Is new I-864 needed before interview?

[JeneLovesMata 1]

I'm just helping my spouse collect documents before interview  it is very stressful that we feel we can miss something.

 

yesterday on this forum, i saw someone say " you need to download new version of I-864 from USCIS website if they publish a new version before interview and upload to NVC"

I didn't see any instructions from embassy about this.

 

i compared our form(affidavit of support) with whats available online today, and version (at the bottom left of page) is different now. 

 

our document has expiration date in 2026 which is in the future but our document has version 2021. I think USCIS just updated this document after we submitted to NVC.

I added screenshots to show what i'm talking about.

 

do we have to download the new "version" of this form, fill it, sign it and scan it to NVC now?

 

In short, our I-864 form did not expire yet, but it has older version than what USCIS has now. Is there an update needed? 

 

Is our submitted I-864 accepted still?

am i overthinking?

 

Thanks for replies in advance.

 

 

[Edward and Jaycel 697]

I'll post my reply to your other thread here so others on the forum can see what I recommended and why:

 

You need to look at the Edition date of the form - This is from the USCIS website:

Starting Feb. 10, 2025, we will accept only the 10/17/24 edition. Until then, you can also use the 12/08/21 E and 12/08/21 editions. You can find the edition date at the bottom of the page on the form and instructions.

 

I don't know if it's a requirement to print out a new one for the interview or not. It was my recommendation that you do. Consular Officers have a wide latitude of discretion on wether to approve your visa or to refuse it pending receipt of documents that they feel you need to submit. The reason behind my recommendation is this; why would you come all this way in the immigration journey only to possibly delay the approval of your visa over the relatively trivial inconvenience of filling out your I-864 again in the latest edition of the form? What if you get a consular officer at the interview that asks for an updated version of your I-864 and gives you a 221g refusal pending your submission of the form on the current version? I guess it's all about risk tolerance. When it comes to imnmigration matters, I personally take the attitude that I am going to do everything in my power to make sure that I give as little possible excuse to deny for the people who make the decision on the immigration benefit.

[pushbrk 13,157]

1 hour ago, Edward and Jaycel said:

I'll post my reply to your other thread here so others on the forum can see what I recommended and why:

 

You need to look at the Edition date of the form - This is from the USCIS website:

Starting Feb. 10, 2025, we will accept only the 10/17/24 edition. Until then, you can also use the 12/08/21 E and 12/08/21 editions. You can find the edition date at the bottom of the page on the form and instructions.

 

I don't know if it's a requirement to print out a new one for the interview or not. It was my recommendation that you do. Consular Officers have a wide latitude of discretion on wether to approve your visa or to refuse it pending receipt of documents that they feel you need to submit. The reason behind my recommendation is this; why would you come all this way in the immigration journey only to possibly delay the approval of your visa over the relatively trivial inconvenience of filling out your I-864 again in the latest edition of the form? What if you get a consular officer at the interview that asks for an updated version of your I-864 and gives you a 221g refusal pending your submission of the form on the current version? I guess it's all about risk tolerance. When it comes to imnmigration matters, I personally take the attitude that I am going to do everything in my power to make sure that I give as little possible excuse to deny for the people who make the decision on the immigration benefit.

The above is correct in that issued dates are what is important, not the irrelevant (to us) expiration date. But the question is about whether a new affidavit needs to be uploaded now, between NVC DQ and the interview.  The answer to the actual question is, only if the information needs to be updated.  If it needs updating, use the new version of the form.  If you changed jobs or had other significant changes, upload a new form.  If not, probably a year end pay stub plus a current one to show you are still employed and qualified to sponsor, will do nicely.

[Gaiden79 23]

5 hours ago, pushbrk said:

The above is correct in that issued dates are what is important, not the irrelevant (to us) expiration date. But the question is about whether a new affidavit needs to be uploaded now, between NVC DQ and the interview.  The answer to the actual question is, only if the information needs to be updated.  If it needs updating, use the new version of the form.  If you changed jobs or had other significant changes, upload a new form.  If not, probably a year end pay stub plus a current one to show you are still employed and qualified to sponsor, will do nicely.

I'm pretty sure the Affidavit of Support version I sent to my wife is the 2021 version, but her interview is Feb 12 and the USCIS only accepts until Feb 10. I have nothing to update on it, but should I fillout the new 2024 version just to satisfy the requirements? My signed date will be this year instead, which might be strange to them without any changes. Thoughts? Thank you!

[JeneLovesMata 1]

16 hours ago, Edward and Jaycel said:

I'll post my reply to your other thread here so others on the forum can see what I recommended and why:

 

You need to look at the Edition date of the form - This is from the USCIS website:

Starting Feb. 10, 2025, we will accept only the 10/17/24 edition. Until then, you can also use the 12/08/21 E and 12/08/21 editions. You can find the edition date at the bottom of the page on the form and instructions.

 

I don't know if it's a requirement to print out a new one for the interview or not. It was my recommendation that you do. Consular Officers have a wide latitude of discretion on wether to approve your visa or to refuse it pending receipt of documents that they feel you need to submit. The reason behind my recommendation is this; why would you come all this way in the immigration journey only to possibly delay the approval of your visa over the relatively trivial inconvenience of filling out your I-864 again in the latest edition of the form? What if you get a consular officer at the interview that asks for an updated version of your I-864 and gives you a 221g refusal pending your submission of the form on the current version? I guess it's all about risk tolerance. When it comes to imnmigration matters, I personally take the attitude that I am going to do everything in my power to make sure that I give as little possible excuse to deny for the people who make the decision on the immigration benefit.

