USCIS Updates Green Card Financial Sponsorship
Form I-864 updates now allow U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to check credit-related information for family-based green card sponsors. According to the Times of India, USCIS introduced the revised Affidavit of Support form, making the new version mandatory starting August 31, with no grace period allowed for older versions.
What the New Form I-864 Changes Mean for Sponsors
The updated form includes a privacy disclosure clause that permits USCIS to request a sponsor’s credit information from credit bureaus. The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) advises that sponsors who have frozen their credit must respond promptly if asked to lift the freeze to avoid processing delays.
Credit Scores and Existing Income Requirements
Despite the new credit check authorization, a specific credit score has not been added as a new sponsorship qualification criterion. The revised I-864 does not outline a minimum credit score, and USCIS has not stated that all sponsors will undergo a uniform credit inquiry. A low credit score, high credit card balance, defaults, or past bankruptcy do not automatically result in disqualification. Existing income standards remain unchanged, requiring sponsors to prove income at or above 125% of the federal poverty guidelines based on household size, tax returns, and asset documentation. Immigration attorneys note that it remains to be seen how USCIS will apply this new authority in actual financial sponsorship reviews.
