only prove a combined cash value of assets in the amount of the difference between the poverty guideline and actual household income.
(d) (U) If assets of the sponsored applicant are being used in such a fashion, the sponsored applicant is not required to submit Form I-864-A, but must show the same kinds of evidence as described in and show that the assets can be converted into cash within one year.
c. (U) Proper Assembly of Documents: Assembling the documents is the sponsor's responsibility. If the I-864 and supporting documents are incomplete or poorly assembled, the post must refuse the applicant under INA 221(g) and return the entire package to the applicant with a copy of the checklist. However, the applicant is no longer required to submit the three most recent federal tax returns, therefore, this is not a valid basis to refuse applicants under 221(g).
d. (U) For more information on what is required on the I-864, you may refer to the instructions which accompany the Form I-864 itself.
(1) (U) For the purposes of INA 213A, the sponsor must be domiciled in any of the several States of the United States, the District of Columbia, or any territory or possession of the United States (for these purposes, “in the United States”). "Domicile" means: the place where a sponsor has his or her principal "residence" with the intention to maintain that residence for the foreseeable future.
(2) (U) A lawful permanent resident alien (LPR) living abroad temporarily is considered to have a domicile in the United States if he or she has applied for and obtained the preservation of residence benefit under INA 316(b) or INA 317.
(3) (U) A U.S. citizen living abroad whose employment meets the requirements of INA 319(b)(1) is considered to have a domicile in the United States.
b. (U) Establishing Domicile in the United States:
(1) (U) A petitioner who is unable to demonstrate that he or she is domiciled in the United States who wishes to qualify as a sponsor must demonstrate that:
(a) (U) he or she has either already taken up physical residence in the United States; or
(b) (U) he or she has taken concrete steps to establish a domicile in the United States and will do so concurrently with the applicant no later than the date of the intending immigrant’s admission or adjustment of status.
(c) (U) The sponsor does not have to precede the applicant to the United States but, if he or she does not do so, he or she must at least arrive in the United States concurrently with the applicant. The sponsor must have established a domicile in the United States when the principal intending immigrant seeks admission on the immigrant visa.
(2) (U) Evidence that the sponsor has established a domicile in the United States and is either physically residing there or intends to do so before or concurrently with the applicant may include the following:
(a) (U) Opening a bank account;
(b) (U) Transferring funds to the United States;
(c) (U) Making investments in the United States;
(d) (U) Seeking employment in the United States;
(e) (U) Registering children in U.S. schools;
(f) (U) Applying for a Social Security number; and
(g) (U) Voting in local, State, or Federal elections.
(3) (U) U.S. Domicile for Employment-Based Preference Applicants: Employment-based beneficiaries whose petitioners are U.S. citizen or permanent resident alien relatives or entities in which such a relative has a significant ownership interest are required to submit a Form I-864. However, DHS/USCIS has determined that Congress did not intend to impose this requirement on a petitioning relative, or a relative with a significant ownership interest in a business enterprise who is not a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident (LPR) and is not domiciled in the United States. In these cases only, the lack of Form I-864 will not be an impediment to admissibility.
(4) (U) Employment Abroad Requirements of INA 319(b)(1): A U.S. citizen who is living abroad temporarily is considered to be domiciled in the United States if the citizen's employment meets the requirements of INA 319(b)(1). That section requires, for qualifying “employment abroad,” that the citizen be in the employ of:
c. (U) Maintaining U.S. Domicile:
(1) (U) Unless the petitioner meets the conditions outlined in paragraph c(2) below, a petitioner who is maintaining a principal residence outside the United States could not normally claim a U.S. domicile and would be ineligible to submit Form I-864. In order to provide an Affidavit of Support for his or her relative, such a petitioner would have to reestablish a domicile in the United States. (See paragraph b above..)
