Form I-864 (Affidavit of Support) is a document signed by almost every family-based green card sponsor — from spouses and parents to adult children bringing a parent from Poland. The sponsor assumes a legal obligation to support the sponsored individual and declares that their income is sufficient to prevent that person from becoming a public charge. On August 31, 2026, USCIS published a new edition of this form (edition date 08/24/26), along with the related I-864A and I-864EZ, and announced that the older version dated October 17, 2024, would cease to be accepted immediately — without any grace period.
Four days later, on September 4, 2026, the agency changed its mind. Following intervention by the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), which had even threatened potential lawsuits, USCIS announced a 30-day transition period: the old 2024 edition may be filed through September 30, 2026, inclusive. Only starting October 1, 2026, will the agency accept exclusively the new version dated 08/24/26.
What has changed in the form itself
The most important change does not concern the appearance of the printout, but rather the signature page. By signing the new I-864 edition, the sponsor authorizes USCIS and the Department of State to obtain information about them from consumer reporting agencies. Previous versions of the form did not contain such consent. In practice, this means the agency can independently verify the sponsor’s financial situation instead of relying solely on declared income and attached tax returns.
USCIS explicitly warns individuals who have a credit freeze on their credit report: if the agency asks for it to be lifted for verification purposes, you must act quickly. A lack of access to credit data can delay the determination that the affidavit is sufficient, and thus delay the entire green card case.
Rejection versus Request for Evidence
Here lies a significant difference compared to the September changes to student forms I-539 and I-765, where the wrong edition means automatic rejection of the application. Regarding the I-864, USCIS clarified that an adjustment of status application filed after October 1, 2026, on an outdated form edition will not be automatically rejected — the agency will treat it as missing evidence and issue a Request for Evidence, giving time to submit the correct version. Sponsors who have already filed the new edition do not need to redo anything.
Who is affected
Form I-864 is most commonly used by family sponsors: US citizens or green card holders bringing over a spouse, parent, child, or sibling, as well as joint sponsors when the primary sponsor’s income is insufficient. For the Polish-American community, this is an everyday document — it appears in almost every family reunification case, from newlywed marriages to bringing over aging parents.
The change coincides with the entry into force on September 18, 2026, of the new public charge rules, which we reported on previously — from that date, an insufficient affidavit of support can independently determine the denial of a green card. In this context, the ability to check the sponsor with credit bureaus is another tool in the hands of officials evaluating the application.
What to do right now
Before filing your application, you should check the edition date at the bottom of each page of forms I-864, I-864A, and I-864EZ — through September 30, 2026, both the old version (10/17/24) and the new version (08/24/26) are permissible, but starting October 1, only the latter is valid. Sponsors who have a freeze on their credit report should be ready to respond quickly to a request to temporarily lift it. It is also worth ensuring that your income and asset documentation actually matches what appears in records — since the agency can now verify this independently.
This material is for informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. The situation of every sponsor and applicant should be consulted individually with an immigration attorney before filing documents.
Polish immigration attorneys from the Polish Pages directory can help with assembling the affidavit and other documents for a family green card case.
