Last Updated: January 2023.

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If you are filing the I-485 (Adjustment of Status) application, you will need to pay the government fees. You will submit these fees with the application when you mail it to USCIS. The amounts you will pay will vary based on your circumstances. This article explains how to calculate how much to pay.

I-485 Fee Amounts

Filing Form I-485 typically costs $1,440. For children who are under the age of 14 and who are filing with at least one parent, the fee is only $950. There are additional filing categories under which Form I-485 fee may be waived.Here are some examples to help walk you through the fee rules:

• A 5-year-old child applying for the I-485 at the same time as their mother would pay $950 for their I-485.
• An 81-year-old applicant being petitioned by their US Citizen child would pay $1,440 for their I-485.
• A 22-year-old applicant applying for the I-485 through marriage would pay $1,440 for their I-485.
• A 13-year-old applicant whose parents were not applying at the same time as them would pay $1,440 for their I-485.

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If you still need clarification about how much to pay, you can also use the USCIS Fee Calculator to double-check. USCIS changes its fees periodically, so double-checking the fee calculator is always a good idea.

Please note: Depending on which forms you are filing at the same time as Form I-485, additional filing fees may be associated with submitting your application. The most common fees are the filing fee for Form I-130, Form I-765, and Form I-131. For information on how to pay the I-485 fees, see the following article. With all of our packages, we include detailed instructions and support with the entire application process, including paying the fees to USCIS. We would be happy to help you prepare your I-485 application! Click here to get started.

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Last Updated: May 25, 2023.

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Part of the green card process for family-based green card applications is filing the Form I-864, Affidavit of Support. Form I-864, Affidavit of Support is one of the most difficult forms to file in the Green Card application process. It can be difficult to understand why it exists, what USCIS is looking for, when it is required, and for whom. This article will provide you with details regarding what a financial sponsor is, what the requirements are for a financial sponsor and how USCIS determines if someone meets the requirements, and when a household member or  joint sponsor is needed.

What is Form I-864, Affidavit of Support?

Form I-864 is a contract between the person who  files of the form (the sponsor)  and the United States Government. Anyone who fills, signs, and submits the form on behalf of an intending immigrant becomes a sponsor and is held to this contract.The primary aim of this contract is to provide USCIS with proof that the sponsor has sufficient financial means to support the applicant, in a case where they may ever need financial support   By signing Form I-864, the sponsor is agreeing to use their financial  resources to support the intending immigrant affidavit, if it becomes necessary. One of the primary reasons USCIS requires this is to protect the U.S. government from people entering the United States and then using government financial resources. Another important point to be aware of is that by filing this form, the intending immigrant may become ineligible for certain means-tested (finance-based) public benefits  offered on Federal, State, or Local levels. Should the applicant/beneficiary ever use these public benefits, it is within the rights of the agency providing the benefit to require the sponsor to repay the costs of the benefits used, as per the conditions of the contract. In cases where the benefit is not repaid, the agency is able to sue the sponsor . While this is extremely  uncommon, it is a risk all sponsors should be aware of.For more information regarding which benefits are considered, please see the I-864P Poverty Guideline page.

How Long does the I-864 Contract Last:

The contract between the sponsor and the US government begins the moment USCIS receives the Form I-864 and does not end until at least one of the following conditions has been met:

• The beneficiary gains U.S. Citizenship
• The beneficiary has worked in the US for at least 10 years
• The beneficiary leaves the US permanently and loses their Permanent Resident status.

Who Files Form I-864, Affidavit of Support?