(2) (U) However, in a situation in which the petitioner has maintained both a U.S. residence and a residence abroad, you must determine which the principal abode is. Some petitioners have remained abroad for extended periods but still maintain a principal residence in the United States (i.e., students, contract workers, and non-governmental organization (NGO) volunteers). To establish that one is also maintaining a domicile in the United States, the petitioner must satisfy you that he or she:
(a) (U) Departed the United States for a limited, and not indefinite, period of time;
(b) (U) Intended to maintain a U.S. domicile at the time of departure; and,
(c) (U) Can present convincing evidence of continued ties to the United States.
d. (U) Failure to Establish Domicile: If a petitioner cannot satisfy the domicile requirement under paragraph b above, the petitioner fails to qualify as a “sponsor” for the purposes of submitting Form I-864, and a joint sponsor cannot be accepted and the applicant must be refused pursuant to INA 212(a)(4).
9 FAM 302.8-2(C)(6) (U) Household Member
(2) (U) The sponsor's spouse and the sponsor's children by birth, marriage, or adoption living in the sponsor's residence;
(5) (U) Family members of the sponsor immigrating at the same time or within six months of the principal immigrant listed in the chart in Part 3 of Form I-864; and
b. (U) Use of Form I-864A, Contract Between Sponsor and Household Member:
(1) (U) If a sponsor's individual income meets or exceeds the required level of the Poverty Guidelines, no other evidence is necessary. In cases in which the sponsor's individual income is insufficient, however, a Form I-864A, Contract between Sponsor and Household Member can be submitted by any household member in order for his or her income to be used by the sponsor to meet the guidelines. A separate Form I-864A must be used for each household member whose income and and/or assets are being used by a sponsor to qualify. Each Form I-864A is completed and signed by two individuals: a sponsor who is completing Form I-864 and a household member who is promising to make his or her income and/or assets available to the sponsor to help support the sponsored immigrant(s). The primary sponsor must include the names of these individuals and their contributions on his or her Form I-864.
(2) (U) Under Form I-864A, the household member agrees to provide as much financial assistance as may be necessary to enable the sponsor to maintain the sponsored immigrant(s) at the required annual income level. The household member will be legally liable for any reimbursement obligations that the sponsor may incur.
c. (U) Applicant’s Use of Form I-864A:
(1) (U) If the sponsored immigrant has accompanying family members and the sponsor seeks to rely on the sponsored immigrant’s continuing income in the United States to establish the sponsor’s ability to support the accompanying family members, the sponsored immigrant must sign Form I-864-A. Income shown in a sponsored immigrant’s Form I-864A cannot be based on an offer of employment that has not yet been effected. (9 FAM 302.8-2(B)(2) paragraph f(2).)
(2) (U) If the sponsored immigrant does not have accompanying family members, he or she cannot submit Form I-864A. His or her income may be counted in the household income, however, if he or she will continue to work in the same job after he or she immigrates to the United States. You may request evidence of the applicant's income such as pay statements and tax returns, if he or she was required to file them, and should request a letter from the employer certifying that the employment will continue after the applicant's immigration to the United States.
9 FAM 302.8-2(C)(7) (U) Joint Sponsor
a. (U) In General: A "joint sponsor" is one who is not the petitioner for the sponsored immigrant but who otherwise meets the citizenship, residence, age, and household income requirements, as set forth in 9 FAM 302.8-2(C)(3), and has executed a separate Form I-864, on behalf of the intending immigrant.
b. (U) Unique from Household Member: The joint sponsor is not required to be a household member. The joint sponsor can be a friend or third party who is not necessarily financially connected with the sponsor’s household.
