Original Signature No Longer Required for Affidavit of Support

The Department of State recently announced that an original signature, or "wet ink" signature, is no longer required on submitted Forms I-864, Affidavit of Support. This change also applies to the I-864A, I-864W, and I-864EZ. The National Visa Center (NVC) will accept photocopies and scanned versions of these documents as of the first of the year.

What does this change?

This change came out of the efforts of the Department of State to be responsive to customer needs. However, the form must still be signed; typed names and electronic signatures will not be accepted. NVC will ask petitioners to submit an amended Form I-864 if the financial sponsor's name and personal information are missing, if there is no signature at all, or if pages are missing.

This change will simplify the submission of financial evidence for a visa application. The change will also decrease the rate of visas refused in cases where the original signed documents were not available.