125% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines by Household Size

To sponsor an immigrant in 2026, your income must reach 125% of the federal poverty guidelines for your household size. For a household of two in the 48 contiguous states, that means $27,050 a year; for a household of four, $41,250; for a household of eight, $69,650. Add $7,100 for each additional person. These are the figures on Form I-864P, updated by the Department of Health and Human Services and effective March 1, 2026.¹

2026 Minimum Income by Household Size

For the 48 contiguous states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the 2026 sponsor minimums are:

Household of 2: $27,050
Household of 3: $34,150
Household of 4: $41,250
Household of 5: $48,350
Household of 6: $55,450
Household of 7: $62,550
Household of 8: $69,650

For each person beyond eight, add $7,100. The smallest possible household is two, because the count always includes the sponsor plus at least one sponsored immigrant.¹

The math is direct. Take the baseline HHS poverty figure for your household size and multiply by 1.25. A household of four in the contiguous states has a baseline of $33,000, so $33,000 × 1.25 = $41,250.²

Alaska and Hawaii Have Higher Thresholds

Sponsors in Alaska and Hawaii face higher minimums because the underlying HHS guidelines are higher. In Alaska, a household of four needs at least $51,563. In Hawaii, the same household needs $47,438.¹ Form I-864P lists every household size for both states; check the row that matches your count before comparing your income against it.

Who Counts in Your Household Size

The household-size number decides which income row applies to you, and a single extra person can push you into a higher bracket. Under 8 CFR 213a.1, the count always includes:

Yourself, the sponsor.
Your spouse and your children, even if they live somewhere else. Adult children you did not claim on your most recent tax return are excluded.
Anyone you claimed as a tax dependent on your most recent return, whether or not they live with you.
Every immigrant you previously sponsored on an Affidavit of Support where your obligation has not yet ended.
All immigrants being sponsored on the current affidavit.

A person is counted only once. Stepchildren who neither live with you nor are your tax dependents are not counted. If the sponsored immigrant’s spouse or child is already a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, you generally do not count that person unless they are also your dependent.³

Undercounting is risky. If USCIS corrects the number upward, the income you reported may no longer clear the higher threshold. Overcounting raises your requirement for no reason. Review your latest tax return and any earlier I-864 filings before you settle on the figure.

Military Sponsors: 100% Instead of 125%

Active-duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces or Coast Guard who are sponsoring a spouse or child only need to meet 100% of the poverty guideline, not 125%.⁴ For a household of four in the contiguous states, that lowers the minimum from $41,250 to $33,000. You have to submit proof of active-duty status with Form I-864 to claim the reduced threshold.⁵ Reserve and National Guard members not on active duty do not qualify.

If Your Income Does Not Reach the Threshold

Missing the number in your row does not automatically end the sponsorship. Federal regulations give you two paths.

Using Assets to Close the Gap

You can supplement income with the net value of savings accounts, stocks, bonds, certificates of deposit, and real estate equity. The assets must be worth more than the income shortfall by a set multiple:⁶

3 times the shortfall when a U.S. citizen sponsors a spouse or a child who is at least 18.
5 times the shortfall in most other cases.
1 times the shortfall when the sponsored immigrant is an orphan who will gain citizenship through adoption.

Say you need $41,250 and earn $35,000. The shortfall is $6,250. A U.S. citizen sponsoring a spouse would need $18,750 in qualifying assets. For most other family relationships, the figure is $31,250.⁶ Only net value counts. For real estate, subtract the mortgage and any liens from the appraised value. Retirement accounts can be counted, but you have to net out early-withdrawal penalties.

Joint Sponsors and Household Members

A joint sponsor files their own Form I-864 and independently takes on the same legal responsibility you would. They do not need to be related to you or to the immigrant, but they must be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, at least 18, domiciled in the United States, and able to meet the 125% requirement on their own income alone.⁷

A household member works differently. Using Form I-864A, a qualifying household member combines their income with yours and accepts joint responsibility. Eligible contributors include a spouse, parent, child, adult son or daughter, or sibling who shares your principal residence, plus anyone you lawfully claimed as a tax dependent. The intending immigrant can sometimes contribute if they share your residence and their lawful income will continue after they become a permanent resident.⁸ Each contributing household member signs a separate I-864A.

The distinction is straightforward. A joint sponsor must clear the threshold alone. A household member’s income is added to yours to clear it together.

1
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I-864P, HHS Poverty Guidelines for Affidavit of Support
2
HHS ASPE. 2026 Poverty Guidelines
3
eCFR. 8 CFR 213a.1 – Definitions
4
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 8 USC 1183a – Requirements for Sponsors Affidavit of Support
5
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I-864, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the INA
6
eCFR. 8 CFR 213a.2 – Use of Affidavit of Support
7
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. href=”https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/i-864instr.pdf” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>Instructions for Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the INA
8
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Instructions for Contract Between Sponsor and Household Member