c. (U) When is a Joint Sponsor Needed:
(1) (U) If the petitioner or substitute sponsor cannot demonstrate ability to maintain a household income of at least 125% (or 100% when applicable) of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, the intending immigrant may meet the Affidavit of Support requirement by obtaining a joint sponsor who is willing to accept joint and several liability with the petitioning sponsor as to provide support to the sponsored alien during the period that the affidavit is enforceable;
(2) (U) If a joint sponsor submits an Affidavit of Support, remember that the petitioner (the principal sponsor) still must submit an Affidavit of Support, regardless of whether the sponsor had no income, or did not make enough income to be required to file income tax returns;
(3) (U) The joint sponsor must demonstrate income or assets that independently meet the requirements to support the sponsored immigrant(s). It is not sufficient for the combination of incomes of the primary sponsor, sponsored immigrant, and joint sponsor to meet the threshold; and
b. (U) Multiple Joint Sponsors: 8 CFR 213a.2(c) allows but does not require two joint sponsors per family unit intending to immigrate based upon the same family petition. No individual may have more than one joint sponsor, but it is not necessary for all family members to have the same joint sponsor. If two joint sponsors are used, each joint sponsor is responsible only for the intending immigrant(s) listed on the joint sponsor's Form I-864.
c. (U) Joint Sponsor Liability: A joint sponsor is jointly and severally liable with petitioning sponsor and any household members who have signed a Form I-864-A. He or she must individually meet the minimum income requirements as set forth above. Anyone outside the petitioner's household may be considered a joint sponsor. Joint sponsors may include the income and assets of members of their own household and dependents to meet the income requirement.
d. (U) Death of Sponsor: In the event a sponsor has died before all family members have followed to join the principal, a new joint sponsor is permitted to execute a Form I-864. The new sponsor may submit a Form I-864, regardless of the status of the deceased petitioner's estate.
9 FAM 302.8-2(C)(8) (U) Legal Obligations of Sponsors
(1) (U) The execution of Form I-864 creates a legally-binding contract between the sponsor(s) (including any household members who have executed Form I-864A, and any joint sponsor), and any Federal, State, local, or private entities that provide means-tested public benefits (SSI, TANF, etc.) throughout the duration of the contract. By executing Form I-864, the sponsor agrees to:
(a) (U) Provide financial support necessary to maintain the sponsored immigrant at an income that is at least 125 percent of the Federal poverty guidelines for the indicated household size (9 FAM 302.8-2(C)(12); and
b. (U) Duration of Obligation under Form I-864, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the Act:
(1) (U) In General: Sponsors, joint sponsors, and household members (who have executed Form I-864 or Form I-864A, (Contract Between Sponsor and Household Member) are bound by the contract terms until the applicant:
(a) (U) Is naturalized;
(b) (U) Has worked, or can be credited with, 40 qualifying quarters of work;
(c) (U) Loses or abandons lawful permanent resident status and departs the United States permanently; or
(d) (U) Dies.
(2) (U) Death of the Sponsor: In the event that a sponsor dies, the sponsor's estate remains liable for the duration of the contract. If the sponsor dies after the principal applicant has immigrated, but before the qualified family members who are following to join have immigrated, the applicants must get another sponsor, although no new petition need be filed. If the principal applicant can meet the requirements to be a sponsor, he or she may submit Form I-864 for his or her family members.
c. (U) Liability for Means-Tested Benefits:
(1) (U) During the life of the contract, a sponsor is liable for "means-tested benefits" received by the sponsored applicant. Federal, State, and local agencies will define which benefits are "means-tested" and whether they wish to seek reimbursement.
(2) (U) The agency supplying the means-tested benefit must have designated the program as such prior to the sponsor's submission of Form I-864 for expenses relating to that benefit to be reclaimable from the sponsor. Moreover, the agency must request reimbursement. In the absence of such a request, the sponsor is not liable.
(3) (U) As the Department has no role with respect to designating means-tested benefits or with reimbursement, any question regarding whether a benefit should be considered a means-tested benefit is outside the scope of your inquiry into an applicant’s eligibility for a visa.
