I -134 Affidavit of Support

What is Form I-134?

Form I-134, or officially Affidavit of Support, is a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) form used to inform the U.S. government that a non-U.S. citizen applying for a visa is being sponsored by a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident, also known as a green card holder. The U.S. sponsor must fill out and sign the form to let the government know that he or she is able and willing to support a non-U.S. citizen financially during the temporary stay of the visitor in the country.

A sponsor who will be supporting more than one foreign national financially must submit one Form I-134 for each foreign individual.

Most commonly, Form I-134 is used in connection with the application for visitor visas, fiance visas, and diversity visas. Under Section 212 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), an individual who is coming to the U.S. and is likely to become a public charge is considered inadmissible.

Form I-134 acts as a legal contract between the sponsor and the U.S. It serves as a legal document ensuring that the visitor will receive adequate financial support and will not become a U.S. government liability during his or her stay. Therefore, the sponsor is required by law to declare financial resources by showing financial documents, including bank statements, an original copy of the latest federal income tax return, and a signed letter from his or her employer detailing employment information such as nature of employment, salary paid, and tenure at the company.

Signing Form I-134 is under penalty of perjury under the U.S. law. It means that the U.S. government can sue a sponsor whose sponsored individual has received government assistance to recover the cost of providing assistance. In addition, in the event that a sponsored visitor applies for public assistance, the responsible government agency can take the assets and income of a sponsor into consideration when determining if assistance can be given or not. In general, a non-immigrant should not apply for public assistance such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), food stamps, or other government-subsidized or provided benefits.

Filing Form I-134 is free. Nevertheless, if you are filing the form, you must submit all evidence requested. Failure to submit the required documents may result in the USCIS rejecting or denying your affidavit.

According to the USCIS, the supporting evidence that you should provide are as follows:

• Statement from an officer of the bank or financial institutions with deposits, showing the date the account was opened, the total amount deposited for the past year, and the present balance;
• Statement from your employer on business stationery, showing the date and nature of employment, salary paid, and tenure in the company;
• A list containing serial numbers and denominations of bonds and name.

If self-employed, also submit:

• Copy of latest income tax return; or
• Report of commercial rating concern.

You must give Form I-134 to the visitor who will submit it along with his or her visa request. If all the required information is provided, it can take a few hours to a few days for the form to get processed.

How to Fill Out Form I-134

While you may find Form I-134 on the official page of the USCIS website, PDFRun enables you to complete and sign the form without difficulties through its online editor. The eight-page form contains six parts that you should complete as accurately as possible.

Part I. Information About You

Your Full Name
Provide your full legal name, as shown on your legal documents.

Other Names Used
Provide all the other names you have ever used. If you need extra space, use the space provided in Part 7.

Sponsor’s Mailing Address
Provide your mailing address and answer if it is the same as your physical address.

Sponsor’s Physical Address
Provide your physical address.

Other Information
Provide additional personal information and give your Alien Registration Number, U.S. Social Security Number, and USCIS Online Account Number if there are any.

Citizenship or Residency Status
If applicable, provide the required citizenship or residency-related information.

Part 2. Information About the Beneficiary
Provide the personal information of the beneficiary or foreign visitor.

Beneficiary’s Physical Address
Provide the physical address of the foreign visitor.

Beneficiary’s Spouse
If accompanying or following to join beneficiary, provide the personal information of the beneficiary’s spouse.

Beneficiary’s Children
List the personal information of each child who will be traveling to the U.S. with the beneficiary.

Part 3. Other Information About the Sponsor

Employment Information
Provide your job title and business name of the employer of the sponsor. If self-employed, write your job title.

Current Employer Address
If employed, provide the current address of your employer.

Income and Asset Information
Provide your required financial information, including annual income, amounts of savings and checking accounts in the United States, value of personal property, the market value of stocks and bonds, and other relevant information.

Real Estate Information
Provide real estate-related information including values and location.

Dependents’ Information
Provide the personal information of the dependents, if applicable. If you need extra space, use the space provided in Part 7.

Part 4. Sponsor’s Statement, Contact Information, Certification, and Signature
Before completing this section, make sure you read the Penalties section of Form I-134.

Sponsor’s Statement
Mark the applicable boxes that describe your responsibilities by completing the form.

Sponsor’s Contact Information
Provide your telephone number and email address.

Sponsor’s Certification
This section contains terms and conditions that would determine your confirmation.

Sponsor’s Signature
Provide your signature and date the document.

Part 5. Interpreter’s Contact Information, Certification, and Signature

Interpreter’s Full Name
Provide the interpreter’s full legal name and business or organization name if applicable.

Interpreter’s Mailing Address
Provide the mailing address of the interpreter.

Interpreter’s Contact Information
Provide the interpreter’s telephone number and email address.

Interpreter’s Certification
Provide the language the interpreter is fluent in.

Interpreter’s Signature
Provide the interpreter’s signature and date the section was signed by him or her.

Part 6. Contact Information, Statement, Declaration, and Signature of the Person Preparing this Affidavit, if Other Than the Sponsor

Preparer’s Full Name
Provide the preparer’s full legal name and business or organization name if applicable.

Preparer’s Mailing Address
Provide the mailing address of the preparer.

Preparer’s Contact Information
Provide the preparer’s telephone number and email address.

Preparer’s Statement
Mark the applicable boxes that describe the preparer’s responsibilities when completing the form.

Preparer’s Certification
This section contains terms that would determine the interpreter’s confirmation.

Preparer’s Signature
Provide the preparer’s signature and date the section was signed by him or her.

Part 7. Additional Information
Use this extra space to provide additional information.

Your Full Name
Provide your full legal name and A-Number if you have any.

Use the remaining spaces to write additional information. Always provide the Page Number, Part Number, and Item Number where the information should be.