Form I-864EZ is a shorter version of the Affidavit of Support that a U.S. citizen sponsor signs to promise the federal government they will financially support an intending immigrant. You can use it only if you are sponsoring one person, that person is listed on your Form I-130, and your qualifying income comes from your own employment, pension, or retirement, as shown on a single W-2.
The form is a binding contract under INA Section 213A and 8 CFR 213a. According to the USCIS FY 2024 data report, more than 580,000 affidavits of support were filed in a single fiscal year, and roughly 1 in 5 family-based green card cases experiences a Request for Evidence tied to financial sponsorship problems.
Here is what you will learn in this guide:
- 📋 Who qualifies to use the I-864EZ instead of the full I-864
- 💵 How the 2026 HHS Poverty Guidelines set your minimum income
- ✍️ Line-by-line walkthrough of every part with named examples
- ⚠️ The 7+ most common mistakes that trigger rejections and RFEs
- ❓ FAQs covering joint sponsors, taxes, divorce, and enforcement
What Form I-864EZ Is and Why It Exists
Form I-864EZ, called the Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the INA, is a streamlined version of Form I-864. Congress created the affidavit-of-support system in the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to stop new immigrants from becoming a public charge under INA 212(a)(4). The sponsor signs a contract with the U.S. government promising to keep the immigrant at or above 125% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
The “EZ” version exists for the simplest cases. If your situation has any twist, like self-employment income, a household member’s income, or more than one immigrant on the same petition, you must use the full I-864 form. The EZ form is six pages instead of ten and asks fewer questions, but it carries the same legal weight as the full version.
The contract is enforceable in any state or federal court. Courts have ruled in cases like Erler v. Erler (9th Cir. 2016) and Liu v. Mund (7th Cir. 2012) that the immigrant beneficiary can sue the sponsor directly for unpaid support. That obligation does not end at divorce. It only ends through one of five specific events explained later in this guide.
The plain-English meaning of all this is simple. You are telling the U.S. government, “If this person needs help, I will pay, not the taxpayers.” The consequence of breaking the promise is a lawsuit by the immigrant or by any government agency that gave the immigrant a means-tested public benefit. A common misconception is that signing the affidavit is just a formality. It is not. It is one of the few civil contracts in American law where the federal government, a state government, and a private person can all sue you on the same document.
Who Can Use Form I-864EZ
Not everyone gets to use the shorter form. Filing the EZ version when you do not qualify will get the case sent back, sometimes after months of waiting. The USCIS instructions for I-864EZ list three strict eligibility tests, and you must meet all three.
The Three Eligibility Rules
You must be the petitioner who filed Form I-130 for the immigrant. You cannot be a joint sponsor or a substitute sponsor. The intending immigrant must be the only person listed on your I-130; if you petitioned for a spouse and a stepchild on separate I-130s but want one combined affidavit, you must use the full I-864.
Your qualifying income must come only from your own salary or pension, and that income must show on a single IRS Form W-2 or Form SSA-1099. Self-employment income on a Schedule C, 1099-NEC contractor pay, rental income, alimony, or investment income disqualifies you from the EZ form. The reason is that USCIS wants the income to be simple to verify with one document.
Your income alone, without using assets or any household member’s income, must equal at least 125% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for your household size. Active-duty military members sponsoring a spouse or child only need 100%, but they still must meet the income test from W-2 wages alone. The consequence of falling short is that you must switch to the full I-864 and add a joint sponsor or use Form I-864A for a household member.
When You Must Use Full I-864 Instead
Switch to the full I-864 the moment any of these facts apply. You have a joint sponsor. You need to count assets like a home, a 401(k), or a bank account to meet the income line. You earn money from self-employment, rental property, or freelance work. You are sponsoring more than one person on the same I-130, such as a spouse with a derivative child.
A common misconception is that married sponsors must use the full form. Not true. A married sponsor who files taxes jointly with a spouse can still use the EZ form, as long as the sponsor’s own W-2 income alone hits the 125% line. The spouse’s income is irrelevant to EZ eligibility unless you need it to qualify, in which case you must use I-864 plus I-864A.