9 FAM 302.8-2(C)(9) (U) Submitting Form I-864, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the Act
(1) (U) Required signatures do not need to be notarized. This includes the signature of the sponsor(s), or the sponsor's household members or dependents on Form I-864 and Form I-864EZ, Affidavit of Support under Section 213A of the Act; Form I-864A; and Form I-864W. Consular officers should not require ink signature on the I-864. A photocopy of the I-864 with the sponsor's signature is sufficient. A typed or printed name is not acceptable. The sponsor, by signing the Form I-864 under penalty of perjury, certifies that the transcript or photocopy is true and correct. This certification meets the statutory requirement of presenting a “certified” copy and, per 28 U.S.C. 1746, the requirement that the affidavit of support be sworn or affirmed before a notary, consular officer, or immigration officer.
(2) (U) Principal applicants and accompanying spouses and/or children may travel together on one complete set of the documents prepared in support of Form I-864.
(3) (U) The supporting documents should be made a part of the principal applicant's Instruction Package for Immigrant Visa (IV). The principal applicant's alien registration number (the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) assigned "A number") should be recorded on each accompanying individual's Form I-864 "for agency use only" box (on page 1 of the form).
(4) (U) Similarly, following-to-join applicants, traveling either alone or in a group, will require only one complete set of the documents prepared in support of the principal applicant's Form I-864.
(5) (U) For following-to-join applicants traveling together, the documents should be included in only one applicant's issued visa packet.
(6) (U) The alien registration number of the applicant carrying the support documentation must be recorded on Form I-864 (page 1 of the form).
(7) (U) A correct and complete signed Form I-864 submitted to the NVC is sufficient. An individual does not need to submit an original I-864 at the time of the interview. The I-864 submitted to NVC (either in hard copy or electronically) must be included in the immigrant visa packet.
(8) (U) The supporting documents carried by the designated following-to-join applicant may be photocopies of the originals and do not need notarization or an original signature.
9 FAM 302.8-2(C)(10) (U) Reviewing Form I-864 or Form I-864EZ
a. (U) In General: You must ensure that each section of Form I-864 or Form I-864EZ has been completed properly. It is your responsibility to review the information provided with the petition packet and other documents provided at the time of interview.
b. (U) Part 1 of Form I-864 or Form I-864EZ, Basis For Filing Affidavit of Support: Verify that sponsor has checked the appropriate box(es):
(1) (U) If Form I-864EZ is being used, sponsors must check “Yes” on boxes a, b, and c;
c. (U) Parts 2-4 of Form I-864 or Form I-864EZ, Basis For Filing Affidavit of Support: Information on the Principal Immigrant, Accompanying Family Members, and Information on the Sponsor.
d. (U) Part 5 of Form I-864 or Part 4 of Form I-864EZ: Sponsor’s Household Size: The sponsor’s total household size is used to determine the correct Federal Poverty Guideline threshold. For Form I-864, a household size includes the following groups of individuals:
(2) (U) Person(s) the sponsor is sponsoring on the Affidavit of Support (will always be one if the sponsor is using Form I-864EZ);
(4) (U) The sponsor’s children, as defined in INA 101(b)(1), except those that have:
(b) (U) Have combined their income with the sponsor’s income by submitting Form I-864A.
e. (U) Part 6 of Form I-864 or Part 5 of Form I-864EZ Sponsor's Information About Employment and Income:
(a) (U) Either the petitioning sponsor, substitute sponsor, or a joint sponsor must show the ability to maintain his or her annual household income at 125 percent of the governing Federal Poverty Guideline threshold (see also 9 FAM 302.8-2(C)(12);
(2) (U) Poverty Guidelines: See 9 FAM 302.8-2(C)(12), Poverty Income Guidelines.
