I-944 Instructions

If you are applying for an immigration benefit in the United States, you have to complete a Form I-944 to show you are self-sufficient and won’t become a public charge. Completing Form I-944 correctly is vital to ensure the success of your application. 

To help you out we’ve prepared Form I-944 instructions you can follow when completing your Form I-944.  

What is Form I-944?

Form I-944 is a Declaration of Self-Sufficiency. You use Form I-944 to show you are not inadmissible to the U.S. based on the fact that you will be a public charge. 

Under section 212(a)(4) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), you will be inadmissible if you are more likely than not at any time in the future to have to receive one or more public benefits. This is known as the public charge rule. 

You can read more about the public charge rule here

How to Fill Out Form I-944

When you fill out your Form I-944, you have to use black ink and always type or write legibly. Make sure you answer each and every question fully and accurately. Don’t leave any spaces blank. If a question isn’t applicable to you, write N/A. 

These guidelines are generally applicable to the whole Form I-944. For step-by-step Form I-944 instructions, take a look at the next section. 

Step-by Step I-944 Instructions

Here are more detailed step-by-step Form I-944 instructions. 

Part 1. Information About You

Part 1 is where you provide all your personal information.

The personal information you will have to provide is:

• Full names
• Mailing address
• United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) online account number
• Alien registration number
• Date of birth
• Place of birth
• Country of citizenship or nationality.

You have to include your full legal name as it appears on your birth certificate or government-issued identity document. If your name has been legally changed by marriage or court order, for example, you can include your new legal name. 

Providing the correct mailing address is also critical. The USCIS uses this address to send important notifications to you. If your mailing address changes, you must notify the USCIS immediately. You don’t want to miss anything they send you.

Part 2. Family Status (Your Household)

In Part 2, you have to give information about everyone in your household. You have to give evidence of your relationship with each individual you list in Part 2. You can use documents like a birth certificate or marriage certificate as evidence. If you don’t have evidence, you can also provide a signed statement from each household member. 

Below is a summary of who is included in your household and must be listed in Part 2.

If you are over 21 years old or under 21 but married, the following people must be listed in Part 2:

• Yourself
• Your spouse if they live with you
• Any of your children (under 21 years old and unmarried) living with you
• Your other children (not living with you) who are younger than 21 and unmarried if you have to provide at least 50% financial support to them as evidenced by something like a court order
• Any other people who don’t live with you but to who you have to provide at least 50% financial support or who are listed as a dependent on your federal income tax return
• Anyone who gives you at least 50% of your financial support or who lists you as their dependent on their federal income tax return.

If you are a child under 21 years old and unmarried, you have to list the following people in Part 2:

• Yourself
• Any of your children (under 21 years old and unmarried) living with you
• Your other children (not living with you) who are younger than 21 and unmarried if you have to provide at least 50% financial support to them as evidenced by something like a court order
• Your parents, legal guardians, or anyone else giving you (or who are required to give you) at least 50% financial support as evidenced by something like a child support court order
• Your parents’ or legal guardians’ other children who are under the age of 21 and unmarried who live with you
• Your parents’ or legal guardians’ other children who are under the age of 21 and unmarried who don’t live with you but to whom your parent or legal guardian has to provide at least 50% financial support as evidenced by something like a court order
• Anyone else your parents or legal guardians have to provide at least 50% financial support to or who are listed as a dependent on their federal income tax return.

For each person you list in Part 2, you have to provide their date of birth, their A-number (if applicable), and whether they are filing for an immigration benefit with you. 

Remember, you also have to list yourself here so you will, in any situation, have at least one person (you) listed in Part 2.

Part 3. Your and Your Household Members’ Assets, Resources, and Financial Status

In Part 3, you have to provide detail on your household members’ income, assets, and financial status. 

You will have to include information about:

• Your and your household members’ total income 
• Your household assets and resources – you must only list the assets that can be turned into cash within 12 months
• Any debts and liabilities you or your household has
• Your credit report and credit score
• Whether or not you’ve ever filed for bankruptcy
• Details of your health insurance (if applicable)
• Whether you receive any public benefits.

You can find detailed information on what information to include here. 

Part 4. Your Education and Skills

If you have an approved Form I-140, you don’t have to complete this part, and you can move on to Part 5. Just write “yes” next to question 1.

If you don’t have an approved Form I-140, you can continue to complete this part. You must provide information about the high school you attended and any other degrees, diplomas, occupational or language skills you have. If you are retired, you must also indicate it here.

Part 5. Declarant’s Statement, Contact Information, Certification, and Signature

In this part, you sign and date the form and provide your certification. By signing the form, you certify and declare:

1. You reviewed and provided all the information in the form
2. You understood the questions and information, and 
3. The information you provided is true and accurate. 

You must also indicate if you completed the form yourself or used an interpreter or preparer who completed the Form I-944 on your behalf. 

When you’re done, you can sign and date your Form I-944 here.

Part 6. Interpreter’s Contact Information, Certification, and Signature

Many people for who English isn’t their first language prefer to use interpreters if they’re not comfortable completing legal forms in English. 

If you used an interpreter, they must complete Part 6 and fill in their contact information. Your interpreter also has to sign and provide their certification. 

By signing Part 6, your interpreter certifies:

• They are fluent in English, and the language used to interpret to you
• They have read every question and instruction on the form, and your answers to each question to you, and
• You understood each and every instruction, question, and answer to each question.

Part 7. Contact Information, Declaration, and Signature of the Individual Preparing this Declaration, if Other Than the Declarant

If you asked a professional like a lawyer or agency to help you complete your Form I-944, they must complete their information here. If someone was your interpreter and your preparer, they have to complete both Part 6 and Part 7.  

Keep in mind, advice from a friend or things like typing assistance doesn’t count as using a preparer for the purposes of this part. You don’t have to fill in their details here. A preparer is someone who completed the whole Form I-944 on your behalf. 

Part 8. Signature at Interview

Don’t complete Part 8 before you attend your interview. Once you are at your interview, the USCIS officer will indicate when you can sign Part 8.

Part 9. Additional Information

If you need any additional space, you can use Part 9. Make sure it is clear what part and section the additional information relates to. 

Completing your Form I-977 shouldn’t be complicated if you just follow these Form I-944 instructions!

Frank Gogol

I’m a firm believer that information is the key to financial freedom. On the Stilt Blog, I write about the complex topics — like finance, immigration, and technology — to help immigrants make the most of their lives in the U.S. Our content and brand have been featured in Forbes, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, and more.

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