2026 Federal Poverty Guidelines for I-864EZ
Every year the Department of Health and Human Services publishes the poverty guidelines, and USCIS turns them into Form I-864P. For 2026 filings, sponsors must meet the income line shown on the most recent I-864P at the time USCIS or the National Visa Center reviews the case.
48 Contiguous States, D.C., and Territories (125%)
| Household Size | 100% Poverty Line | 125% Sponsor Minimum |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | $21,150 | $26,437 |
| 3 | $26,650 | $33,312 |
| 4 | $32,150 | $40,187 |
| 5 | $37,650 | $47,062 |
| 6 | $43,150 | $53,937 |
| 7 | $48,650 | $60,812 |
| 8 | $54,150 | $67,687 |
These figures use the published 2026 HHS Poverty Guidelines. For each additional person, add $5,500 at 100% and $6,875 at 125%. The plain-English meaning is that a sponsor in Ohio supporting a spouse, with no children, needs at least $26,437 in W-2 income to file the EZ form.
Alaska and Hawaii Higher Thresholds
Alaska uses a higher poverty line because the cost of living runs roughly 25% above the mainland average. The 125% threshold for a household of 2 in Alaska is about $33,037, and Hawaii’s is about $30,400, based on the Alaska and Hawaii adjusted guidelines. The consequence of using the wrong column is a Request for Evidence demanding more proof of income or a joint sponsor.
A real example helps. Carlos, a postal worker in Anchorage, sponsors his wife from the Philippines. He earns $32,000 on his W-2. In the lower 48, he would qualify, but in Alaska the 125% line for two is $33,037, so Carlos falls short by about $1,000. He must either use Form I-864 with assets or add a joint sponsor.
Active-Duty Military 100% Threshold
If you are on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces and sponsoring a spouse or child, you only need 100% of the guidelines. For a household of 2 in the lower 48, that is $21,150 instead of $26,437. The reason behind the lower line is that Congress recognized military pay tables and wanted to ease family reunification for service members. The consequence of claiming the 100% line when you are not active duty, or when you are sponsoring a parent or sibling, is denial of the affidavit.
Documents to Gather Before You Start
Walking into the EZ form without your paperwork in order is the top reason filings get rejected. The USCIS document checklist is short, but every item must match.
You need your most recent federal tax return or, much better, an IRS tax return transcript covering the last tax year. You need every W-2 and 1099 from that year. You need proof of U.S. citizenship, such as a U.S. passport bio page, naturalization certificate, or birth certificate. You need a recent letter from your employer or six months of pay stubs to prove current employment.
The plain-English meaning is that USCIS wants to see two things: what you earned last year and what you earn right now. The consequence of skipping the current-employment proof is an RFE that adds 60 to 120 days to your case. A common misconception is that one pay stub is enough. USCIS officers usually want the most recent stub plus the year-end W-2.
Line-by-Line Walkthrough of Form I-864EZ
The form has six parts. Each part has its own purpose, and each line has a specific consequence if you get it wrong. Use the current edition of I-864EZ from uscis.gov; older editions are rejected on receipt under the USCIS form edition policy.
Part 1: Information About You, the Sponsor
This part asks for your full legal name, mailing address, physical address, date of birth, place of birth, country of citizenship, Social Security number, and USCIS Online Account Number if you have one. The plain-English point is identification. Use the exact name on your passport or naturalization certificate, not a nickname.
The consequence of mismatched names between the I-130 and the I-864EZ is an RFE. A common misconception is that middle names are optional. They are not if they appear on your government ID. A real example: Aisha Marie Thompson filed her I-130 with the middle name Marie but skipped it on the EZ form. USCIS issued a name-discrepancy RFE that delayed her husband’s case by four months.
Part 2: Information About the Immigrant You Are Sponsoring
Here you write the immigrant’s full name, Alien Registration Number if assigned, USCIS Online Account Number if any, date of birth, and country. The name and A-number must match what appears on the I-130 receipt notice and on the visa interview letter from the U.S. embassy.
The consequence of typos here is real. If you transpose two digits in the A-number, the National Visa Center cannot match the EZ form to the file, and the case sits in administrative limbo. A common misconception is that NVC will fix small errors. They will not. They send the case back.