(a) (U) If a sponsor is using Form I-864EZ, he or she must only use his or her salary or pension as shown on his or her most recent Federal income tax return. If the sponsor provides a photocopy of the return, he or she must include a copy of W-2 provided by the sponsor’s employer(s) and/or Form(s) IRS-1099 to show pension income. As with other sponsors, these copies are not needed if the sponsor provides an IRS transcript of the return. (See Part 1(a) of Form I-864EZ.);
(b) (U) The sponsor must use Form I-864, rather than Form I-864EZ, if the sponsor will be submitting any Forms I-864A. (See also 9 FAM 302.8-2(C)(9));
(i) (U) Whether a sponsor submits Form I-864 or Form I-864EZ, the sponsor must provide a copy or an IRS-generated transcript of the sponsor’s Federal income tax return for the most recent tax year;
(ii) (U) By signing the Form I-864 or Form I-864EZ under the penalty of perjury, a sponsor certifies that the transcript or photocopy is true and correct. This certification meets the statutory requirement of presenting a “certified” copy of the transcript of photocopy. Certification of the returns by the IRS is not necessary, the sponsor’s certification under the penalty of perjury is sufficient; and
(ii) (U) You may consider other evidence of income (e.g., pay stub(s), or employer letter(s), or both), if:
(iii) (U) If a sponsor recently started a new job (that the officer is satisfied will likely continue), the income from the job now meets or exceeds the legal requirement, you may find the Affidavit of Support to be sufficient; and
(iv) (U) As noted in 9 FAM 302.8-2(B)(2) paragraph a(3), a sufficient and properly filed, non-fraudulent Form I-864 in those cases where it is required, is a positive factor in the “totality of the circumstances” analysis under INA 212(a)(4).
(U) The sponsor may not include any means-tested public benefits currently being received in calculating the household income. (See also 9 FAM 302.8-2(C)(8).)
(i) (U) If the sponsor’s total household income (line 24c of Form I-864 or line 18 of Form I-864EZ) is greater than or equal to the governing Poverty Guideline threshold, the sponsor does not need to show evidence of assets and does not require a joint sponsor. In this case, you may move to part 8 of Form I-864 or Part 6 of Form I-864EZ;
(ii) (U) If Form I-864EZ does not demonstrate means to maintain the required income, you may choose to request that the applicant submit a new Form I-864 from the sponsor (if the applicant seeks to qualify based on showing “significant assets”) or submit a sufficient Form I-864 from a joint sponsor;
(U) NOTE: This request of evidence should go to the applicant, not to the sponsor.
(2) (U) For assets of the intending immigrant and/or household member to be considered, the household member must complete and sign Form I-864A.
(3) (U) You should check to make sure that the Form I-864A is completed and signed by the sponsor and the household member.
(4) (U) Evidence of the sponsor’s assets should be attached to the Form I-864. Evidence of the principal sponsored immigrant’s and/or household member assets should be attached to Form I-864A. (9 FAM 302.8-2(C)(4).)
g. (U) Part 8 of Form I-864 or Part 6 of Form I-864EZ Sponsor’s Contract:
(1) (U) Part 8 of Form I-864 or part 6 of Form I-864EZ constitutes the bulk of contractual provisions and outlines the purpose of Form I-864, Affidavit of Support under INA 213A, which is to overcome the public charge grounds of inadmissibility. It includes:
(e) (U) It requires certification under the penalty of perjury that the sponsor is aware of the legal ramifications of being a sponsor under INA 213A.
(2) (U) Once signed, the concluding provisions satisfy the statutory requirement that the sponsor must make written statement under the penalty of perjury indicating that the copies of the Federal income tax returns submitted with the Affidavit of Support are true copies of the returns filed with the Internal Revenue Service.
h. (U) Part 9 of Form I-864 Preparer Information: If someone other than the sponsor prepares the form on the sponsor’s behalf, the preparer must complete and sign Part 9 of the Form I-864. The preparer’s signature is in addition to the sponsor’s signature and does not replace the sponsor’s obligation to sign the affidavit of support.
i. (U) Consular Posts/U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Completion of “Agency Use Only” Box: In adjustment cases adjudicated by posts/USCIS, you must complete the “agency Use Only” box on the first page of the Form I-864 or Form I-864EZ. If the petitioning sponsor does not qualify, you should check the box “Does not meet.” In order for the applicant to be approved, there must be in the file another Form I-864 that meets the requirements from a joint sponsor. In such a case you must check the “Meets” box, and then sign, date, and note the post code for location.
j. (U) Verification of Information:
(1) (U) The U.S. Government may pursue verification of any information provided on or with Form I-864, Form I-864EZ, Form I-864A (e.g., employment, income, and/or assets) with the employer, financial or other institutions, the Internal Revenue Service, or the Social Security Administration. If the Department finds that a sponsor, joint sponsor, or household member has concealed or misrepresented material facts concerning income, household size, or other material facts, we will conclude that the Affidavit of Support is not sufficient to establish that the sponsored immigrant is not likely to become a public charge.