Form I-864 must be submitted by all applicants seeking a green card benefit through connection to a family member. In other words, all family-petitioned (and even some employment-petitioned) applications are required, by law, to include Form I-864 at some point throughout the green card application process.  For individuals going through the consular process abroad, this is done along with the DS-260. For those applying to adjust status within the United States, this is done along with  submission of the Form I-485.All family-based petitioners, regardless of income or employment, are required to file Form I-864 on behalf of the relative they are petitioning. In other words, they must accept a degree of financial responsibility for that relative by submitting Form I-864. However, in situations where the petitioner does not meet the income requirement, USCIS requires that another sponsor be added. This individual can be either a household member of the petitioning sponsor or they can be a joint sponsor. Anyone whose income is being used to meet the income requirements set forth by USCIS automatically accepts the agreed upon financial responsibility for the applicant/beneficiary. There are certain exemptions to the rules listed above, which can be found on pages 1 and 2 of the Form I-864 Instructions.

Do I meet the requirements to be the financial sponsor?

As mentioned above, it is important to remember that the petitioner via Form I-130 is REQUIRED to file the financial affidavit regardless of if they meet the financial requirements or not. By doing so they are accepting the financial responsibility over the intending immigrant. However, if the financial requirements are not met another sponsor will need to be added in addition to the petitioning sponsor. Let’s take a deeper look into what that looks like.

There are four requirements to qualify as a financial sponsor:*

1. They must be a US citizen or a legal permanent resident (green card holder)
2. They must be at least 18 years old
3. They must be domiciled in the US
4. They must have an annual income over 125% the federal poverty level. This amount varies depending on family size. You can check the USCIS guidelines here. In 2022 the required income for a household of 2 is $24,650.

*Please note that despite what is outlined in USCIS policy, we are seeing the following circumstances result in greater scrutiny from USCIS and higher rates of receiving a Request for Evidence  even if the sponsor’s income was 125% or more of the poverty line:

Income Close to the Required Level/Lack of Proof

• USCIS always highly scrutinizes proof of income, but especially if the income is close to the required income. In these cases a detailed letter from the employer and six months of pay stubs showing consistent income can help, but in some circumstances a joint sponsor may also be recommended.

Self- Employed Sponsors

• Self-employment is often harder to prove to USCIS. Where typical W2 employment typically can  prove both historic and future income  via pay stubs and employer letter, self-employment often shows historic income, but doesn’t create as strong of proof of future income. If USCIS feels that the income from self-employment is not stable enough to sponsor an immigrant long-term they are very likely to send an RFE requesting a joint sponsor.

Retired Sponsors

• Retired sponsor’s must add sufficient evidence of their retirement income via retirement or Social Security statements. Inability to provide these documents will lead to greater scrutiny.

Lack of Income History

• Even if a sponsor’s current income meets the level required by USCIS, a lack of strong income history may cause USCIS to doubt the sponsor’s ability to financially provide. It is especially common if the total income from the most recent tax year was below 125% of the poverty guideline.  

In instances where the sponsor falls into one of the four listed categories, we have seen applicants experience the most success when they add an additional sponsor to the application.  

Additional Sponsors

There are two main ways in which someone can be added as an additional sponsor to an application. We are going to take a look at both types of sponsors so that it is clear who qualifies as an additional sponsor and which type of additional sponsor they would be.

Household Member

A household member is a sibling, parent, or adult child with the same principal residence as the petitioning sponsor. When their income is used for financial support on the application they file the I-864A, Contract Between Sponsor and Household Member. The difference of filing as a household member instead of a joint sponsor is that instead of having to independently meet the income threshold, their income will be combined with the petitioning sponsor and USCIS will make their decision based on the total household income.For example, If Robert is sponsoring his wife for a green card and has an annual income of $10,000 and his father, Mark, who lives with them, agrees to financially sponsor as well then his income of $40,000 would be added together  and USCIS would consider the $50,000 of household income.

Joint Sponsor

A joint sponsor is someone who helps the primary sponsor to satisfy the financial requirements of sponsorship. While both the petitioning sponsor and the joint sponsor will be required to file Form I-864, USCIS will make a decision regarding the joint sponsor’s income independent of the petitioning sponsor. For example, If Robert is sponsoring his wife for a green card and has an annual income of $10,000 and John, a family friend, agrees to financially sponsor as well and his income is $40,000 then, when reviewing John’s form, USCIS would consider only John’s income $40,000 when deciding whether he is eligible to act as a sponsor.

