Government Asks for Ideas on DS-864E Form
The government wants public ideas about a form used to ask for an exception to a financial promise for some immigrants.
Affects: Green Card · Source: Federal Register · Action may be needed
What happened
The U.S. Department of State is asking for public comments about a specific form. This form is called DS-864E. It is used by some people who are applying for a green card to live in the U.S. They want to hear ideas from everyone before they send the form to another government office for final approval.
This request for comments is a normal part of how the government checks its forms. They want to make sure the forms are clear and easy for people to use. They also want to know how much time it takes to fill them out.
The bigger picture
When someone applies for a family-based green card to move to the U.S., a family member or friend usually has to sign a special promise. This promise is called an "Affidavit of Support." It means the person signing promises to financially help the immigrant if they need it. The DS-864E form is for certain people who might not need to have this financial promise.
The government is doing this review because a law called the Paperwork Reduction Act requires them to. This law makes sure that government forms are not too confusing or time-consuming. By asking for public comments, the Department of State hopes to make the DS-864E form better for everyone who uses it.
What this means for you
Green card applicants
If you are applying for a family-based green card, this notice is about a form you might use to ask for an exception to the financial support rule. Your ability to ask for this exception is not changing right now. The government is just reviewing the form itself.
Employers
This notice does not directly change anything for employers. It focuses on a form used for family-based immigration applications, not work visas or employer-sponsored green cards.
All immigrants
This notice is about a specific form related to financial support for some green card applications. It does not affect all types of immigration or all immigrants. Many immigrants will see no direct impact from this review.
What you should do
- If you have used the DS-864E form or have ideas about it, you can share your comments with the Department of State by November 17, 2026. Otherwise, there is nothing you need to do right now — just good to know.
Key dates
- 2026-11-17: Last day to submit public comments on the DS-864E form.
Words explained
- Affidavit of Support
- This is a promise from a sponsor to financially help an immigrant who comes to live in the U.S.
- Immigrant Visa
- This is a special document that lets a person move to the U.S. permanently and become a green card holder.
- Exemption
- This means being excused from a rule or requirement.
- Department of State
- This is a part of the U.S. government that handles foreign policy and issues visas.
- Proposed Information Collection
- This means the government is thinking about how it collects information and is asking for public ideas before making a final decision.
Common questions
Is the government changing the rules for financial support for green cards?
No, this notice is not about changing the rules for financial support for green cards. It is only about reviewing a specific form (DS-864E). This form is used by some people to ask for an exception to those financial rules. The rules themselves are not being changed by this notice.
What is the DS-864E form for?
The DS-864E form is used by certain people who are applying for an immigrant visa, or green card. These people use it to ask for an exemption from the Affidavit of Support requirement. This means they are asking to be excused from needing a financial sponsor to promise support.
How can I share my ideas about this form?
You can share your ideas, called comments, in a few ways. You can go online to Regulations.gov, send an email to PRA_BurdenComments@state.gov, or mail a letter. The government wants to hear from you about how easy or hard the form is to understand and use.
When do I need to submit my comments?
You need to send in your comments by November 17, 2026. This is the last day the government will accept new ideas and thoughts about the DS-864E form for this review. After this date, they will stop taking comments.
This is a plain-English explanation, not legal advice. Confirm with the official source or a licensed immigration attorney.