(3) (U) Amended Tax Returns - You must ensure that the required supporting evidence, including the federal income tax return, provided by the sponsor, joint sponsor, or household family member is accurate and complete. If a consular officer found a visa applicant ineligible under INA 212(a)(4) and the applicant seeks reconsideration based on a sponsor’s amended tax return showing an increase in household income or assets purporting to overcome the public charge ineligibility, the applicant or sponsor must also provide competent objective evidence supporting the amended return. Unless the applicant or sponsor provides satisfactory evidence that any newly submitted documents are true and accurate (such as providing an IRS-certified copy of the tax return, see 9 FAM 302.8-2(C)(4) paragraph b(1)(b)) and a satisfactory explanation as to why the original return differs from the amended return, the consular post may disregard the newly submitted evidence. For instance, a consular officer could find that a sponsor’s amended tax return, showing a significant increase in household income for a single year without a credible explanation for the increase, was submitted solely to meet the poverty guidelines and does not show a permanent improvement in the totality of the applicant’s circumstances that would help the applicant overcome a public charge ineligibility. Likewise, new evidence of employment or additional assets submitted for reconsideration of a public charge finding should be carefully evaluated for credibility and accuracy.
9 FAM 302.8-2(C)(11) (U) Accepting Form I-864W, Intending Immigrant’s Affidavit of Support Exemption When Alien Can Demonstrate 40 Quarters of Work Under SSA
a. (U) 9 FAM 302.8-2(C)(1) paragraph b(2) states that you must waive the Form I-864 requirement if the alien can demonstrate 40 quarters of earnings under the Social Security Act. Any individual seeking to demonstrate the number of quarters he or she has earned may request a Social Security earnings statement from the Social Security Administration, which shows income reported, years worked, and whether or not the applicant has earned 40 quarters (also known as “credits”) and therefore qualifies for benefits.
b. (U) Even if the applicant qualifies for a waiver of the Form I-864 affidavit requirement, he or she must still complete a Form I-864W. Form I-864W is the applicant’s signed statement that he or she has earned (or can be credited with) 40 quarters (credits) of coverage under the Social Security Act (SSA). The applicant must include SSA earnings statements with their completed Form I-864W. Applicants may not count any quarters during which he or she received a means-tested public benefit. An applicant may be credited with all the qualifying quarters of coverage earned by their spouse during their marriage, provided that the applicant remains married to that spouse, or the spouse is deceased. The National Visa Center (NVC) performs a review of documents, including the Affidavit of Support, for most consular posts. In those instances where the petitioner or the sponsor notifies NVC that they wish to use the Social Security quarters provision in lieu of a Form I-864, NVC requires submission of the Form I-864W and the SSA earnings statement as described above before qualifying the case for forwarding to the post.
c. (U) If the petitioner and sponsor do not submit the Form I-864W to NVC, indicating that they intend to use the Social Security quarters provision, NVC will require the Form I-864 and supporting documents, including the most recent Federal income tax return filed prior to the time of Form I-864 signing.
9 FAM 302.8-2(C)(12) (U) Poverty Income Guidelines 2018
(1) (U) Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 9902(2) the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) updates the poverty guidelines annually.
(2) (U) On January 13, 2018, HHS published its annual updates of the Poverty Guidelines, adjusting them on the basis of the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers. The guidelines in this 2018 reflect the 2.1 percent price increase between calendar years 2016 and 2017.
