Household size: 1
100% (military spouse or child)
US$15,960
125% (everyone else)
US$19,950
For a household of two in the 48 contiguous states, the 2026 I-84 income requirement is US$27,050. It changes with household size and is not related to the immigrant.
Most sponsors are doing one of two things when they get here. Either they're checking whether their income clears the line, or they've already worked out that it doesn't and want to know what happens next.
This guide highlights alternative options if your income is short, how long this financial obligation lasts, and other important factors about Form I-864.
Form I-864, Affidavit of Support, is a legally binding contract in which a sponsor promises to financially support an immigrant so they will not become a public charge (i.e., need government assistance).
Under U.S. Code regulations, the sponsor agrees to maintain the sponsored immigrant at an annual income of at least 125% of the Federal poverty line for their household size (or 100% for an active-duty military sponsor sponsoring a spouse or child). A signed Form I-864 indicates that the sponsor accepts financial responsibility for the immigrant.
A sponsor must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, at least 18 years old, domiciled in the United States, and the person petitioning for the immigrant.
You must maintain the sponsored immigrant at an annual income of not less than 125% of the Federal poverty line for their household size (or 100% for an active-duty military sponsor sponsoring a spouse or child).
The poverty figures come from the Department of Health and Human Services and change every January. The current set was published at 91 FR 1797 and took effect on 13 January 2026.
For the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia, as of September 2026:
Alaska and Hawaii have separate figures. In Alaska, a household of one starts at US$19,950, with US$7,100 added per additional person; in Hawaii, it starts at US$18,360, with US$6,530 added per additional person. The full figures for both are in the Federal Register notice.
Note: the 100% column is quoted from the published guidelines. The 125% column is those figures multiplied by 1.25. USCIS publishes its own version of this table as Form I-864P, and officers use that table, so check it before you file. The most important number is the household size, not the income. Adding one person to the count raises the threshold by US$7,100.
Your total income, not gross income, counts on Form I-864. Here’s where;
You only need a copy or official IRS transcript of your federal tax return for the most recent tax year before signing. You don’t need to show the last three tax years, unless it helps your case.
If you send plain photocopies of your return, you must also attach every supporting schedule, W-2, and 1099. Requesting a free transcript directly from the IRS lets you skip gathering all those extra forms.
Other documents such as job letters, six months of pay stubs, or bank statements are not strictly required. They are only helpful if your current income is higher or different than what shows on your last tax return.
If you weren't required to file a tax return at all, simply attach a brief explanation along with proof of your tax-exempt income.
The sponsor counts themselves, their spouse, their dependents, and every immigrant named in any affidavit of support the sponsor has already filed.
A sponsor who signed an affidavit for a relative years ago is still counting that person in the household size today, even though the two households have nothing to do with each other in daily life.
Do the count before the income comparison, not after. Work out the number of people first, read the threshold for that number off the table above, and only then compare it to total income.
If your income is not enough as the sponsor, you have three main options available to you, each with different consequences;
A joint sponsor has to satisfy every sponsor eligibility requirement on their own, and accepts "joint and several liability with the sponsor." This means either can be pursued for the full amount, not half. A principal immigrant may have up to two joint sponsors for accompanying family members.
Where the extra income is already inside the sponsor's household, the household member signs Form I-864A, the contract between the sponsor and a household member. Form I-864A is for a household member, and a joint sponsor files their own I-864 instead.
If your income falls short, you can use assets to fill the gap, but they must equal a multiple of the missing amount. If you're sponsoring a spouse or child of a U.S. citizen, you'll need three times the difference. For orphans being adopted in the U.S., it's just one time. For everyone else, it's five times.
Because the five-times multiplier applies by default, if you're sponsoring a sibling or adult child and come up $10,000 short, you'll need $50,000 in qualifying assets to make up for it, not $30,000.
An Affidavit of Support is required for immediate relatives, family-based immigrants, and certain employment-based applicants.
Specifically, an employment-based immigrant needs an I-864 if a relative filed the petition or owns 5% or more of the sponsoring business (8 CFR 213a.1). This means if a relative holds a significant stake in the company sponsoring your visa, you fall under this rule.
You do not need an Affidavit of Support if you filed your own petition, have already earned 40 qualifying work quarters under Social Security, obtained an immigrant visa before December 19, 1997, or are a child who will automatically become a citizen upon entering as a permanent resident.
Sponsors must also establish legal domicile in the United States. For more on proving this, see our guide to country of residence versus country of domicile.
Choosing the right form mainly depends on who is signing it and where their income comes from. Here is a quick breakdown to help you figure out which one fits your situation best:
These forms are different from Form I-134. Form I-134 is used for temporary visas and parole cases, and it doesn't carry the same long-term financial commitments described below.
Your financial obligation as signed in Form I-864 only ends if the immigrant:
Getting a divorce does not end your financial responsibility. The law does not list divorce as a reason to cancel the agreement.
Finally, if the sponsored immigrant receives means-tested public benefits, the agency that paid them can ask you to reimburse the full cost.
125% of the Federal poverty line for your household size. In the 48 contiguous states, that is US$27,050 for a household of two and US$41,250 for a household of four, as of September 2026, based on the guidelines published at 91 FR 1797. Active duty military sponsoring a spouse or child meet the standard at 100%.
I-864 uses total income for purposes of federal income tax liability, which is the total income figure on the return rather than adjusted gross income.
The sponsor, the sponsor's spouse, the sponsor's dependents, and every immigrant named in any affidavit of support the sponsor has previously filed.
The sponsor can add a joint sponsor who meets the requirements independently and accepts joint and several liability, a household member counted through Form I-864A, or assets worth a multiple of the shortfall, which is five times in most cases and three times for a spouse or child of a U.S. citizen.
Divorce is not one of the terminating events recognized by the law. The listed events are naturalization, 40 qualifying quarters, loss of permanent resident status followed by departure, a new grant of adjustment in removal proceedings, and death.
The Department of State charges US$120.00 for "Affidavit of Support Review (only when reviewed domestically)" as part of the immigrant visa process, as of September 2026. Check the current fee schedule before paying anything, because these amounts change.
Address: 4 W 4th Ave, San Mateo, CA 94402, United States
Email: info@beyondborderglobal.com
