What is the I-134, Declaration of Financial Support?
The form is used to provide financial support to potential beneficiaries of specific immigration benefits for the duration of their stay within the United States. Typically, this includes beneficiaries of a fiance-visa. Meaning, if an immigration applicant is unable to show enough proof of income, they will need a sponsor (aka a financial support sponsor) to fill out and submit the I-134 application on their behalf.
Who needs to fill it out?
The individual agreeing to sponsor a beneficiary is the one that needs to fill out the form, as they will be the ones to submit proof of their income. The sponsor, also known as the petitioner, and they must be a U.S. citizen.
Since the form ask for very specific confidential financial information, it is filled out solely by the sponsoring individual, not the beneficiary. Of course, should a person find themselves needing assistance in this matter, you can always consult with an experienced immigration lawyer.
How much is sufficient income and what is the minimum income to sponsor someone for the I-134, Declaration of Financial Support?
This is quite the tricky question to answer, is it does vary some, based on each person's application. The minimum income is actually subject to change each year, based on new United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) findings regarding the U.S. poverty guidelines.
As far as the sufficient income, that is also greatly dependent on the sponsor’s household size. The bigger the household, the bigger the income requirement will be.
What is the financial obligation?
The sponsor, aka the petitioner, is financially responsible for the beneficiary. As a sponsor, you are responsible until the required by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) qualification are met. This could mean should the beneficiary find themselves in a tight bind with money, it would be the sponsor’s responsibility to support them.
What is evidence of financial support?
When it comes to evidence required to provide along with your application, the information is conveniently listed on the I-134, Declaration of Financial Support web-page on the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website. You can find an additional “Checklist of Required Initial Evidence” for you to click on once you are on the webpage and obtain more information directly.
How do I prove my income on the i-134?
To prove your income on the I-134 form, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) looks at government documentation for proof. This includes finances, taxes and tax returns, and W-2’s forms.
Seeking out legal help:
If you are looking for assistance with your Declaration of Financial Support, contact a qualified immigration attorney. To scheduled your attorney-consultation contact our office by filling out and submitting an online Contact Form at Contact Us | The Law Offices of Eugene Mogilevsky (egmlegal.com) or by directly calling the office at (317) 743-7958 and speaking with a receptionist.
Helpful tips:
It is important, to check the Edition Date on the form you are submitting, like with any formal documentation. United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) frequently changes the forms. Should you happen to send in an application with an outdated form, it will only delay the progress of your case. Pay attention to this and always double check the date on all government forms to comply with the newest forms from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website!
Disclaimer: This blog post is for educational and informational purposes only and is not to be taken as legal advice in any capacity. Reading this blog does not constitute or establish an attorney-client relationship.*Resources:
“I-134, Declaration of Financial Support,” USCIS, 29 Nov 2023, https://www.uscis.gov/i-134.