 

15 hours ago, pushbrk said:

The above is correct in that issued dates are what is important, not the irrelevant (to us) expiration date. But the question is about whether a new affidavit needs to be uploaded now, between NVC DQ and the interview.  The answer to the actual question is, only if the information needs to be updated.  If it needs updating, use the new version of the form.  If you changed jobs or had other significant changes, upload a new form.  If not, probably a year end pay stub plus a current one to show you are still employed and qualified to sponsor, will do nicely.

 

thank you for replies, i totally agree with your recommandation. i will print the new i864, fill it, sign it and scan it.

then i will upload it to NVC and let my spouse bring BOTH of the forms to interview.

 

My question and worry is this; will doing this(filling it again with the new version) cause any confusion or negative impact? do i need to add a note to explain why there is a second I864?

 

i will need to put a new date and slightly different info, will it cause any confusion?

 

My job didn't change but income was slightly higher in 2024 tax year.  No other info changed.

I just filed taxes for 2024 and I have my 1040 for 2024 now. 

 

I will fill it again just to be safe, but will it cause any issues? 

Edited Monday at 01:18 PM by JeneLovesMata

[Edward and Jaycel 697]

1 hour ago, JeneLovesMata said:

 

 

thank you for replies, i totally agree with your recommandation. i will print the new i864, fill it, sign it and scan it.

then i will upload it to NVC and let my spouse bring BOTH of the forms to interview.

 

My question and worry is this; will doing this(filling it again with the new version) cause any confusion or negative impact? do i need to add a note to explain why there is a second I864?

 

i will need to put a new date and slightly different info, will it cause any confusion?

 

My job didn't change but income was slightly higher in 2024 tax year.  No other info changed.

I just filed taxes for 2024 and I have my 1040 for 2024 now. 

 

I will fill it again just to be safe, but will it cause any issues? 

 

It should not cause any issues - The Consular Officer may ask and you can just tell him that you had yuour tax return info for 2024 available and had a higher income so you filled out a new form.

[pushbrk 13,157]

17 hours ago, Gaiden79 said:

I'm pretty sure the Affidavit of Support version I sent to my wife is the 2021 version, but her interview is Feb 12 and the USCIS only accepts until Feb 10. I have nothing to update on it, but should I fillout the new 2024 version just to satisfy the requirements? My signed date will be this year instead, which might be strange to them without any changes. Thoughts? Thank you!

If there's nothing to update, your affidavit was already "accepted" by Dept. of State, not USCIS months ago.  No need for a new form.

[pushbrk 13,157]

7 hours ago, JeneLovesMata said:

 

 

thank you for replies, i totally agree with your recommandation. i will print the new i864, fill it, sign it and scan it.

then i will upload it to NVC and let my spouse bring BOTH of the forms to interview.

 

My question and worry is this; will doing this(filling it again with the new version) cause any confusion or negative impact? do i need to add a note to explain why there is a second I864?

 

i will need to put a new date and slightly different info, will it cause any confusion?

 

My job didn't change but income was slightly higher in 2024 tax year.  No other info changed.

I just filed taxes for 2024 and I have my 1040 for 2024 now. 

 

I will fill it again just to be safe, but will it cause any issues? 

No negative impact.  Consular officers see this all the time.

[JeneLovesMata 1]

1 hour ago, pushbrk said:

No negative impact.  Consular officers see this all the time.

 

1 hour ago, pushbrk said:

If there's nothing to update, your affidavit was already "accepted" by Dept. of State, not USCIS months ago.  No need for a new form.

 

thank you, my salary went up little and I just filed a new tax return so i think i will refill it again and mail it to my wife. are you saying, it won't be a problem at all if i refile it?

[pushbrk 13,157]

1 hour ago, JeneLovesMata said:

 

 

thank you, my salary went up little and I just filed a new tax return so i think i will refill it again and mail it to my wife. are you saying, it won't be a problem at all if i refile it?

No problem at all, but all you really need before April 15, is to email a complete copy of the new tax return or tax return transcript and a current pay stub.

[Miko88 2]

On 2/10/2025 at 6:46 PM, pushbrk said:

No problem at all, but all you really need before April 15, is to email a complete copy of the new tax return or tax return transcript and a current pay stub.

hi sorry to hijack conversation, but do we need to print and sign tax returns? I filed my 2024 taxes online with TurboTax, it gave me form 1040. Can I simply email it to my spouse to bring to interview? Or do I need to print and sign it and mail it?

 

 

[pushbrk 13,157]

7 hours ago, Miko88 said:

hi sorry to hijack conversation, but do we need to print and sign tax returns? I filed my 2024 taxes online with TurboTax, it gave me form 1040. Can I simply email it to my spouse to bring to interview? Or do I need to print and sign it and mail it?

 

 

No need to sign.  Tax returns can just be emailed.  If you can, it's better to download the Tax Return Transcript instead.