USCIS Rolls Out New Form I-864, Effective Immediately

On August 31, 2026, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) started accepting a new edition of Form I-864, the Affidavit of Support. Sponsors who file the old version today or later will have their case rejected outright.

The new edition, dated 08/24/26, replaces the prior version with no transition window. Most family-based and some employment-based immigrants need a sponsor to file this form on their behalf, promising they have the financial means to support that person so they don't need government assistance.

In addition, Form I-864EZ and Form I-864A were also updated to reflect these changes.

What are the new filing deadlines?

By August 31, 2026:

• Sponsors must use the 08/24/26 edition, whether filing by mail or electronically.
• USCIS will not process or accept the older 10/17/24 edition, even if a sponsor already filled it out.

Sponsors who are printing or completing the form today should check the edition date at the bottom of the page before signing or mailing it.

What changed between the new and current I-864 editions?

The new I-864 edition includes a new privacy release that authorizes USCIS to request information about the sponsor directly from consumer reporting agencies.

In addition, the agency has instructed sponsors with a credit or security freeze in place to respond quickly if an immigration officer asks them to lift it. If USCIS can’t get this information from a credit bureau, it may not be able to confirm the affidavit of support is sufficient, which could delay a sponsor’s case.

How does this new I-864 edition impact sponsors?

Manifest immigration attorney Ana Gabriela Urizar says the biggest thing sponsors should do right now is check whether they have a credit or security freeze in place. “USCIS is telling people to lift it quickly if asked, and if you sit on that request, you're the one who ends up waiting longer for a decision.”

Urizar also noted this raises the stakes on the affidavit itself. "Form I-864 is already a binding contract to support the immigrant financially," she says. "Now USCIS can go straight to the credit bureaus to check your numbers, so sponsors should make sure their income and asset documentation actually matches what's on file before they sign."