[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"detail-sidebar-cat-1-en-105":3,"doc-seo-278116-105":53,"doc-detail-278116-en":126},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",[7,14,19,24,29,34,39,44,49],{"id":8,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":11,"show_sort_weight":12,"slug":13},11,1,"Template","Presentations",90,"presentations",{"id":15,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":16,"show_sort_weight":17,"slug":18},12,"Resumes",80,"resumes",{"id":20,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":21,"show_sort_weight":22,"slug":23},14,"Invoices",70,"invoices",{"id":25,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":26,"show_sort_weight":27,"slug":28},15,"Posters",60,"posters",{"id":30,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":31,"show_sort_weight":32,"slug":33},16,"Social Media",50,"social-media",{"id":35,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":36,"show_sort_weight":37,"slug":38},17,"Forms",40,"forms",{"id":40,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":41,"show_sort_weight":42,"slug":43},18,"Letters",30,"letters",{"id":45,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":46,"show_sort_weight":47,"slug":48},21,"Paper Templates",5,"papers-templates",{"id":50,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":51,"show_sort_weight":4,"slug":52},158,"General","general-158",{"code":4,"msg":54,"data":55},"ok",{"site_id":56,"language":57,"slug":58,"title":59,"keywords":60,"description":61,"schema_data":62,"social_meta":119,"head_meta":121,"extra_data":123,"updated_unix":125},105,"en","introduction-to-the-affidavit-of-support-september-2022-update","Introduction to the Affidavit of Support - September 2022 Update","","The guide explains the Affidavit of Support as a legally binding contract between a petitioning sponsor and the U.S. government for both adjustment of status and consular processing. It details when Form I-864 must be filed, how it demonstrates financial ability to prevent the immigrant from becoming a public charge, and why exemptions matter. It also describes practical approaches and the role of Form I-864W, including specific exemption categories and filing requirements.",{"@graph":63,"@context":118},[64,80,101],{"@type":65,"itemListElement":66},"BreadcrumbList",[67,71,74,77],{"item":68,"name":69,"@type":70,"position":9},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":72,"name":10,"@type":70,"position":73},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/",2,{"item":75,"name":41,"@type":70,"position":76},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/letters/",3,{"item":78,"name":59,"@type":70,"position":79},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/introduction-to-the-affidavit-of-support-september-2022-update/278116/",4,{"url":78,"name":59,"@type":81,"image":82,"author":87,"headline":59,"publisher":90,"fileFormat":93,"inLanguage":57,"description":61,"dateModified":94,"datePublished":95,"encodingFormat":93,"isAccessibleForFree":96,"interactionStatistic":97},"DigitalDocument",{"url":83,"@type":84,"width":85,"height":86},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/introduction-to-the-affidavit-of-support-september-2022-update/278116.png","ImageObject",442,249,{"name":88,"@type":89},"Ivy","Person",{"url":68,"name":91,"@type":92},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-31","2026-09-15",true,{"@type":98,"interactionType":99,"userInteractionCount":8},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":100},"ViewAction",{"@type":102,"mainEntity":103},"FAQPage",[104,110,114],{"name":105,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":107},"What is the Affidavit of Support and when is it required?","Question",{"text":108,"@type":109},"The Affidavit of Support is a legally binding contract between the sponsor and the U.S. government used in adjustment of status and consular processing. Many family-based (and some employment-based) visa applicants must submit Form I-864 unless an exemption applies.","Answer",{"name":111,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":112},"What does filing Form I-864 require the sponsor to promise?",{"text":113,"@type":109},"By filing Form I-864, the sponsor promises and provides proof that they can financially support the intending immigrant. The goal is to show the immigrant will not rely on certain governmental financial assistance after arrival.",{"name":115,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":116},"Which situations use Form I-864W instead of Form I-864?",{"text":117,"@type":109},"Form I-864W is used when the intending immigrant is exempt from the Affidavit of Support requirement. The guide lists VAWA self-petitioners, self-petitioning widow(er)s of U.S. citizens, individuals with 40 qualifying quarters, and certain children under age 18 deriving citizenship.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":78,"og:type":120,"og:title":59,"og:site_name":91,"og:description":61},"article",{"robots":122,"canonical":78},"index,follow",{"doc_id":124,"site_id":56},278116,1790378722,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":127},{"doc_id":124,"user_id":128,"nickname":88,"user_avatar":129,"doc_module":9,"category_id":40,"category_name":41,"doc_title":59,"doc_description":61,"doc_content":130,"file_id":131,"file_url":132,"file_type":133,"file_size":134,"view_count":8,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":9,"is_downloadable":9,"audit_status":9,"page_count":20,"language":135,"language_code":57,"site_id":56,"html_lang":57,"table_of_contents":136,"faqs":137,"seo_title":138,"seo_description":61,"update_tm":139,"read_time":47},549758252649,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/avatar/8000253669c5317157?