I-864 Ez Ins Toc

TABLE OF CHANGES – INSTRUCTIONS

Form I-864EZ, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the INA

OMB Number: 1615-0075

02/11/2021

Reason for Revision: PCR

Legend for Proposed Text:

• Black font = Current text

• Red font = Changes

Expires 10/31/2021

Edition Date 10/15/2019

Current Page Number and Section	Current Text	Proposed Text
Pages 1-2, How Is Form I-864EZ Used?	[Page 1] How Is Form I-864EZ Used? This affidavit is a contract between a sponsor and the U.S. Government. The person completing and signing this affidavit is the sponsor. By signing Form I-864EZ, you are agreeing to use your income and resources to support the intending immigrant named in this affidavit, if it becomes necessary. You must show on this affidavit that you have enough income to ensure that the sponsored immigrant will not have to rely on means-tested public benefits for support in the United States. In most cases, the submission of this affidavit will make the sponsored immigrant ineligible for Federal, state, or local means-tested public benefits, because an agency that provides means-tested public benefits will consider your income and resources available to the sponsored immigrant in determining eligibility for the program. If the immigrant sponsored in this affidavit does receive a Federal, state, or local means-tested public benefit, the agency providing the benefit may require you to repay the cost of those benefits. That agency can sue you if you do not repay the cost of the benefits provided. [New] [Page 2] 1. Who Completes Form I-864EZ? Only the U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or U.S. national who filed Form I-130 for a family member, may complete this affidavit. A sponsor is required to be at least 18 years of age and domiciled in the United States, its territories, or possessions. (See the Specific Instructions section of these Instructions.) 2. What Are the Income Requirements? To qualify as a sponsor, you must demonstrate that you have an income of at least 125 percent of the current Federal Poverty Guidelines for your household size. The Federal poverty line, for purposes of this affidavit, is updated annually and can be found on Form I-864P, Poverty Guidelines, at www.uscis.gov/I-864P. If you are on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces or U.S. Coast Guard and you are sponsoring your spouse or minor child, you only need to have an income of 100 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for your household size. 3. How Do I Count Household Size? Your household size includes yourself and the following individuals, no matter where they live: A. Any spouse; B. Any dependent children under 21 years of age; C. Any other dependents listed on your most recent Federal income tax return; D. The person being sponsored in this affidavit of support; and E. Any immigrants previously sponsored with a Form I-864 or Form I-864EZ affidavit of support whom you are still obligated to support. 4. How Long Does My Obligation as a Sponsor Continue? Your obligation to support the immigrant you are sponsoring in this Form I-864EZ will continue until the sponsored immigrant becomes a U.S. citizen, or can receive credit for 40 qualifying quarters of work in the United States. Although 40 qualifying quarters (credits) of work generally equates to 10 years of work, in certain cases, the work of a spouse or parent adds qualifying quarters toward eligibility. The Social Security Administration can provide information on how to count qualifying quarters (credits) of work. The obligation also ends if you or the sponsored immigrant dies or if the sponsored immigrant ceases to be a lawful permanent resident and departs the United States. Divorce does not end the sponsorship obligation.	[Page 1] How Is Form I-864EZ Used? This affidavit is a contract between a sponsor and the U.S. Government. The person completing and signing this affidavit is the sponsor. By signing Form I-864EZ, you are agreeing to use your income and resources to support the intending immigrant named in this affidavit, if it becomes necessary. You must show on this affidavit that you have enough income to ensure that the sponsored immigrant will not have to rely on means-tested public benefits for support in the United States. In most cases, the submission of this affidavit will make the sponsored immigrant ineligible for Federal, state, or local means-tested public benefits, because an agency that provides means-tested public benefits will consider your income and resources available to the sponsored immigrant in determining eligibility for the program. If the immigrant sponsored in this affidavit does receive a Federal, state, or local means-tested public benefit, the agency providing the benefit may require you to repay the cost of those benefits. That agency can sue you if you do not repay the cost of the benefits provided. 1. Who Is Required to File Form I-864W Instead of Form I-864 or Form I-864EZ? The following types of intending immigrants must properly complete and submit Form I-864W, Request for Exemption for Intending Immigrant’s Affidavit of Support, instead of a Form I-864 or Form I-864EZ: A. An intending immigrant who has received, or can receive credit for 40 quarters of work. The Social Security Administration can provide information on how to count and provide evidence of quarters of work; B. An intending immigrant who will, upon admission, acquire U.S. citizenship under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) section 320, as amended by the Child Citizenship Act of 2000 (CCA); and C. A self-petitioning widow(er) or qualifying battered spouse or child. [Page 2] 2. Who Completes Form I-864EZ? Only the U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or U.S. national who filed Form I-130 for a family member, may complete this affidavit. A sponsor is required to be at least 18 years of age and domiciled in the United States, its territories, or possessions. (See the Specific Instructions section of these Instructions.) 