- USCIS issued a new Form I-864 edition on Aug. thirty-first, twenty twenty-six, with a thirty-day grace period that ran through Sept. thirtieth.
- The accepted version is 08/24/26; the prior 10/17/24 edition will not be processed after the cutoff.
- Sponsors must check for a credit or security freeze because USCIS may need report access.
USCIS published a new edition of Form I-864 on Aug. 31, 2026, making the version available for filings submitted from that day. The agency gave sponsors a 30-day grace period to continue using the prior form, through Sept. 30, 2026.
The new version carries the edition date 08/24/26. It replaces the 10/17/24 edition of the Form I-864, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the INA.
A filing date now controls which version the agency will accept. The agency said it will accept only the new form when it is postmarked or electronically submitted on or after Oct. 1, 2026.
The older form stops there. The agency will not process or accept the 10/17/24 edition when it is postmarked or electronically submitted on or after Oct. 1, 2026.
Sponsors with saved forms must update them before filing
Anyone who prepared the prior edition but has not filed it must replace that version before submission. A saved or completed form does not remain usable simply because it was prepared before the change.
The printed edition date provides the controlling check. Sponsors should confirm that the form displays 08/24/26 before sending it through the applicable filing process.
That requirement applies even when the older form has already been completed. Filing the 10/17/24 edition on or after Oct. 1, 2026 can result in non-acceptance or prevent the agency from processing the submission. USCIS says it does not reject a Form I-485 filed with a previous edition of Form I-864; it instead treats the case as missing required initial evidence under 8 CFR 103.2(b)(8).
The agency issued a preview version of the new form and its instructions ahead of the transition. Sponsors who assembled filing packages in advance therefore need to review the support form separately, rather than assuming an otherwise ready package can use the previous edition.
A privacy release adds a credit-report review step
The 08/24/26 edition contains a privacy release. It authorizes the agency to request information from one or more consumer reporting agencies while assessing whether the support form is sufficient.
That authorization creates a separate issue for sponsors who placed restrictions on their consumer files. A credit or security freeze may prevent access to information needed for the agency’s assessment.
The freeze itself does not change the edition-date rule. It can create a delay if the agency requests action and the sponsor does not respond promptly.
“If a sponsor has a credit or security freeze on their consumer or credit report file, USCIS may not be able to access the information necessary to assess the sufficiency of Form I-864.”
The agency advises sponsors to respond expeditiously to requests to release a credit or security freeze. Prompt action can help avoid delays tied to the information review.
A filing review can prevent avoidable problems
Sponsors preparing a submission should work through these checks:
- Locate the form edition date. Confirm that the completed document shows 08/24/26, not 10/17/24.
- Review unfinished packages. If the older edition was prepared but remains unfiled, replace it with the current edition before submitting the package.
- Confirm the submission date. Only the new edition is accepted for forms postmarked or electronically submitted on or after Oct. 1, 2026.
- Check for a credit or security freeze. Review whether either type of restriction affects the sponsor’s consumer or credit report file.
- Act on agency requests. If the agency asks for a freeze to be released, respond expeditiously so it can seek the information needed for its assessment.
The checks address different risks. The first two concern the form itself. The remaining steps concern access to supporting financial information.
The key dates are printed on the form and tied to submission
| Item | Date or rule |
|---|---|
| New edition date | 08/24/26 |
| First day the new edition is accepted | Aug. 31, 2026 |
| Prior edition | 10/17/24 |
| Transition period | 30-day grace period; 10/17/24 edition accepted through Sept. 30, 2026 |
| New-edition submission standard | Required for forms postmarked or electronically submitted on or after Oct. 1, 2026 |
The calendar date alone does not make an older form acceptable. The edition printed on the document and the date it is postmarked or electronically submitted must both be reviewed before filing.
Sponsors should use the current edition and instructions, check their files for a credit or security freeze, and respond quickly to any request connected to that restriction. Verify the current form on the agency’s website before filing. Processing times and fees are subject to change.
Correction (October 10, 2026): An earlier version of this article said USCIS gave no grace period for the new Form I-864. USCIS provided a 30-day grace period: it accepted the 10/17/24 edition through Sept. 30, 2026, and accepts only the 08/24/26 edition for filings postmarked or electronically submitted on or after Oct. 1, 2026. The headline and article have been corrected.