Conclusion

The financial sponsorship forms are considered to be some of the most complicated and highly scrutinized by USCIS. It’s important to be thorough and provide  evidence that is as clear as possible. Having the guidance of a licensed immigration attorney can be extremely helpful, especially when filing form I-864. If you are interested in getting the peace of mind that comes from  legal support without the high cost of a conventional immigration lawyer, SimpleCitizen partners with a network of independent attorneys who offer their legal guidance and recommendations.Here at SimpleCitizen we offer the ability to  send joint sponsor’s  a private link that will retrieve all of the information needed and complete the required documents for the sponsor.If you have any other questions about a sponsor feel free to use our live chat.

Additional Resources

Click here for information about sponsors from the USCIS website.

Last Updated: January 15, 2020.

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The presumption in law is that every visitor visa applicant is an intending immigrant. Therefore, applicants for tourist visas must overcome this presumption by demonstrating that:

• The purpose of their trip is to enter the U.S. for pleasure, or medical treatment;
• That they plan to remain for a specific time period;
• Evidence by the alien that he or she will maintain a foreign residence that he or she has no intention of abandoning during the period of his or her stay in the U.S.;
• That the alien is not engaged in work and will engage solely in legitimate activities relating to pleasure

More specifically the following things are considered while a tourist visa is granted:

• Adequate fund are arranged by the alien to cover the expenses for the trip including his or her stay and return passage;
• Alien has specific and realistic plans for the visit for the entire period of the contemplated visit;
• Alien has a residence outside the U.S. as well as other binding ties, which will insure his or her return abroad at the end of the visit.

Normally, an applicant's chances for getting a visa will be improved if the planned trip is short, the itinerary is clearly listed, the alien can prove that he or she has enough of funds to cover the expenses of his entire trip and has a job at home.

Last Updated: January 15, 2020.

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Both your petitioner (i.e. spouse or relative with lawful permanent status (a green card) or U.S. citizenship) and you will need to fill out form G-325A if you are filing Form I-130, but only you will need to do so if you’re adjusting permanent status via Form I-485.When you fill out the Form, expect to provide the following information:

• Lines 1 and 2: On these 2 lines, you’ll provide the most basic information about yourself including your name, sex, when you were born, your nationality (or citizenship), names that you’ve previously used (if you were married, for example), and where you were born.
• Line 3: In this space, you will provide your mother and father’s names, where and when they were born, and where they currently live (city and country).
• Line 4: If you are married, you will provide your spouse’s name, when and where they were born, as well as where and when you were married.
• Line 5: If you were married in the past but have since divorced, you will provide the name(s), date(s) of birth, where and when you were married, and where and when you ended each marriage here.
• Line 6: Here you will list all your previous residences over the last 5 years. Be sure to begin with your most recent address first and list the rest in terms of most recent to least recent.
• Line 7: In this area you will provide the most recent address where you lived outside the United States for more than 1 year. You will be required to provide the months and years you lived here as well.
• Line 8: Here you will provide all of your employers over the past 5 years, again beginning with the most recent and working your way backwards.
• Line 9: If your last job abroad wasn’t included in the list you provided on Line 8, you will write your most recent job outside of the United States here. If it was included on the list, you will write “Included Above” in this area.
• Line 10: You should check “Status as Permanent Resident” in this space.
• Line 11: If you are from Thailand, Korea, China, or another country where your native script is non-alphabetical, you should write your name here in your native script.
• Line 12: You will not sign this box. Instead, you must print your name and fill in your Alien number if you have one already.

What if You Don't Know Some Required Information?

If you don't know certain details required by the form, you may choose to write "Unknown" in the space provided. However, this may complicate the immigration process.You should always try to figure out the required information first before choosing to write "Unknown" as this will increase the likelihood of your forms being accepted (and therefore allow you to move forward in the immigration process).

