09/08/2026
Urgent Update: Form I-864 Edition Change and New Credit Check Rule
We discuss a critical update for family-based green card applicants: the Form I-864 (Affidavit of Support) edition changed on August 31, initially making the old form unusable immediately. After a lawsuit, USCIS granted a 30-day grace period through September We explain the new rule: both the old (October 17, and new (August 24, editions are accepted until September 30; from October 1, only the new edition is valid. We also highlight a new feature: signing the new form authorizes credit checks, but poor credit alone won't cause denial—though income, assets, and liabilities still matter. We advise checking the edition before filing, lifting credit freezes if requested, and considering a joint sponsor if income is borderline.