Update: September 4, 2026

USCIS has conceded that they will offer a 30 day grace period on the new Form I-864. The prior 10/17/24 edition is still accepted if it is postmarked or filed electronically through September 30. Starting October 1, only the 08/24/26 edition will be accepted. The same applies to Form I-864A and Form I-864EZ.

Of note, USCIS indicates on its website that:

If an edition other than 08/24/26 is submitted on or after Oct. 1, 2026, USCIS will follow 8 CFR 103.2(b)(8) regarding the applicant's failure to submit the required initial evidence.

With that, failure to submit required "initial evidence" could result in a straight denial from USCIS without first issuing a Request for Evidence (RFE) or Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID), per USCIS Policy issued on 08/05/2026, "Evidence, Requests for Evidence, and Notices of Intent to Deny."

The grace period protects packages already in the mail or e-filed on or before September 30. Everything below still applies. Use the 08/24/26 edition.

On August 31, 2026, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a new edition of Form I-864, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the INA, with an edition date of 08/24/26. The new edition is effective immediately, with no grace period for the prior version. Because Form I-864 is required in most family-based green card cases, the change may affect many adjustment of status and immigrant visa filings.

Beginning August 31, 2026, USCIS will accept only the 08/24/26 edition of Form I-864. The prior 10/17/24 edition will not be accepted or processed if it is postmarked or submitted electronically on or after that date. There is no transition period, so using the wrong edition can result in a rejected filing and may delay the related adjustment of status application or immigrant visa case. Anyone preparing to submit a package should confirm that the edition date at the bottom of the form is 08/24/26 before filing.

The new edition also includes a substantive privacy release. By signing the 08/24/26 edition, the sponsor authorizes USCIS to request information from one or more consumer reporting agencies. In practical terms, USCIS may seek credit-related information to evaluate whether the affidavit is sufficient. Sponsors who maintain a credit freeze or security freeze should be aware that USCIS may be unable to access the information it needs while the freeze is in place, which could slow the case. If USCIS requests that a freeze be released, the sponsor should respond promptly.

The bottom line: use the 08/24/26 edition of Form I-864 for any filing postmarked or submitted electronically on or after August 31, 2026. Sponsors with a credit or security freeze should plan ahead so the freeze does not create avoidable processing delays.