Last Updated: January 15, 2020.

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Applicants for visitor visas should generally apply at the American Embassy or Consulate with jurisdiction over their place of permanent residence. Although visa applicants may apply at any U.S. consular office abroad, it may be more difficult to qualify for the visa outside the country of permanent residence.As part of the visa application process, an interview at the embassy consular section is required for visa applicants. Persons below 13 and above 80 years generally do not require an interview, unless requested by embassy or consulate. Each applicant for a visitor visa must submit these forms and documentation, and submit fees as explained below:

• A Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-156. The application to be accompanied by a letter from a U.S. friend or relative sponsor inviting the alien to the United States;
• A Supplemental Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-157;
• A passport valid for travel to the United States and with a validity date at least six months beyond the applicant's intended period of stay in the United States.
• Two identical color photographs showing full face without head covering against a light background. One may wear a headdress if required by a religious order of which he or she is a member;
• Information describing the company such as brochures, catalogs, annual reports;
• A copy of tour itinerary; and
• Documentation demonstrating ability and intention of the alien, or that of his or her employer, to support the alien's travel and other expenses while in the U.S.

Applicants must demonstrate that they are properly classifiable as visitors under U.S. law by:

• Evidence, which shows the purpose of the trip, intent to depart the United States, and arrangements made to cover the costs of the trip, may be provided. It is impossible to specify the exact form the documentation should take since applicants' circumstances vary greatly.
• Those applicants who do not have sufficient funds to support themselves while in the U.S. must present convincing evidence that an interested person will provide support.
• Depending on individual circumstances, applicants may provide other documentation substantiating the trip's purpose and specifying the nature of binding obligations, such as family ties or employment, which would compel their return abroad.

Documentation needed as evidence - When Seeking to Travel for Medical Treatment

Last Updated: January 15, 2020.

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Applying for Student Visa

An interview at the embassy consular section is required for visa applicants from age 14 through 79. The waiting time for an interview appointment for applicants can vary. It is important to remember that applying early and providing the requested documents does not guarantee that the student will receive a visa. All applicants for a student visa must provide:

• Form I-20A-B, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status-For Academic and Language Students. Students will need to submit a SEVIS generated Form, I-20, provided by their school. The student and school official must sign the I-20 form. All students, as well as their spouses and dependents must be registered in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), an Internet-based system that maintains accurate and current information on non-immigrant students and exchange visitors and their dependents (F-2 visa holders). Students will also have to pay an SEVIS I-901 fee for each program of study;
• A completed and signed application Form DS-156, together with a Form DS-158. Some applicants will also be required to complete and sign Form DS-157;
• An interview at the embassy consular section is required for almost all visa applicants;
• A passport valid for at least six months after your proposed date of entry into the United States;
• A MRV fee receipt to show payment of the visa application fee, a visa issuance fee if applicable and a separate SEVIS I-901 fee receipt. While all F visa applicants must pay the MRV fee, including dependents, only the F-1 principal applicants must pay the SEVIS fee;
• One (1) 2x2 photograph.

The dependents should provide:

• Proof of the student's relationship to his/her spouse and/or children (e.g., marriage and birth certificates.);
• It is preferred that families apply for F-1 and F-2 visas at the same time, but if the spouse and children must apply separately at a later time, they should bring a copy of the student visa holder's passport and visa, along with all other required documents.

Port of Entry

A visa allows a foreign citizen coming from abroad, to travel to the United States port-of entry and request permission to enter the U.S. Applicants should be aware that a visa does not guarantee entry into the United States. The Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials have authority to permit or deny admission to the United States. If you are allowed to enter the U.S., the CBP official will determine the length of your visit on the Arrival-Departure Record (Form I-94). Since Form I-94 documents your authorized stay in the U.S., it's very important to keep in your passport. Student visitors must have their Form I-20 in their possession each time they enter the United States.