3. What Are the Income Requirements? To qualify as a sponsor, you must demonstrate that you have an income of at least 125 percent of the current Federal Poverty Guidelines for your household size. The Federal poverty line, for purposes of this affidavit, is updated annually and can be found on Form I-864P, Poverty Guidelines, at www.uscis.gov/I-864P. If you are on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces or U.S. Coast Guard and you are sponsoring your spouse or minor child, you only need to have an income of 100 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for your household size. 4. How Do I Count Household Size? Your household size includes yourself and the following individuals, no matter where they live: A. Any spouse; B. Any dependent children under 21 years of age; C. Any other dependents listed on your most recent Federal income tax return; D. The person being sponsored in this affidavit of support; and E. Any immigrants previously sponsored with a Form I-864 or Form I-864EZ affidavit of support whom you are still obligated to support. 5. How Long Does My Obligation as a Sponsor Continue? Your obligation to support the immigrant you are sponsoring in this Form I-864EZ will continue until the sponsored immigrant becomes a U.S. citizen, or can receive credit for 40 qualifying quarters of work in the United States. Although 40 qualifying quarters (credits) of work generally equates to 10 years of work, in certain cases, the work of a spouse or parent adds qualifying quarters toward eligibility. The Social Security Administration can provide information on how to count qualifying quarters (credits) of work. The obligation also ends if you or the sponsored immigrant dies or if the sponsored immigrant ceases to be a lawful permanent resident and departs the United States. Divorce does not end the sponsorship obligation.
Pages 2-3, General Instructions	[Page 2] General Instructions U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) provides forms free of charge through the USCIS website. In order to view, print, or fill out our forms, you should use the latest version of Adobe Reader, which you can download for free at http://get.adobe.com/reader/. If you do not have internet access, you may order USCIS forms by calling the USCIS Contact Center at 1-800-375-5283. The USCIS Contact Center provides information in English and Spanish. For TTY (deaf or hard of hearing) call: 1-800-767-1833. Signature. Each affidavit must be properly signed and filed. For all signatures on this affidavit, USCIS will not accept a stamped or typewritten name in place of a signature. You must be at least 18 years of age to act as a sponsor and sign Form I-864EZ. A legal guardian may also sign for a mentally incompetent person. If the request is not signed or if the requisite signature on the request is not valid, USCIS will reject the request. See 8 CFR 103.2(a)(7)(ii)(A). If USCIS accepts a request for adjudication and determines that it has a deficient signature, USCIS will deny the request. If you are under guardianship, your legal guardian may print your name and sign Form I-864 for you. “Legal guardian” includes any person who is appointed and authorized by law to protect your estate as a result of your incapacity. The legal guardian must present proof of the appointment as legal guardian of your estate and a copy of an order from the appointing court or agency specifically permitting the guardian to make your income and assets available for the support of the sponsored immigrant. [Page 3] Validity of Signatures. USCIS will consider a photocopied, faxed, or scanned copy of the original handwritten signature valid for filing purposes. The photocopy, fax, or scan must be of the original document containing the handwritten ink signature. Filing Fee. There is no filing fee for Form I-864EZ with USCIS. For information on processing fees when filing with the U.S. Department of State (DOS), see www.travel.state.gov. … Translations. If you submit a document with information in a foreign language, you must also submit a full English translation. The translator must sign a certification that the English language translation is complete and accurate, and that he or she is competent to translate from the foreign language into English. The certification must include the translator’s signature, printed name, signature date, and the translator’s contact information. How To Fill Out Form I-864EZ 1. Type or print legibly in black ink. 2. If you need extra space to complete any item within this affidavit, use the space provided in Part 9. Additional Information or attach a separate sheet of paper; type or print your name and Alien Registration Number (A-Number) (if any) at the top of each sheet; indicate the Page Number, Part Number, and Item Number to which your answer refers; and sign and date each sheet. 3. Answer all questions fully and accurately. If a question does not apply to you (for example, if you have never been married and the question asks “Provide the name of your current spouse”), type or print “N/A,” unless otherwise directed. If your answer to a question which requires a numeric response is zero or none (for example, “How many children do you have” or “How many times have you departed the United States”), type or print “None,” unless otherwise directed.	