USCIS Policy Alert · 2026 Update
Form I-864 Credit Report Privacy Release (08/24/26 Edition)
The Form I-864 edition dated 08/24/26 adds a privacy release that lets USCIS request a sponsor's consumer credit report. Here is what the new language says, who signs it, and how a credit freeze can delay your case.
Summary
USCIS's revised Form I-864 (Affidavit of Support), edition 08/24/26, has been required since August 31, 2026 with zero grace period, replacing the 10/17/24 edition.
The biggest change: a new privacy release in the sponsor's certification. By signing, the sponsor authorizes USCIS and the Department of State to request their credit reports and scores from consumer reporting agencies to help decide whether the affidavit is sufficient. The same release appears on Form I-864A (household member) and Form I-864EZ.
USCIS also warns that a credit or security freeze on the sponsor's file can block its review, so be ready to lift a freeze if asked. This page is general information, not legal advice.
At a glance: the 08/24/26 Form I-864 credit release
| New edition | 08/24/26, required since August 31, 2026 with no grace period. |
| Replaced edition | 10/17/24. |
| Forms affected | Form I-864, Form I-864A (household member), and Form I-864EZ. |
| What is new | A privacy release authorizing USCIS and the Department of State to request the sponsor's information, including credit reports and scores, from consumer reporting agencies. |
| How consent works | By signing the form. The authorization sits in the certification block right above the signature. There is no separate opt-in. |
| Stated purpose | To obtain or verify information in connection with the sufficiency determination of the Affidavit of Support. |
| Credit freeze warning | USCIS says a credit or security freeze may block its access, and the sponsor should respond quickly to any request to release it. |
| Minimum credit score? | USCIS has not published a minimum credit score or an automatic denial for a low score. |
Sources: the USCIS Form I-864 page and the official Form I-864 PDF. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Free tool
Marriage Green Card Cost Calculator
2026 · AOS · full packet
$3,005
See your exact 2026 USCIS filing fees for a marriage green card through Adjustment of Status, with a full line-item breakdown and the costs most guides leave out.
Free — enter your email and it opens right up. Unsubscribe anytime.
We post free tips on preparing your marriage green card. Follow along:
What the New 08/24/26 Edition Adds
Form I-864 is the Affidavit of Support: the legally enforceable contract a sponsor signs to financially support the immigrant spouse. The 08/24/26 edition keeps that structure but adds a new authorization in the sponsor's certification, right above the signature. On the form it reads:
I authorize USCIS and DOS to request, and any consumer reporting agency to provide, information from one or more consumer reporting agencies in order to obtain or verify information, including credit reports and scores, in connection with the sufficiency determination of my Form I-864.
In plain terms: by signing the new Form I-864, the sponsor lets USCIS and the Department of State pull their consumer credit report and score while reviewing the affidavit. The authorization stays in effect until:
- The case is approved
- The case is refused and the cure period lapses
- The I-864 is withdrawn
USCIS summarizes this as a privacy release authorizing it to request information from consumer reporting agencies. The form names USCIS and the Department of State as the requesters, and any consumer reporting agency as the source, not the individual bureaus by name.
Who Signs It: Sponsor, Joint Sponsor, and Household Member
The credit-report release is not limited to the main sponsor. Anyone who signs a financial support form in the case signs the same authorization:
- The petitioning sponsor signs it on their Form I-864.
- A joint sponsor files their own Form I-864 (same 08/24/26 edition), so they sign the identical release.
- A household member who combines income signs the matching release on Form I-864A, tied to the sponsor's affidavit.
- Form I-864EZ filers sign the equivalent release on that form.
If your case uses a joint sponsor or combines income with a household member, make sure everyone signing understands they're authorizing a credit-report request.
Why USCIS Added It
USCIS ties the credit-report authorization to the sufficiency determination of the affidavit. Form I-864 exists to show the immigrant has adequate financial support, and the sufficiency decision is about whether the sponsor can maintain the household at 125 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. For a household of two, the 2026 threshold is $27,050.
USCIS did not publish a separate rationale for the credit-report addition, in the form or its instructions, and did not tie the change to any specific credit-score cutoff.
Some commentators connect the change to the broader 2026 public charge rule, while others treat the affidavit's sufficiency and the public charge test as separate questions. Either way, the affidavit's core requirement, and the sponsor's support obligation, remain the same.
How a Credit or Security Freeze Can Delay Your Case
Many people place a freeze on their credit file to prevent identity theft. A freeze blocks new inquiries, including the request USCIS can now make. USCIS added a direct note about this to the form:
NOTE REGARDING CONSUMER OR CREDIT REPORT FILES: If you have a credit or security freeze on your consumer or credit report file, we may not be able to access the information necessary to assess the sufficiency of your Form I-864. To avoid any delays, you should expeditiously respond to any requests made to release the credit or security freeze.
