Filing an Affidavit of Support
A main immigration concern is whether or not a foreign national will have to use U.S. financial resources once he or she is here in the United States. This includes programs like Medicaid and other state-provided services. Thus, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, or USCIS, may have U.S.-based family members or other individuals file an affidavit of support on behalf of family or friends who want to immigrate to the United States.
Sometimes, it can be difficult to coordinate the filing of an Affidavit of Support along with an immigrant visa. However, our U.S. immigration attorneys can help you handle this process so that it goes as smoothly as possible. For more information regarding this process, contact an experienced Orange County immigration lawyer from Garg & Associates, P.C., today at 949-540-6704.
The Filing Process
An Affidavit of Support, also known as Form I-864, can be filed by a U.S.-based family member to help a loved one immigrate to the U.S. This form shows that you will be financially responsible for your loved one so that he or she will not immigrate to the U.S. and then rely on welfare services, such as food stamps. In order to file a Form I-864, you must prove that:
- You are currently employed or successfully self-employed
- You are paying taxes to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
- You have an income at or above 125% of the Federal poverty level
- You are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- You are currently living in the U.S. or a U.S. territory
- You are at least 18 years of age
If your Affidavit of Support is approved, your relative that is applying for immigration must then file this form when applying for his or her visa.
Contact Us
A successful Affidavit of Support can mean the difference between a rejected immigrant petition and a successful visa application. To learn more about how we can help you with this process, contact a knowledgeable Orange County immigration attorney from Garg & Associates, P.C., at 949-540-6704 today.
