USCIS immigration officers are now more actively checking the financial capacity of applicants and sponsors, even if the affidavit of support is formally approved. In requests for additional evidence, officers ask about age, employment history, education, health, and daily expenses—to ensure the immigrant will not become dependent on the state.
What USCIS Asks at Family Visa Interviews
At recent interviews on family reunification cases, attorneys have encountered a new approach: officers are reassessing even cases where the sponsor has documented sufficient income. Requests for additional evidence may include questions about daily habits, employment history, and the applicant’s medical history.
One such notice indicated that the officer is not merely checking compliance with minimum income, but requiring demonstration of positive factors for favorable consideration within their discretionary authority. This means the applicant must demonstrate not just compliance with requirements, but clear exceeding of them.
Real Example from Practice
In one received request, an officer noted: applicant is 40 years old, married, has four adult children, and was unemployed. The documents do not reflect completion of secondary education. Although the sponsor’s affidavit of support I-864 was deemed sufficient, the sponsor and co-sponsor meet the qualifying income only when accounting for a household member’s earnings.
The officer expressed concern that based on the applicant’s age, employment history, education, and sponsor’s financial position, the applicant could become dependent on the state at any time. The request required additional evidence of positive factors for favorable consideration.
Minimum Income No Longer Guarantees Approval
Sponsorship requirements are formally established clearly. For example, in 2025, a household of two people must demonstrate annual income of $27,050. However, officers now view exceeding the minimum as insufficient.
If the sponsor earns exactly or only slightly more than the established minimum and there are other risks in their financial situation—for example, marginal income relative to household size—USCIS requires additional evidence to exercise its discretionary authority.
What Factors Does the Officer Consider Relevant
According to requests for additional evidence, USCIS evaluates the following applicant characteristics:
Age. The officer considers this in the context of health and ability to earn in the future. It makes sense to provide evidence of good health if you have not received significant medical assistance in the past.
Employment history. Forms I-485 and I-130 require listing employment for the past five years. However, it is worth considering submitting a full resume or CV with extended history and workplace achievements.
Education. USCIS now specifically considers education as a factor. If you have a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree—it is worth attaching documentation of this.
Sponsor’s and co-sponsor’s financial position. This is one of the main factors. DHS specifically highlighted it when issuing new public charge rules, so it is not surprising that it appears in requests for evidence.
New Requirements When Checking the Sponsor
Recently, the affidavit of support I-864 was modified so that USCIS gained the right to conduct a credit check on the sponsor. The exact consequences of this innovation remain unclear, but requests for additional evidence show that officers are reviewing the sponsor’s financial history more carefully.
Particular attention is paid to the income of co-sponsors and household members who help the sponsor qualify. If their income is the only reason the required amount is met, USCIS may request evidence of the stability of this income.
How to Prepare for the Interview
Given USCIS’s new approach, do not rely on I-864 affidavit approval completing the financial check. It is better to prepare for detailed questions by gathering positive factors:
- Evidence of health and absence of serious medical problems
- Complete employment history and professional achievements
- Education documents (diplomas, certificates)
- Detailed information about sponsor’s financial position, including income stability
At the same time, remember that the absence of these documents does not mean automatic denial. The main factors remain the applicant’s work history and sponsor’s income. The precise impact of other factors, such as education, is still being established in practice.
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