USCIS frames this as respond quickly when asked, not a requirement to lift your freeze before filing. Knowing where your freeze stands avoids a surprise delay if USCIS requests the file.
A freeze is placed and lifted separately at each of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion). Placing and lifting one is free under federal law, and a temporary thaw can usually be set online for a date range or a specific requester.
Sponsor Prep
How Sponsors Can Prepare
A few steps help avoid delays once USCIS may request your credit file:
- 1
Use the 08/24/26 edition
Confirm the Form I-864 (and any Form I-864A or I-864EZ) shows edition 08/24/26 in the footer. Older editions are rejected since August 31, 2026.
- 2
Check whether you have a freeze
If you or a joint sponsor or household member have frozen your credit, note which bureaus are frozen so you can act quickly if USCIS requests the file.
- 3
Be ready to lift a freeze if asked
USCIS says to respond quickly to any request to release a freeze. A temporary thaw at the relevant bureaus is usually quick and free.
- 4
Review your credit report for errors
Pull your free reports at annualcreditreport.com and dispute obvious errors, unfamiliar accounts, or identity-theft signs before filing.
- 5
Focus on a sufficient affidavit
The affidavit still turns on income at 125 percent of the poverty guideline for your household size. Estimate yours with our income calculator and add a joint sponsor if you fall short.
Get the Affidavit of Support right with Green Card Genius
- Always builds the current Form I-864, I-864A, and I-864EZ editions
- Checks the sponsor's income against the 125 percent poverty guideline for your household
- Flags when a joint sponsor may be needed and builds their forms too
- Flat $299 fee with our Denial Protection Guarantee
Green Card Genius is self-help immigration software, not a law firm. It helps you prepare a complete Affidavit of Support, but it does not give legal or financial advice about your credit.
Frequently Asked Questions: Form I-864 Credit Report Release
What does the new Form I-864 credit release actually authorize?
By signing the 08/24/26 edition, the sponsor authorizes USCIS and the Department of State to request their information, including credit reports and scores, from one or more consumer reporting agencies. This is in connection with the sufficiency determination of the Affidavit of Support.
Is there a minimum credit score to be a sponsor?
No. USCIS has not published a minimum credit score or an automatic denial for a low score. The affidavit still turns on meeting the income requirement, generally 125 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for the household size.
Do I have to remove my credit freeze before filing?
USCIS does not require removing a freeze before filing. It says that a credit or security freeze may block its access, and that you should respond quickly to any request to release the freeze. Knowing which bureaus are frozen helps you act fast if asked.
Does the credit release apply to a joint sponsor or household member?
Yes. A joint sponsor files their own Form I-864 with the same release, and a household member signs the matching release on Form I-864A. Form I-864EZ has the equivalent clause.
Which Form I-864 edition do I need to file now?
The 08/24/26 edition, which has been required since August 31, 2026 with zero grace period. Older editions, including the 10/17/24 edition, are rejected. Confirm the edition date in the footer of every page.
Why did USCIS start requesting credit reports?
USCIS ties the authorization to the sufficiency determination of the Affidavit of Support, which is about whether the sponsor can maintain the household at 125 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. USCIS did not publish a separate rationale or a credit-score standard.
Key Takeaways: Form I-864 Credit Report Release
- ✓
The 08/24/26 Form I-864 edition has been required since August 31, 2026 with zero grace period.
- ✓
Signing the form authorizes USCIS and the Department of State to request the sponsor's credit report and score.
- ✓
The same release is on Form I-864A (household member) and Form I-864EZ, and applies to joint sponsors.
- ✓
USCIS ties the release to the sufficiency determination, not to any published credit-score cutoff.
- ✓
A credit or security freeze can block USCIS's access, so be ready to lift it quickly if asked.
- ✓
The affidavit still turns on meeting the 125 percent poverty-guideline income requirement.
This article is for educational purposes only and is not legal advice. Green Card Genius is self-help immigration software, not a law firm, and does not provide legal representation or financial advice. Immigration rules and USCIS policies change frequently. For advice on a specific case, consult a licensed immigration attorney.
Stay informed
Green card guides in your inbox
Practical, plain-English updates to help you navigate the process with confidence.
Unsubscribe anytime.
Continue reading
- 01Form I-864 Edition Date: New 08/24/26 Edition (2026)
- 02Form I-864 Affidavit of Support: Complete 2026 Guide
- 03Joint Sponsor for a Marriage Green Card: Requirements & How It Works (2026)
- 04I-864 Affidavit of Support RFE: Incomplete or Has Errors? (2026)
- 05What If the Petitioner's Income Is Too Low? Joint Sponsor Options
- 06I-864 Affidavit of Support Income Calculator (2026)
Be a Genius
Only pay when you file