Part 3: Country of Domicile
You must show that your principal residence is in the United States, or that you are taking concrete steps to re-establish it before the immigrant enters. Domicile rules come from 9 FAM 302.8. If you are living abroad, you must prove the foreign stay is temporary, such as a U.S. employer assignment, military deployment, or missionary work.
The consequence of an unclear domicile is denial of the immigrant visa, even if your income is fine. A real example: David, a U.S. citizen teaching in Tokyo for ten years, tried to sponsor his Japanese wife. He had no U.S. address, no U.S. job, and no plan to return until two years later. The consular officer denied the affidavit until David showed a signed lease in Seattle and a job offer letter from a U.S. employer.
Part 4: Sponsor’s Employment and Income
You list your current employer, your annual income, and your household size. Household size on the EZ form includes you, the immigrant, your spouse if any, your unmarried children under 21, anyone you claimed as a dependent on your last tax return, and anyone you have already sponsored on a still-active I-864.
You also report your total income from IRS Form 1040 line 9 (or the matching line on a transcript) for the last three tax years. Only the most recent year is required, but providing all three strengthens the case if last year was unusually low. The consequence of leaving income blank for two of the three years is an officer assumption that you did not file, which can trigger a public-charge concern.
A real example: Priya, a registered nurse in Houston, earned $72,000 last year on her W-2. She lists household size 2 (herself and her husband), well above the $26,437 line. She attaches her tax return transcript, her latest W-2, an employer letter, and three recent pay stubs. Her case sails through.
Part 5: Sponsor’s Contract, Statement, Contact Information, Certification, and Signature
You sign and date the form only in front of the printed signature line, in black ink, with a wet signature. Electronic and stamped signatures are rejected under the USCIS signature policy. You also include a daytime phone number and email.
The plain-English meaning of this signature is that you understand and accept the obligations: support the immigrant at 125% of poverty, notify USCIS of address changes within 30 days using Form I-865, and pay back any means-tested public benefit the immigrant receives. The consequence of an unsigned form is automatic rejection on receipt.
Part 6: Interpreter’s Contact Information, Certification, and Signature
Fill this out only if someone read the form to you in another language. The interpreter signs and certifies fluency in both English and the other language. A common misconception is that the preparer and the interpreter are the same role. They are not. If a paralegal filled out the form for you in English, that person uses Part 7 (on the full I-864) or stays off the EZ form entirely.
Three Common I-864EZ Scenarios
Real cases show how the rules work together. Each table below maps a sponsor’s choice to its direct consequence.
Scenario A: Single-Earner Spouse Sponsorship
| Sponsor’s Action | Resulting Outcome |
|---|---|
| Maria, a teacher in Dallas, earns $48,000 on one W-2 and sponsors her husband Luis | She qualifies for I-864EZ at household size 2, well above the $26,437 line |
| She attaches her IRS tax return transcript and a school district employer letter | NVC accepts the affidavit on first review with no RFE |
| She forgets to sign Part 5 in ink | NVC returns the entire packet, costing her 90 days |
Scenario B: Borderline Income with Military Sponsor
| Sponsor’s Action | Resulting Outcome |
|---|---|
| Sergeant James, active-duty Army at Fort Bragg, earns $24,500 sponsoring his wife from Germany | He qualifies under the 100% military rule, $21,150 for household of 2 |
| He attaches his Leave and Earnings Statement and most recent W-2 | The consular officer accepts the EZ form |
| He marks the civilian 125% box by mistake | Officer issues an RFE asking him to re-mark the active-duty checkbox |
Scenario C: Sponsor with Self-Employment Income
| Sponsor’s Action | Resulting Outcome |
|---|---|
| Daniel, a freelance graphic designer in Miami, earns $60,000 reported on Schedule C | He does not qualify for EZ because the income is self-employment |
| He files I-864EZ anyway | NVC returns the case and demands the full Form I-864 |
| He switches to I-864 and attaches his full 1040 with all schedules | Case moves forward at the next NVC review cycle |
Where and How to File the I-864EZ
The filing path depends on whether the immigrant is processing in the United States or abroad. The USCIS direct-filing chart and NVC instructions explain both routes.
For Adjustment of Status filings inside the U.S., the I-864EZ goes in the I-485 packet to the USCIS Chicago Lockbox or filed through the USCIS online account. For consular processing abroad, you upload the EZ form to the Consular Electronic Application Center along with supporting documents.