Stay and Extensions

Students are admitted for the duration of status which is necessary to complete a full course of study, a period of authorized practical training following the course of study, plus 60 days.

Last updated: January 15, 2020.

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The presumption in law is that every visitor visa applicant is an intending immigrant. Therefore, applicants for B-1 visas must overcome this presumption by demonstrating that.

• The purpose of their trip is to enter the U.S. for business;
• That they plan to remain for a specific, limited period;
• Evidence of funds to cover expenses for the trip including all travel, accommodation and living expenses during their stay in the U.S. In case of insufficient financial resources to fund the trip, to provide evidence that his or her employer will provide support;
• Evidence of compelling social and economic ties abroad, that the alien has a residence outside the U.S. as well as other binding ties which will ensure his or her return abroad at the end of the visit, and that the alien has a foreign residence that he or she has no intention of abandoning;
• That the alien is not engaged in skilled or unskilled labor, study, or work as a representative of foreign press, radio, film, or other information media; and
• The alien must not be coming to the U.S. to provide services or engage in business activities that are primarily for the benefit of a U.S. employer.

B1 visa is available to visitors coming temporarily to the U.S. to engage in legitimate business activities of a commercial or professional nature. These visa holders may not receive a salary, compensation, etc. from any U.S. source except for reimbursement of incidental travel expenses only.The list of permissible activities under B1 includes engaging in commercial transactions not involving gainful employment, such as taking sales orders or making purchases of inventory or supplies for a foreign employer; negotiating contracts; consulting with business associates; engaging in litigation; or participating in scientific, educational, professional, or business conventions or conferences.The most common specialized activities include persons coming:

• To serve as a personal or domestic servant for a non-immigrant who is on a temporary assignment in the United States, for a U.S. citizen who is subject to international transfers and is in the U.S temporarily, or a U.S. citizen who visits temporarily to the United States but has a residence abroad;
• To participate in an athletic event as a professional athlete who gets remuneration only in the form of any prize money won by the athlete;
• To participate in a voluntary service program which benefits a U.S. local community, who establish that they are a member of, and have a commitment to, a particular recognized religious or nonprofit charitable organization;
• To install, service, or repair, or train U.S. workers to install, service, or repair, equipment or machinery purchased outside of the United States;
• For the purpose of business, which may include conducting negotiations, soliciting sales or investment, and interviewing and hiring staff;
• To perform professional duties that would normally qualify the person for H-1 status except that the alien would not receive any remuneration from a U.S. source;
• To explore the possibilities of setting up subsidiary of a foreign corporation, or to make investments;
• To participate in scientific, educational, professional, or business conventions, conferences or seminars or to conduct research;
• To perform duties including attending board meetings as a member of the board of directors of a U.S. company.

Last Updated: January 15, 2020.

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The following documents will likely be required when you apply for an F-1 visa:

Mandatory documents

Before the interview, you are required to pay a non-refundable visa application fee and then provide the receipt on the interview day. You should also provide one passport photograph, Form DS-160's confirmation page, the original interview appointment letter and a copy of it, the original SEVIS Form I-20 issued to you by a U.S. university, college, or school duly signed by an official of the institution and you, a copy of the Form I-20, Original and a copy of SEVIS Fee Receipt I-901's proof of payment and a valid passport (your passport must be valid for at least six months after your entry into the U.S.; if you just renewed your passport, you have to include your old passport)

Supporting documents

Evidence of sources of finance/income

• You have to provide the following documents as evidence of financial sources:
  • proof of liquid assets and readily available funds to take care of your personal needs and pay for your education
  • employment letter
  • pay stubs

Note that if you are being sponsored by your parents, a family member, any other person, or a business, you have to provide a notarized Form I-134 (Affidavit of Support), tax returns and bank statements of your sponsor covering a period of 6 months. If you took out loans from a bank to pay for your school fees, you should come to the interview not only with the application for the loan but other official documents which can be used to verify the approval of the loan (if only a modest amount is obtained as a loan, you will also be required to show additional liquid assets). If you are given a scholarship by any organization or the university that offers you the admission, your Form I-20 will give details of your scholarship if you have one.