[Page 2] General Instructions U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) provides forms free of charge through the USCIS website. In order to view, print, or fill out our forms, you should use the latest version of Adobe Reader, which you can download for free at http://get.adobe.com/reader/. If you do not have Internet access, you may call the USCIS National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283 and ask that we mail a form to you. For TTY (deaf or hard of hearing) call: 1-800-767-1833. Signature. Each affidavit must be properly signed and filed. For all signatures on this affidavit, USCIS will not accept a stamped or typewritten name in place of a signature. You must be at least 18 years of age to act as a sponsor and sign Form I-864EZ. A legal guardian may also sign for a mentally incompetent person. If you are under guardianship, your legal guardian may print your name and sign Form I-864 for you. “Legal guardian” includes any person who is appointed and authorized by law to protect your estate as a result of your incapacity. The legal guardian must present proof of the appointment as legal guardian of your estate and a copy of an order from the appointing court or agency specifically permitting the guardian to make your income and assets available for the support of the sponsored immigrant. [Deleted] Filing Fee. There is no filing fee for Form I-864EZ with USCIS. For information on processing fees when filing with the U.S. Department of State (DOS), see www.travel.state.gov. … Translations. If you submit a document with information in a foreign language, you must also submit a full English translation. The translator must sign a certification that the English language translation is complete and accurate, and that he or she is competent to translate from the foreign language into English. The certification must include the translator’s signature. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recommends the certification contain the translator’s printed name and the date and the translator’s contact information. [No change]
Pages 4-8, Specific Instructions	[Page 4] Specific Instructions … Part 6. Sponsor’s Contract, Statement, Contact Information, Certification, and Signature …	[Page 4] Specific Instructions … Part 6. Sponsor’s Contract, Statement, Contact Information, Declaration, Certification, and Signature …
Page 8, Where to File?	[Page 8] Where to File? Please see the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov/l-864EZ or visit the USCIS Contact Center at www.uscis.gov/contactcenter to connect with a USCIS representative for the most current information about where to file this affidavit. For TTY (deaf or hard of hearing) call: 1-800-767-1833. For information on filing with DOS, see www.travel.state.gov.	[Page 9] Where to File? Please see the USCIS website at https://www.uscis.gov/i-864ez or call our USCIS National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283 for the most current information about where to file this affidavit. For TTY (deaf or hard of hearing) call: 1-800-767-1833. For information on filing with DOS, see www.travel.state.gov.
Page 9, Address Change	[Page 9] Address Change A sponsor who is not a U.S. citizen must notify USCIS of his or her new address within 10 days of moving from his or her previous residence. To do this you must complete and file Form I-865, Sponsor’s Change of Address. For information on filing Form I-865, go to the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov/I-865 or reach out to the USCIS Contact Center at www.uscis.gov/contactcenter for help. The USCIS Contact Center provides information in English and Spanish. For TTY (deaf or hard of hearing) call: 1-800-767-1833. NOTE: Do not complete Form I-865 at the same time that you complete Form I-864EZ. You should complete and submit Form I-865 to USCIS only when the address you indicated on the original Form I-864EZ has changed. If you are a lawful permanent resident sponsor, you must notify USCIS of your new address within 10 days of moving from your previous residence. For information on filing a change of address go to the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov/addresschange or reach out to the USCIS Contact Center at www.uscis.gov/contactcenter for help. The USCIS Contact Center provides information in English and Spanish. For TTY (deaf or hard of hearing) call: 1-800-767-1833. For information on reporting a change of address to the Department of State, see www.travel.state.gov. NOTE: Do not submit a change of address to the USCIS Lockbox facilities because the Lockbox does not process change of address requests.	[Page 9] Address Change A sponsor who is not a U.S. citizen must notify USCIS of his or her new address within 10 days of moving from his or her previous residence. To do this you must complete and file Form I-865, Sponsor’s Change of Address. For information on filing Form I-865, go to the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov/I-865 or contact the USCIS National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283. For TTY (deaf or hard of hearing) call: 1-800-767-1833. NOTE: Do not complete Form I-865 at the same time that you complete Form I-864EZ. You should complete and submit Form I-865 to USCIS only when the address you indicated on the original Form I-864EZ has changed. If you are a lawful permanent resident sponsor, you must notify USCIS of your new address within 10 days of moving from your previous residence. For information on filing a change of address go to the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov/addresschange or contact the USCIS National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283. For TTY (deaf or hard of hearing) call: 1-800-767-1833. For information on reporting a change of address to the Department of State, see www.travel.state.gov. NOTE: Do not submit a change of address request to the USCIS Lockbox facilities because the Lockbox does not process change of address requests.

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