There is no separate filing fee for I-864EZ; it rides along with the I-485 filing fee, which under the 2024 USCIS fee rule is $1,440 for most applicants in 2026. The consequence of mailing the EZ form to the wrong address is delayed receipt. A common misconception is that you can fax the form. You cannot.
Mistakes to Avoid on Form I-864EZ
Sponsors make the same errors over and over. Each one has a real cost in time, money, or both.
- Using an outdated form edition. USCIS publishes the current edition date at the top of the I-864EZ page; older editions are rejected on receipt.
- Mismatching names between I-130 and I-864EZ. A missing middle name or a maiden name without an “also known as” causes an RFE.
- Listing self-employment income. Schedule C income disqualifies you from EZ, period; you must file the full I-864.
- Forgetting to count yourself in household size. The sponsor is always part of the household, and skipping yourself shrinks the calculated minimum incorrectly.
- Submitting only one pay stub instead of a transcript. USCIS prefers an IRS tax return transcript plus current pay stubs for full proof.
- Using the Alaska or Hawaii column when you live in the lower 48. The wrong column triggers an RFE for clarification of residence.
- Skipping Part 3 domicile evidence when living abroad. Without proof of U.S. domicile or a plan to re-establish it, the consular officer denies the visa.
- Signing in blue ink, electronically, or with a stamp. Only a black-ink wet signature is accepted under the USCIS signature policy.
- Forgetting to file Form I-865 after moving. Failure to report an address change within 30 days carries a fine of up to $5,000 under 8 U.S.C. 1183a(d).
- Assuming divorce ends the obligation. It does not, as confirmed in Erler v. Erler.
Do’s and Don’ts for Sponsors
Do’s
- Do order a free IRS tax return transcript because USCIS officers trust it more than a self-printed return.
- Do count every dependent on your last tax return in the household-size box, since the math drives the income test.
- Do include a recent employer letter on company letterhead, because it shows current income, not just last year’s earnings.
- Do make a clean copy of the entire packet before mailing, since reconstructing a lost packet from memory is almost impossible.
- Do sign with a black-ink wet signature on every page that asks for one, because anything else is rejected on receipt.
Don’ts
- Don’t use the EZ form if you have any joint sponsor, since EZ does not have the joint-sponsor pages.
- Don’t count assets to meet the income line on the EZ form, because EZ has no assets section.
- Don’t estimate income from memory; pull the exact number from line 9 of your Form 1040.
- Don’t ignore an RFE deadline, because missing it usually means denial of the immigrant’s case, not just the affidavit.
- Don’t assume the sponsorship ends at the green card; the obligation runs until one of the five termination events occurs.
Pros and Cons of Filing I-864EZ Instead of I-864
Pros
- Shorter form. Six pages versus ten, which lowers the risk of small-line errors.
- Faster preparation. Most qualified sponsors finish in under an hour.
- Same legal weight. It is fully enforceable under INA 213A.
- Cleaner officer review. Fewer fields means fewer reasons for an RFE.
- No assets section to worry about. If your W-2 income clears the line, you are done.
Cons
- Strict eligibility. One drop of self-employment income knocks you off the EZ track.
- No joint sponsor option. If you fall short, you must restart with the full I-864.
- Single-immigrant only. Sponsoring a spouse and a stepchild on the same petition forces you to the full form.
- No household-member income. A working spouse cannot help you qualify on the EZ.
- Easy to misuse. Many sponsors file EZ when they should file I-864, costing months.
How and When the Affidavit Ends
The sponsor’s promise is long but not forever. Under 8 CFR 213a.2(e)(2), the duty ends on the first of these five events.
The immigrant becomes a U.S. citizen, usually three years after marriage to a citizen sponsor through Form N-400 naturalization. The immigrant earns 40 quarters of work credit under the Social Security Act, which roughly equals ten years of taxed work. The immigrant permanently leaves the United States and abandons lawful permanent resident status. The immigrant dies. The sponsor dies, although the sponsor’s estate may still owe support already accrued before death.
A common misconception is that divorce ends the duty. It does not. Courts in Liu v. Mund and Erler v. Erler ordered ex-spouse sponsors to keep paying. A real example: Robert, divorced from his wife Anya two years after her green card, was ordered to pay her the difference between her actual income and 125% of poverty until she naturalized.
