The Affidavit of Support Law FirmⓇ

We enforce your rights under the Form I-864

American Immigration Lawyers Association 2026
2025 Top LEXCID Faculty
Super Lawyers Rating
Avvo Rating Superb Attorney
2016 Avvo Clients Choice
Lead Counsel Badge

Your sponsor promised to support you. We enforce that promise.

Sound Immigration represents green card holders in federal lawsuits to enforce the Affidavit of Support. Our clients pay zero upfront legal fees. We are paid only if we recover financial support for you.

We help green card holders get the financial support guaranteed by law.

If your sponsor signed a USCIS Form I-864, they made a legally binding promise to support you financially.

If you are low-income or unemployed, you may be entitled to:

  • Monthly financial payments;
  • Back support; and/or
  • Court-ordered enforcement.

We focus exclusively on enforcing these rights — in federal court, nationwide.

Form I-864 enforcement is all we do.

We have helped green card holders in more than 25 states recover support under the Form I-864.

No upfront costs. No hourly billing. No risk.

  • We offer free case assessments nationwide. Learn if you have enforceable rights. Get started now.
  • We offer free video consultations nationwide. There is no cost to speak to our attorney about your potential I-864 enforcement case.
  • You pay nothing to start your case.
  • We only get paid if we recover money for you.
  • If we don’t recover support, you owe us nothing.

I-864 Enforcement

Do you have a potential claim under the Affidavit of Support?

Learn More About I-864

Federal litigation

We represent green card holders in federal lawsuits across the country.

Learn More About Litigation

For Attorneys

Get assistance asserting the Affidavit of Support in a divorce or mediation.

Support For Attorneys

For Advocates

We provide free support to non-profits helping immigrants with claims under the Affidavit of Support.

Support For Advocates

Start your case with no payment required.

We represent clients in federal lawsuits on a contingency basis. You do not pay to start your case, and our firm is paid only if we recover support. We offer zero-cost case assessments and free video consultations.

Affidavit of Support resource library

Categories To Check Out:

Affidavit of Support FAQs

Presentations and Continuing Legal Education

I-864 Enforcement Updates

Family/Divorce Law and the I-864

Small financial gifts should not reduce recovery under the #affidavitofsupport
Do NOT delay your #affidavitofsupport claim of getting divorced; you could lose that right!
The still-ongoing Biton v. Jackson litigation is a great example of how sponsors and their lawyers should *not* defend I-864 lawsuits. Civil No. 5:23-cv-00968-SLP (D. Okla.). A year ago, the Court granted judgment to the I-864 claimant and required the Defendant to pay monthly support. Instead of complying with that order, he has spent a year unsuccessfully fighting it. Along the way, his lawyer was sanctioned (got punished) by the Court, and legal fees have continued to mount. By contrast, a good lawyer in the same situation would work out a feasible payment plan for the defendant and keep expenses as low as possible. Do you have a claim for financial support under the Form I-864? Find out. Book a free video consultation with the Affidavit of Support Law Firm® at www.soundimmigration.com Gregory H. McLawsen The Affidavit of Support Lawyer® Licensed in Washington State Sound Immigration (www.soundimmigration.com) 600 1st Ave, Suite 330, PMB 45921, Seattle, WA 98104-2205 greg@soundimmigration.com | 1-855-809-5115
How not to defend I-864 lawsuits
In Alassaf v. Alkordy, a federal court correctly said that an I-864 could proceed even though the issue was raised, to some degree, in the parties' previous divorce. Civ. no. 5:23-cv-00010-D-BM (W.D. N.C. Jan. 16, 2024). This is a common argument in federal I-864 cases, and the federal court correctly said that the previous misteps by the sponsored immigrant did not prevent her claim. Do you have a claim for financial support under the Form I-864? Find out. Book a free video consultation with the Affidavit of Support Law Firm® at www.soundimmigration.com Gregory H. McLawsen The Affidavit of Support Lawyer® Licensed in Washington State Sound Immigration (www.soundimmigration.com) 600 1st Ave, Suite 330, PMB 45921, Seattle, WA 98104-2205 greg@soundimmigration.com | 1-855-809-5115
Case law update: Divorce doesn't stop I-864 claim
Belaya v. Belaia, Civ. No. 2:23-cv-23393 (D. N.J. Feb. 27, 2024) is a variation on decisions that say federal courts lack authority over other claims by parties to an Affidavit of Support dispute. In this case, the original state lawsuit was over eviction of sponsored immigrants. When the green card holders tried to move that dispute to federal court, the judge rejected the claim because federal courts don't have authority over eviction cases. That underscores an important point in an indirect way: I-864 lawsuits cannot evolve into wide disptues over unrelated claims against the sponsored immigrant. But this case shows that it goes both ways, and the sponsored immigrant can't deal with unrelated matters either. Do you have a claim for financial support under the Form I-864? Find out. Book a free video consultation with the Affidavit of Support Law Firm® at www.soundimmigration.com Gregory H. McLawsen The Affidavit of Support Lawyer® Licensed in Washington State Sound Immigration (www.soundimmigration.com) 600 1st Ave, Suite 330, PMB 45921, Seattle, WA 98104-2205 greg@soundimmigration.com | 1-855-809-5115
Case law update: federal courts lack jurisdiction over other family disputes
In Dandan v. Dandan, the Michigan Court of Appeals ruled that allegations of fraud are not a valid defense to liability under the Affidavit of Support. The I-864 was enforced in a divorce proceeding, where the trial court ruled that fraud was not a defense to liability. The Court of Appeals correctly upheld that ruling, following cases we litigated in Ohio and elsewhere that say fraud is never a valid legal defense in these cases. Do you have a claim for financial support under the Form I-864? Find out. Book a free video consultation with the Affidavit of Support Law Firm® at www.soundimmigration.com Gregory H. McLawsen The Affidavit of Support Lawyer® Licensed in Washington State Sound Immigration (www.soundimmigration.com) 600 1st Ave, Suite 330, PMB 45921, Seattle, WA 98104-2205 greg@soundimmigration.com | 1-855-809-5115
Case law update: (Again) fraud, annulment is not a defense re I-864
Good news: the federal government plays no role enforcing the Affidavit of Support, when it comes to the right to direct financial assistance. Bad news: federal courts will lose funding and civil cases (including I-864 enforcement) will get lower priority than criminal cases. Bottom line: sponsored immigrants can still enforce the Affidavit of Support, but their civil cases could get delayed. *If* the shutdown is relatively short, this will not make a meaningful difference. But if the shutdown is extended, it will delay court decisions in these cases. Do you have a claim for financial support under the Form I-864? Find out. Book a free video consultation with the Affidavit of Support Law Firm® at www.soundimmigration.com Gregory H. McLawsen The Affidavit of Support Lawyer® Licensed in Washington State Sound Immigration (www.soundimmigration.com) 600 1st Ave, Suite 330, PMB 45921, Seattle, WA 98104-2205 greg@soundimmigration.com | 1-855-809-5115
What happens to Affidavit of Support enforcement if the government shuts down?
What if a defendant violates a settlement agreement in an #affidavitofsupport agreement?
Most lawsuits to enforce the Affidavit of Support are brought in federal court. Unlike family/divorce court, these lawsuits rarely involve court appearances by the parties. It is common for our clients to proceed through an entire case without going to court once. You need to be ready for that possibility - and often cases will go to mediation - but most federal lawsuits do not reqiure going to court as often as in a divorce. Do you have a claim for financial support under the Form I-864? Find out. Book a free video consultation with the Affidavit of Support Law Firm® at www.soundimmigration.com Greg McLawsen The Affidavit of Support Lawyer® Licensed in Washington State Sound Immigration (www.soundimmigration.com) 600 1st Ave, Suite 330, PMB 45921, Seattle, WA 98104 | Seattle, WA 98104-2205 greg@soundimmigration.com | 1-855-809-5115
How often will I have to go to court when enforcing the Form I-864, Affidavit of Support?
Subscribe
Gregory Mclawsen Immigration Law No Tie

Gregory McLawsen

The Affidavit of Support LawyerⓇ.

Mr. McLawsen is the country’s leading expert on enforcing the Affidavit of Support. He has resolved these claims in federal courts nationwide and routinely gives trainings to bar associations and non-profit organizations across the country.

Client success stories

We have helped green card holders in more than 25 states recover support under the Form I-864.

Why Sound Immigration?

The only law firm focused exclusively on the Affidavit of Support.
I-864 enforcement is not a side practice. It is our only focus.

Nationwide representation
We provide top-level expertise wherever you are.

No upfront cost.
You don’t pay out of pocket to pursue your case.

Direct Attorney Access
You speak with a lawyer — not a call center.

Clear, Honest Advice
We’ll tell you if you have a case — and if you don’t.