Forms I-134 and I-864 both deal with financial support, but they apply in different situations. Form I-134 may support certain temporary or discretionary immigration benefits. Form I-864 is used in most family-based cases and some employment-based immigrant cases, where it creates a legally enforceable contract.
Below, we explain when each form is used, how the financial requirements differ, and what supporting evidence may be required. It also covers Form I-134A and Form I-512L, which serve separate purposes and follow different requirements.
These forms may sound similar, but each serves a different purpose. Comparing how they work can help prevent the wrong form from being sent to USCIS or a consular officer.
Federal regulations make clear that signing Form I-134 does not create the support obligations attached to Form I-864. By comparison, USCIS treats Form I-864 as a legally enforceable contract. In most cases, the sponsor must maintain the sponsored immigrant at no less than 125% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
For a closer look at these rules, our guide on Form I-864 income requirements and sponsorship rules explains household size, qualifying income, and what happens when a sponsor falls below the required threshold. Form I-134 must still contain accurate information and be signed under penalty of perjury.
Form I-134 provides evidence of financial support for a certain temporary stay or another benefit that USCIS reviews case by case. It may also be used for B (visitors), F (academic students), or M (vocational students) nonimmigrants applying to extend or change their status, or when the Department of State requests it in another case.
A B-1 or B-2 temporary visa applicant must show how the proposed visit will be funded. The applicant can rely on personal funds or documented support from a U.S. resident. A consular officer may consider Form I-134 when reviewing financial support, but the declaration does not guarantee visa approval.
The form also does not replace proof that the visit is temporary or that the applicant meets the other visa requirements.
K-1 fiancé visa applicants may need Form I-134 from the U.S. citizen petitioner during the visa interview. After the couple marries, the petitioner usually submits Form I-864 with the adjustment application, which has different legal and financial requirements. Form I-134 may also support certain B, F, or M extension or change of status requests.
It may also accompany a case-specific humanitarian parole request filed through the standard Form I-131 process. Beyond Border’s Form I-539 filing guide explains the filing routes, supporting documents, and common mistakes made for eligible B, F, and M applicants.
New submissions of the 134-a form have been on hold since 28 January 2025, following Executive Order 14165. Before the pause, this online request combined financial evidence with supporter screening for designated categorical parole processes. The sections below explain where it was used and how the supporter process worked.
The I-134-A form allowed U.S.-based supporters to submit online requests for Uniting for Ukraine, CHNV, and specified Family Reunification Parole processes. DHS ended the CHNV processes on 25 March 2025 and later ended the listed Family Reunification Parole processes on 15 December 2025.
Both notices explained how the terminations affected existing parole grants, travel authorizations, and limited exceptions.
When the program was active, each Form I-134A supporter had to:
USCIS reviewed each request individually before making a decision.
The financial requirements vary depending on the benefit. The sections below explain the relevant income standards and the documents that can support the declaration.
The income level depends on the benefit involved. For K visa cases, the Department of State sets the Form I-134 level at 100% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Form I-864 generally uses 125%, although certain active-duty military sponsors petitioning for a spouse or child may use 100%.
For other Form I-134 uses, there is no automatic approval just because the filer meets a guideline. The USCIS instructions ask the filer to show that sufficient resources are available and can be accessed when needed.
2026 Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Poverty Guidelines for the 48 contiguous states and Washington, D.C.
HHS uses separate figures for Alaska and Hawaii. For households with more than eight people, the contiguous-state guideline adds US$5,680 for each additional person.
Each figure on the declaration should match a document that can be checked. Depending on the case, the USCIS instructions and Department of State guidance point to evidence such as:
Any document written in another language must include a full English translation and a signed certification from the translator. Ensure that before submitting the declaration, the names, dates, household figures, and financial amounts match across the form and its supporting documents.
You apply for advance parole using Form I-131. If USCIS approves your request, it may issue Form I-512L or an employment authorization card marked “Serves as I-512 Advance Parole.” Advance parole is different from a reentry permit for permanent residents and a refugee travel document.
USCIS generally issues Form I-512T for travel based on approved Temporary Protected Status, while Form I-512L may apply in other advanced parole situations. A reentry permit is more relevant to permanent residents planning longer trips. Our green card holder rights guide explains how extended time outside the United States can affect residence and reentry.
Searches for i 512l or i-512l refer to the same advance parole document. Check the printed dates and travel terms before using it, because validity periods and the number of permitted trips can vary. Leaving the United States without advance parole will cause USCIS to treat a pending I-485 application as abandoned, unless an exception applies.
CBP still makes the final decision on whether to grant parole at the port of entry, even with a Form I-512L. We wrote a guide on what happens after I-140 approval that explains the I-485 stage and when eligible applicants may file Form I-131 alongside it. Travellers with a history of unlawful presence face an additional risk.
In Matter of Delcarmen-Lara, decided on 13 August 2026, the Board of Immigration Appeals ruled that traveling on advance parole counts as a departure under the ten-year unlawful presence provision. The Board overruled Matter of Arrabally and Yerrabelly and applied the new rule prospectively. Anyone affected by these travel risks should seek legal advice before leaving the United States.
Most avoidable problems come from using the wrong form or submitting evidence that does not support the information provided. Check for the following:
The search term form 1450 usually refers to Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions. For eligible filings sent by mail, the form allows payment by credit, debit, or prepaid card. The Forms G-1145 and Form 1450 filing guide explains how both forms work and which payment mistakes can lead to rejection.
Do not include Form G-1450 or form 1450 simply because the filing contains a financial support declaration. First confirm that the main application requires a fee and accepts card payment by mail.
Forms such as I-134 and I-864 apply to specific sponsorship and financial-support situations. But for some professionals, founders, researchers, executives, and creatives, a U.S. immigration strategy may also be built around career achievements, expertise, or business activity instead.
Our work focuses on O-1, L-1, EB-1A, and EB-2 NIW cases. Through our network of specialist U.S. immigration attorneys, we help qualified applicants evaluate these pathways and build petition strategies around their professional record.
Book a free profile consultation to find out which employment-based options may fit your background.
I-134 supplies financial evidence for certain temporary or discretionary benefits, while I-864 creates the enforceable support contract used in most qualifying immigrant cases.
USCIS is not currently accepting Form I-134A applications; hence, no one can apply now. However, under the former rules, an eligible U.S.-based supporter with a recognized lawful basis, adequate resources, and completed vetting could submit one request for each beneficiary.
K visa cases use 100% of the applicable Federal Poverty Guidelines, which equals US$27,320 for a three-person household in the contiguous states and Washington, D.C., in 2026. Other contexts require a benefit-specific assessment of available resources.
It does not impose the statutory support obligations attached to I-864, although the filer still certifies the information under penalty of perjury.
It is an advance parole document issued after approval of an eligible I-131 request. It can prevent the general abandonment consequence for some pending I-485 applicants, but it does not guarantee admission and may carry separate unlawful-presence risks.
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