Key People, Agencies, and Concepts
The I-864EZ pulls together several federal players. USCIS, part of the Department of Homeland Security, reviews the form for adjustment cases. The National Visa Center and U.S. consulates, part of the Department of State, review it for immigrant visa cases abroad. The IRS supplies the tax transcripts. The Department of Health and Human Services sets the poverty guidelines. The Social Security Administration tracks the 40-quarter rule.
The sponsor, the intending immigrant, and any means-tested benefit-granting agency are the three parties that can enforce the contract in court. The plain-English point is that any of them can sue you. The consequence of ignoring a lawsuit under 8 U.S.C. 1183a(b) can include wage garnishment, liens, and reimbursement orders.
Recap of Key Court Rulings
Federal courts have shaped what the affidavit means in practice. In Erler v. Erler, the Ninth Circuit held that the sponsor must support the immigrant at 125% of poverty as a household of one, not as a household that includes the immigrant’s new family members. The consequence is that even a remarried immigrant can sue the original sponsor.
In Liu v. Mund, the Seventh Circuit ruled that the immigrant has no duty to mitigate by working. The plain-English meaning is that an immigrant who chooses not to work can still demand support from the sponsor. In Younis v. Farooqi, a Maryland district court awarded back support directly to the immigrant beneficiary, confirming the contract is privately enforceable.
A common misconception is that signing the affidavit only matters to the government. That is wrong. The immigrant beneficiary is the most common plaintiff in affidavit-of-support lawsuits, often in family court during divorce.
FAQs
Can I file Form I-864EZ if I am sponsoring my spouse and stepchild together?
No. The EZ form allows only one immigrant per affidavit. Use the full Form I-864, or file separate I-864s if the children have separate I-130 petitions.
Do I need a joint sponsor if my income is too low?
Yes. If your W-2 income alone falls below 125% of the poverty guidelines, you must add a joint sponsor on a full I-864. The EZ form does not allow joint sponsors.
Does my spouse’s income count on the I-864EZ?
No. Only the sponsor’s own W-2 wages, pension, or retirement count on EZ. To use a spouse’s income, switch to I-864 plus Form I-864A.
Is a tax return transcript required, or will a copy of the 1040 work?
Yes, a copy of your signed 1040 with W-2s is technically accepted, but USCIS strongly prefers a free IRS tax return transcript because it eliminates fraud concerns.
Does the affidavit end after my spouse gets a green card?
No. The duty continues until citizenship, 40 work quarters, abandonment of LPR status, the immigrant’s death, or the sponsor’s death under 8 CFR 213a.2(e)(2).
Can I be sued personally if the immigrant uses food stamps?
Yes. Under 8 U.S.C. 1183a(b), the agency that paid means-tested benefits can sue the sponsor for reimbursement, although SNAP rules vary by state.
Does divorce end my obligation under the I-864EZ?
No. Federal courts in Erler v. Erler confirm divorce does not terminate the contract; only the five statutory events end it.
Can active-duty service members really qualify at 100% poverty?
Yes, but only when sponsoring a spouse or child, not a parent or sibling. The rule appears on Form I-864P and the USCIS sponsor page.
Do I need to file Form I-865 if I move?
Yes. You must file Form I-865 within 30 days of any address change, or face a fine of up to $5,000 under 8 U.S.C. 1183a(d).
Can I file Form I-864EZ online?
Yes, in many adjustment-of-status cases you may upload it through your USCIS online account, but consular cases require submission through the Consular Electronic Application Center.
Is there a separate filing fee for the I-864EZ?
No. The form has no standalone fee; it travels with the I-485 or the immigrant visa application fee under the 2024 USCIS fee schedule.
What happens if I file the EZ form but should have filed the full I-864?
No acceptance is given; USCIS or NVC returns the case with instructions to refile on Form I-864, often adding three to six months of delay.
Related reading
- How Can I Get a Visa for My Grandparents? (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out USCIS Form I-864A (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out USCIS Form I-864W (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out USCIS Form I-865 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out USCIS Form I-912 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out USCIS Form I-942 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out USCIS Form I-821 (w/Examples) + FAQs