I-864 “Sponsor's” Obligation to Report Change Of Address

Using Form I-865

All petitioning relatives and other co-sponsors/co-affiants (including in some cases the sponsored immigrant himself) who have filed an Affidavit of Support on form I-864 with the U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, “USCIS” (formerly known as the INS), are required to notify the USCIS of any change of home address within 30 days of the change for as long as the Affidavit of Support is legally in effect.

This obligation is separate from and in addition to the general ‘change of address reporting requirement' that applies to all non-citizens (including permanent residents) who are residing in the U.S.  That other obligation is discussed in a separate memorandum from our office entitled “Change of Address Reporting Provision.”

The “Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996” (IIRIRA), Public Law 104-208, enacted on September 30 1996, requires that the petitioning relative or spouse of any immigrant under the family-based or ‘immediate relative' immigration categories must file a legally binding Affidavit of Support for the sponsored individual.  In certain circumstances, sponsoring employers who are also relatives of a sponsored individual must also file the legally binding Affidavit of Support on form I-864.  In cases where the primary Affidavit of Support filed by the sponsoring relative/petitioner may not meet the monetary requirements for showing adequate financial support, additional co-affiants may file an Affidavit of Support.  Such co-affiants, known as “joint sponsors” may include other relatives, friends or even the sponsored individual him/herself.

The Affidavit of Support is a legally binding document that remains in effect until the sponsored individual becomes a U.S. citizen, can be credited with 40 quarters of work in the U.S., departs the United States permanently, or dies.  Because of the potentially long duration of the obligations created by the Affidavit of Support, the USCIS requires that all sponsors who previously filed Form I-864 must notify the USCIS of any change of address using Form I-865 within 30 days of making such change.  Notification should be sent to the USCIS regional service center having jurisdiction over the sponsor's new place of residence.  The addresses of those offices are listed in the instructions for Form I-865, which can be found at the following address: