The affidavit of support fee is $120. The National Visa Center (NVC) charges it once per immigrant visa case to review Form I-864, the sponsor’s financial support affidavit, during consular processing at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad. It is separate from the immigrant visa application fee, and it is non-refundable.1U.S. Department of State. Fees for Visa Services
What the $120 Pays For
The fee covers the NVC’s review of Form I-864, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the Immigration and Nationality Act.2U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I-864, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the INA That form is a legally binding contract in which the sponsor promises to maintain the immigrant at an income of at least 125 percent of the federal poverty line.3Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 8 USC 1183a – Requirements for Sponsors Affidavit of Support Reviewers check tax transcripts, employment records, and household size against the poverty guidelines before clearing the case for interview.
When the Fee Applies
The $120 charge is triggered only when the case runs through the NVC on the way to a consular interview. If the intending immigrant is already in the United States and files Form I-485 to adjust status through USCIS, the NVC affidavit of support fee does not apply. The I-864 is still required in most adjustment cases, but USCIS reviews it as part of the I-485 package and the review cost is folded into that application’s filing fee.2U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I-864, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the INA
A few categories skip the affidavit of support entirely, so no fee applies at all:
- Children of U.S. citizens who acquire citizenship automatically under Section 320 of the INA upon admission as permanent residents.
- Orphans adopted abroad, when both adoptive parents saw the child before or during a full adoption completed overseas.4U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Affidavit of Support
One Fee Per Case, Even With Joint Sponsors
The affidavit of support fee is charged once per case, no matter how many sponsors are involved or how many family members are on the petition.5U.S. Department of State. NVC Fee Payment FAQs If your income falls short and a joint sponsor files a separate I-864, that joint sponsor does not owe another $120. The same holds when a household member files Form I-864A to combine income with yours.
This works differently from the immigrant visa application fee, which is charged per person. For family-based cases that fee is $325 per applicant; employment-based cases run $345 per applicant.1U.S. Department of State. Fees for Visa Services A sponsor bringing a spouse and two children through one petition pays $120 in AOS review one time, and $325 three times for the visa applications.
How to Pay Through CEAC
Once USCIS approves the underlying petition and forwards the file, the NVC sends the applicant a case number and an invoice ID. You use both to log into the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC), which is where all NVC fee payments happen.6U.S. Department of State. CEAC FAQs
Payment is by electronic funds transfer from a U.S.-based bank account. You will need the nine-digit routing number and your checking or savings account number.7U.S. Department of State. Pay Fees Credit and debit cards are not accepted. Mailed payments are not accepted.5U.S. Department of State. NVC Fee Payment FAQs Sponsors living abroad who don’t hold a U.S. bank account will need someone in the United States to submit the payment through CEAC on their behalf.
What Happens After You Pay
After you submit payment, CEAC shows the fee as processing while the bank transfer clears. Allow two to three business days. Once the status updates, you can view and print a receipt from the portal. Save it.
You cannot upload the I-864 or supporting financial documents until the fee is paid and reconciled. A failed transfer, whether from insufficient funds or a wrong routing number, means starting the payment over and can add a week or more to your timeline. Verify the account details before you submit.
Costs and Obligations Beyond the $120
Both the affidavit of support fee and the immigrant visa application fee are non-refundable. If the case is denied or withdrawn after payment, the money is not returned.1U.S. Department of State. Fees for Visa Services
The larger financial commitment is the I-864 itself. Signing it creates a legally enforceable contract to support the immigrant at 125 percent of the federal poverty line, and the obligation does not end at divorce.3Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 8 USC 1183a – Requirements for Sponsors Affidavit of Support It ends only when the immigrant naturalizes, earns 40 qualifying work quarters (roughly ten years of work), stops being a permanent resident and leaves the country, or when either the sponsor or the immigrant dies.4U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Affidavit of Support The $120 is the visible cost; the multi-year support promise is the real one.