USCIS adds credit-check permission to new Affidavit of Support form
Effective August 31, USCIS will only accept the updated Form I-864, which now lets the agency request a sponsor’s credit data from consumer reporting bureaus.
US Citizenship and Immigration Services has implemented an immediate update to Form I-864, the Affidavit of Support filed by family-based green-card sponsors, and will reject any submissions using the older version after August 31. The revised form includes a privacy release that permits USCIS to request credit reports from consumer reporting agencies on the sponsor. Immigration lawyers note that a credit or security freeze could block the agency’s access, potentially delaying applications unless the sponsor promptly removes the freeze.
While the form still requires sponsors to demonstrate income at least 125 % of the federal poverty line, it now gives USCIS an additional avenue to verify financial standing. No explicit credit-score requirement is stated, and officials have not confirmed whether every sponsor will undergo a credit inquiry. Experts advise sponsors to ensure their documented income and assets match what appears on their credit reports before signing.
Why it matters
The rule gives immigration officials a new tool to assess sponsor finances, potentially affecting green-card processing times.
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