_k=1778319167496531819","INTRODUCTORY GUIDE TO THE AFFIDAVIT OF SUPPORT  \nBy ILRC Attorneys  \nThe Affidavit of Support is a legally binding contract between the petitioner/sponsor and the U.S. government, in both the context of adjustment of status and consular processing. Individuals immigrating through most family-based, and some employment-based,1 visa petitions are required to submit an Affidavit of Support on Form I-864, unless they fall within an exemption. By filing the Form I-864 , the sponsor is promising that they will (and providing proof that they can) financially support the individual who is immigrating to the United States. Essentially, the sponsor must prove that the immigrant relative who they are responsible for bringing to the United States will not have to resort to certain governmental financial assistance after arriving in the United States—in other words, that the immigrant will not end up being a “public charge” under the ground of inadmissibility at INA § 212(a)(4)(C) .  \nIf an exemption to the Affidavit of Support requirement does not apply , and a visa petitioner cannot show that they will be able to support the intending immigrant above the required level (discussed further below), then the family member will not be able to immigrate through that petition.2 A qualifying Affidavit of Support is amandated requirement, although not the only evidence which may be required , in overcoming public charge inadmissibility.  \nThis practice advisory covers various ways to meet the Affidavit of Support financial requirements, different types of sponsors who may submit Affidavits of Support, and who is considered a “household member” for purposes of the Affidavit of Support—all of which remains unaffected by changing interpretations of public charge.  \nSeptember 2022 Update Note: As mentioned above, failure to submit an Affidavit of Support, where required, will lead to an automatic finding that the intending immigrant is inadmissible based on public charge. Otherwise, however, the statute, regulations, and policy guidance governing the Affidavit of Support are distinct from those pertaining to public charge. The only way in which differing public charge rules affect the Affidavit of Support is in terms of the weight the affidavit of support carries as part of the overall public charge analysis. Thus, regardless the state of play of public charge, the information contained in this advisory remains current and applicable to filing an Affidavit of Support. For updates on changes to public charge, go to [https://www.ilrc.org/public-charge](https://www.ilrc.org/public-charge).  \nThis advisory is organized in terms of how a practitioner might approach an Affidavit of Support case:  \nPetitioner/sponsor able to meet requirements on own? Done.  \nJoint sponsor? Include second I-864.  \nI. I-864 or I-864W? Determine Whether Your Client Is Required to File an Affidavit of Support  \nEvery person immigrating through a family member must submit either a qualifying Form I-864 Affidavit of Support, or a Form I-864W Intending Immigrant’s Affidavit of Support Exemption if they are exempt from the Affidavit of Support requirement.3 The I-864W is used to establish that the person is not required to file an I- 864 Affidavit of Support. This means that if someone is exempt from the Affidavit of Support requirement, the Form I-864 is not simply omitted; rather, the Form I-864W is submitted in lieu of the I-864.  \nExemptions to the Affidavit of Support requirement are based on the circumstances of the principal visa beneficiary. The following individuals can file Form I-864W because they are exempt from the Affidavit of Support requirement:  \n1. VAWA Self-Petitioners (battered spouse, child, or parent);  \n2. Self-petitioning widow(er)s of U.S. citizens;  \n3. Those individuals who have already earned or can be credited with 40 “qualifying quarters” of employment;  \n4. Children under age 18 who will automatically derive U.S. citizenship at the sametime that they ","cbCaifenL0WnfF9Y","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaifenL0WnfF9Y","pdf",371837,"English","# September 2022 Update Note\n## Affidavit of Support as a Legally Binding Contract\n## When Form I-864 Is Required\n## Exemptions and Use of Form I-864W\n## Practitioner Approach to an Affidavit of Support Case\n## Determining Whether a Client Must File I-864\n### VAWA Self-Petitioners\n### Self-Petitioning Widow(er)s of U.S. Citizens\n### People With 40 Qualifying Quarters of Work","[{\"question\":\"What is the Affidavit of Support and when is it required?\",\"answer\":\"The Affidavit of Support is a legally binding contract between the sponsor and the U.S. government used in adjustment of status and consular processing. Many family-based (and some employment-based) visa applicants must submit Form I-864 unless an exemption applies.\"},{\"question\":\"What does filing Form I-864 require the sponsor to promise?\",\"answer\":\"By filing Form I-864, the sponsor promises and provides proof that they can financially support the intending immigrant. The goal is to show the immigrant will not rely on certain governmental financial assistance after arrival.\"},{\"question\":\"Which situations use Form I-864W instead of Form I-864?\",\"answer\":\"Form I-864W is used when the intending immigrant is exempt from the Affidavit of Support requirement. The guide lists VAWA self-petitioners, self-petitioning widow(er)s of U.S. citizens, individuals with 40 qualifying quarters, and certain children under age 18 deriving citizenship.\"}]","Introduction to the Affidavit of Support - September 2022 Update | PDF",1789507045]