USCIS New I-864 Form Update 2026: Green Card Applicants Must Switch Immediately

USCIS has officially published a new edition of Form I-864, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the INA, which became effective on the date of publication. The I-864 is a legally binding contract in which a sponsor agrees to financially support an immigration applicant, and it is a mandatory document for most family-based and many employment-based green card cases, including EB-3 applicants adjusting status inside the United States. The release of a new form edition means that older versions of the I-864 will no longer be accepted by USCIS after the effective date. Applicants and petitioners who submit outdated form editions risk having their filings rejected or returned without processing, causing significant delays in already lengthy immigration timelines. For EB-3 applicants currently in the adjustment of status process, this update is particularly important. Anyone preparing to submit Form I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence) along with the I-864 should download the latest version directly from the USCIS website before filing. Sponsors should also review any changes to income requirements, household size calculations, or supporting documentation instructions in the new edition. USCIS periodically updates its forms to reflect regulatory changes, policy updates, or improvements to data collection. It is standard practice for USCIS to reject filings that use expired or superseded form editions, so timely adoption of the new I-864 is critical for anyone with an imminent filing deadline.