Note that the above-mentioned documents are just suggested documents. Your ability to sponsor your education is not proven by any specific documents. Just come to the interview with all necessary financial documents that show you or your sponsor have adequate funds for your studies in the United States.

Education documents

You should support you application with the original of your academic credentials and certificates, transcripts of your high school diploma or degree transcripts, depending on the program you are doing, approved test scores such as TOEFL, GRE, LSAT, GMAT, and SAT and your grade reports from your previous institution.

Note that you may be able to apply for an F-1 visa if you have not obtained your degree certificate in so far as you provide a provisional certificate and grade reports. If the institution that gave you admission does not require you to take TOEFL or GRE, you should request the university to issue you a letter stating the same.

For detailed information on the options available to you and for expert help on your immigration process, you should contact our office and speak with our experienced and professional attorney.

Last Updated: January 15, 2025.

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For a tourist visa, they are normally given a six-month visa, which can be extended in some cases for an additional six months. In this category of visa, the applicant's spouse and children must independently qualify for the B-2 visa. Questions on visa application procedures and visa ineligibilities should be made to the American consular office abroad by the applicant. If inquiry concerns a visa case in progress overseas, one should first contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate handling his or her case for status information. A visa does not guarantee entry into the United States. Immigration authorities have the authority to deny admission and can determine the period for which the bearer of a visitor visa is to be authorized to remain in the United States. At the port of entry, an Immigration official must authorize the traveler's admission to the U.S. At that time the Form I-94, Record of Arrival-Departure, which notes the length of stay permitted, is stamped. Visitors intend to stay beyond the time indicated on their Form I-94 must contact the USCIS to request Form I-539, Application to Extend status. The decision to grant or deny a request for an extension of stay is made solely by the USCIS.

Last Updated: January 15, 2020.

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An alien, who is on a visitor visa and wants to take a short course of study of less than 18 hours per week, may be able to do so. However, if the course of study is more than 18 hours a week, he/she will need a student visa. F-1 visa is for nonimmigrants wishing to pursue academic studies and/or language training programs. In most countries, first-time student visa applicants are required to appear for an in-person interview. However, each embassy and consulate sets its own interview policies and procedures regarding student visas.

One should keep in mind that June, July, and August are the busiest months in most consular sections, and interview appointments are the most difficult to get during that period. Therefore, students need to plan ahead to avoid having to make repeat visits to the Embassy.

To enter the United States to attend:You need the following visa category:University or collegeFHigh SchoolPrivate elementary schoolSeminaryConservatoryAnother academic institution, including a language training programVocational or other recognized nonacademic institution, other than a language training programM

Students cannot travel on the Visa Waiver Program or with Visitor Visas

Citizens of Visa Waiver Program (VWP) participating countries who intend to study cannot travel on the VWP or on visitor (B) visas, except to undertake a recreational study as part of a tourist visit. Students must travel to the United States with student (F-1 or M-1) visas.

For short periods of recreational study, a Visitor (B) visa can be used

Enrollment in a short recreational course of study, which is not for credit toward a degree or academic certificate, is permitted on a visitor (B) visa.

Study leading to a U.S. conferred degree or certificate is not permitted on a visitor (B) visa, even if it is for a short duration. For example, distance learning which requires a period of time on the institution’s U.S. campus requires an F-1 visa.

Requirements

• The student must be enrolled in an academic education program, not a vocational-type program;
• Educational institution must be approved by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS);
• The student must be enrolled as a full-time student at the institution;
• The student must be proficient in English or be enrolled in courses leading to English proficiency;
• The student must have sufficient funds available for self-support during the entire proposed course of study; and
• The student must maintain a residence abroad which he/she has no intention of giving up.