(5) (U) Applicants who are required to have an Affidavit of Support filed on their behalf and the sponsor cannot meet the applicable minimum poverty guideline threshold are inadmissible for immigrant visa issuance under INA 212(a)(4)(C).
(6) (U) Applicability: The 2018 guidelines must be used when evaluating the I-864/I-864-EZ submitted on or after March 1, 2018. Forms files prior to March 1, 2017 must be evaluated using the guidelines that were in place at the time of submission.
b. (U) Annual Guidelines: Use the table below for the time the Affidavit of Support was submitted
(1) (U) 2018 HHS Poverty Income Guidelines:
$5,4005
(a) (U) Effective Date: These figures represent annual income. These poverty guidelines remain in effect for use with Form I-864, Affidavit of Support, from March 1, 2018, until new guidelines go into effect in 2019.
(b) (U) Families More than 8 Persons: For families/households with more than 8 persons, add $4,320.00, 100 percent) or $5,400 (125 percent) for each additional person for the 48 contiguous States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands. See chart above for Alaska and Hawaii guidelines.
(c) (U) Refer to the figures in orange columns (see 3, 5, and 7) when processing immigrant visa (IV) involving Form I-864 or Form I-864-EZ. Refer to the gray (see columns 2, 4, and 6) for active members of the U.S. Armed sponsoring spouses and children.
(d) (U) Source: 83 FR 2642-2644
(2) (U) 2017 HHS Poverty Income Guidelines:
(a) (U) Effective Date: These figures represent annual income. These poverty guidelines remain in effect for use with Form I-864, Affidavit of Support, from March 1, 2017, until new guidelines go into effect in 2018.
(b) (U) Families More than 8 Persons: For families/households with more than 8 persons, add $4,180.00, 100 percent) or $5,225 (125 percent) for each additional person for the 48 contiguous States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands. See chart above for Alaska and Hawaii guidelines.
(d) (U) Source: 82 FR 8831-8832
(3) (U) 2016 HHS Poverty Income Guidelines:
(a) (U) Effective Date: These figures represent annual income. These poverty guidelines remain in effect for use with Form I-864 from March 1, 2016, until new guidelines go into effect in 2017.
(b) (U) Families of 8 or More: For families/households with more than 8 persons, add $4,160, (100 percent) or $5,200 (125 percent) for each additional person for the 48 contiguous States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands. See chart above for Alaska and Hawaii guidelines.
(d) (U) Source: 81 FR 4036-4037
c. (U) Additional Assets: If the sponsor needs to use additional assets to meet the minimum income requirement, the total net value of all assets must generally equal at least five times the difference between the sponsor’s total household income and the minimum income requirement of the current year.
(1) (U) Example for a Household of 4:
$31,375.00 (2018)
(2) (U) Exceptions: There are two exceptions to this general rule.
(a) Exception 1: If the applicant intends to immigrate as a spouse of a U.S. citizen or the child of a U.S. citizen who will not become a citizen under section 320 of the Act because the child has already reached his or her 18th birthday, the “significant assets” requirement will be satisfied if the assets equal three times, rather than five times, the difference between the applicable income threshold and the actual household income. The chart below is an example for a household size of 4:
(b) (U) Exception 2: If the applicant intends to immigrate as an IR-4 or IH-4 immigrant (orphans or Hague Convention adoptees coming to the United States for adoption), the parents’ assets only need to equal or exceed the difference between the applicable income threshold and the actual household income. The chart below is an example of for a household size of 4:
(3) (U) Providing Additional Assets: If the sponsor is using additional assets to meet the income level requirements, the sponsor must present the following:
(a) (U) Evidence of ownership, location, and the value of each asset;
(b) (U) Evidence of liens, mortgages, and liabilities for each asset (if any); and
(c) (U) When required under 9 FAM 302.8-2(C)(4) paragraph b(5), evidence of current employment or self-employment, such as a recent pay statement or a statement from your employer on business stationery, showing the beginning date of employment, type of work performed, and salary or wages paid.
