I-864 Poverty Guidelines: Thresholds, Assets, and Joint Sponsors

To sponsor an immigrant on Form I-864 in 2026, your income must reach at least 125 percent of the federal poverty guidelines for your household size, which is $27,050 for a two-person household in the 48 contiguous states, D.C., and U.S. territories. Active-duty military sponsoring a spouse or child qualify at 100 percent, or $21,640 for the same household size. The I-864 poverty guidelines rise with each additional person in your household, run higher in Alaska and Hawaii, and set the number you have to hit before USCIS or a consular officer will approve the immigrant’s green card.¹

2026 Income Thresholds by Household Size

USCIS updates Form I-864P each year to reflect the current Department of Health and Human Services poverty guidelines. Use the guidelines for the state where the immigrant will live, not where the sponsor currently resides.

48 Contiguous States, D.C., and U.S. Territories

Household of 2: $27,050 (125%) / $21,640 (100% military)
Household of 3: $34,150 / $27,320
Household of 4: $41,250 / $33,000
Household of 5: $48,350 / $38,680
Household of 6: $55,450 / $44,360
Household of 7: $62,550 / $50,040
Household of 8: $69,650 / $55,720

For households larger than eight, add $7,100 per additional person at 125 percent, or $5,680 at 100 percent.¹

Alaska

Household of 2: $33,813 (125%) / $27,050 (100% military)
Household of 3: $42,688 / $34,150
Household of 4: $51,563 / $41,250
Household of 5: $60,438 / $48,350
Household of 6: $69,313 / $55,450
Household of 7: $78,188 / $62,550
Household of 8: $87,063 / $69,650

Add $8,875 per additional person at 125 percent, or $7,100 at 100 percent.¹

Hawaii

Household of 2: $31,113 (125%) / $24,890 (100% military)
Household of 3: $39,275 / $31,420
Household of 4: $47,438 / $37,950
Household of 5: $55,600 / $44,480
Household of 6: $63,763 / $51,010
Household of 7: $71,925 / $57,540
Household of 8: $80,088 / $64,070

Add $8,163 per additional person at 125 percent, or $6,530 at 100 percent.¹

How To Count Your Household

Household size for the I-864 is broader than the people living under your roof. It always includes you, your spouse, your dependent children under 21, anyone else claimed as a dependent on your most recent federal tax return, every immigrant being sponsored on this particular I-864, and any immigrants you previously sponsored on an I-864 whose obligation has not yet ended.²

That last group is where sponsors miscalculate. If you sponsored a sibling five years ago and that sibling has not naturalized or earned 40 qualifying quarters of work, they still count toward your household size today, which can push you into a higher income bracket without your realizing it.³

You may also add adult children, parents, or siblings who live with you and are willing to contribute their income. Adding them raises your household size, but it lets you count their earnings toward the threshold.²

What Income Counts

USCIS looks at your total income from your most recent federal tax return, specifically the figure on IRS Form 1040. Wages, salaries, interest, dividends, retirement distributions, and disability payments all count. Self-employed sponsors use adjusted gross income after deductions, not gross business receipts.²

The income figure on the I-864 must match the figure on the attached tax return. If they do not match, the National Visa Center will return the entire filing. You will generally need to submit tax returns for the three most recent years, though only the most recent year needs to meet the threshold.

If Your Income Falls Short

Household Member Income

Household members who share your residence can contribute their income by signing Form I-864A, which makes their earnings legally available to support the immigrant and creates its own enforceable obligation.³ The intending immigrant’s own income can also be counted if the current job will continue from the same source after they receive their green card; if the immigrant’s spouse or children are immigrating with them, the immigrant must sign an I-864A as well.⁴

Assets

When income is not enough, you can supplement with assets. Qualifying assets include savings accounts, stocks, bonds, certificates of deposit, and real estate equity. Only net value counts, meaning market value minus any debts, liens, or mortgages.⁵

The total net value must exceed a multiple of the gap between your income and the required threshold. The multiplier depends on the relationship:

3 times the shortfall when a U.S. citizen sponsors a spouse or a child 18 or older
1 times the shortfall for an orphan who will automatically acquire citizenship through adoption
5 times the shortfall in all other cases

Say you need $41,250 for a household of four and earn $30,000. The shortfall is $11,250. A U.S. citizen sponsoring a spouse would need at least $33,750 in net assets (3 × $11,250), while someone sponsoring a parent would need $56,250 (5 × $11,250).⁵ The intending immigrant’s own assets can count toward the total, as can assets of anyone who signed an I-864A.

Joint Sponsor

When income, household member income, and assets still fall short, a joint sponsor can step in. A joint sponsor files their own Form I-864 and independently takes on the full financial obligation. They must be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, at least 18 years old, and living in the United States or its territories.⁴

The joint sponsor must independently meet the 125 percent threshold for their own household size plus the immigrant being sponsored. They cannot pool income with the petitioning sponsor. That is the key distinction from household members: a household member adds income to the petitioner’s filing, while a joint sponsor qualifies entirely on their own.⁴ The joint sponsor does not need to be related to the immigrant or the petitioner, but they accept the same legal liability.

The Number Isn’t Hypothetical

Hitting the threshold matters because the I-864 is a legally binding contract with the federal government, enforceable in court. The obligation continues until the immigrant becomes a U.S. citizen, is credited with 40 qualifying quarters of work, loses permanent resident status and leaves the country, or either party dies. Divorce, bankruptcy, and job loss do not end it, and prenuptial agreements waiving spousal support have no effect on the I-864 because the contract runs to the government, not between spouses.⁶ Meeting the income figure on paper is the first step; being able to stand behind it for years is what you are actually signing up for.

1
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I-864P HHS Poverty Guidelines for Affidavit of Support
2
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Instructions for Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the INA
3
U.S. Department of State. I-864 Affidavit of Support FAQs
4
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. I-864, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the INA
5
eCFR. 8 CFR 213a.2 – Use of Affidavit of Support
6
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 8 USC 1183a – Requirements for Sponsors Affidavit of Support