9 FAM 302.8-2(C)(13) (U) Checklist for Preparing the Affidavit of Support
a. (U) Documents must be submitted in the following order:
(1) (U) Proper Affidavit of Support:
(a) Form I-864: All pages, completely filled out, in correct order (pages 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 10, 11 and 12) stapled together and part 8 signed as appropriate.
(b) Form I-864-EZ: All pages, completely filled out in correct order (pages 1, 2 3 4, 5, 6, and 7) stapled together and part 6 signed as appropriate.
(2) (U) Most Recent Federal Tax Return:
(a) (U) Photocopy or Internal Revenue Service (IRS) transcript of the most recent Federal tax return with all supporting schedules that the sponsor had filed prior to the time of Affidavit of Support signing. The return must have all pages in the correct order and must be stapled together.
(b) (U) If the sponsor did not have to file a tax return, the sponsor should attach a written explanation and a copy of the instructions from the IRS publication that shows the sponsor was not obligated to file. (For information on most income tax obligations visit the IRS Web site.)
(c) (U) Additional Assets: If required, proof of additional assets, as described in 9 FAM 302.8-2(C)(4) paragraph b(5).
b. (U) Joint Sponsor: The joint sponsor must meet the same qualifications as the petitioner and submit the same documentation as noted in paragraph a(1), above.
c. (U) Form I-864A: If the income and assets of a household member are to be considered when reviewing the income level, a separate Form I-864A, Contract Between Sponsor and Household Member, must be completed for each household member whose income and assets are to be considered.
(1) (U) Each page must be filled out completely and stapled together.
(2) (U) All tax, employment, and asset documents must be assembled in the same manner as the sponsor's (see above) and attached to the correct Form I-864A, Contract Between Sponsor and Household Member.
(3) (U) Part 1 Information on the Household Member.
(4) (U) Part 2 Your (the household Member's) Relationship to the Sponsor must be completed by sponsor.
(5) (U) Part 3 Your (the Household Member's) Employment and Income must be completed by the household member.
d. (U) Documents for the Principal Immigrant and Accompanying Dependents:
(a) (U) Original or copy of Form I-864 and Form I-864A, Contract Between Sponsor and Household Member (if needed); must be signed (not required to be notarized).
(a) (U) Accompanying dependents, if listed on the original Form I-864 affidavit of support submitted for the principal applicant and accompanying the principal applicant (traveling and entering the United States at the same time) may submit and travel together on one complete set of signed documents (not required to be notarized): Form I-864 and Form I-864A, Contract Between Sponsor and Household Member, if needed.
9 FAM 302.8-2(D) (U) Advisory Opinions
9 FAM 302.8-2(E) (U) Waiver
9 FAM 302.8-2(E)(1) (U) Waivers for Immigrants
(U) No waiver is available for immigrants ineligible under INA 212(a)(4). Applicants may overcome the finding by presenting evidence to convince you that the inadmissibility no longer applies. While there are provisions for overcoming the inadmissibility by posting a bond or undertaking with DHS, the applicant is still subject to Affidavit of Support and income requirements. Consequently, there are few circumstances in which a bond would be offered as an alternative to the Affidavit of Support.
9 FAM 302.8-2(E)(2) (U) Waivers for Nonimmigrants
(U) While a waiver is legally permissible for nonimmigrants ineligible under INA 212(a)(4), consular officers should generally not recommend for an NIV waiver an applicant who is ineligible on this ground as a matter of policy. In almost all cases, an NIV applicant who is ineligible under INA 212(a)(4) will likely also be ineligible under INA 214(b), which is not waivable. Both grounds of refusal may be overcome. Typically, refusals are overcome if an applicant presents evidence that convinces the consular officer that the inadmissibility no longer applies.
9 FAM 302.8-2(F) Unavailable
9 FAM 302.8-2(F)(1) Unavailable
9 FAM 302.8-2(F)(2) Unavailable