The Affidavit of Support Explained: I-864 Income Requirements, Joint Sponsors, and 2026 Poverty Guidelines
If you are sponsoring a family member for a green card through the U.S. immigration system, one form stands between your loved one and permanent residence more often than any other: the I-864 Affidavit of Support. This legally binding document requires the petitioning sponsor to prove they have sufficient income to support the incoming immigrant at 125% of the federal poverty guidelines — and to guarantee that support for as long as the immigrant remains a permanent resident or until they become a U.S. citizen.
Despite being one of the most critical components of every family-based immigration case, the I-864 is also one of the most confusing. Income calculations, household size determinations, and joint sponsor requirements trip up even experienced petitioners. With the 2026 poverty guidelines now in effect and the April visa bulletin opening new filing opportunities, here is everything you need to know about the I-864 in 2026.
What Is the Affidavit of Support?
Form I-864 is a contract between the sponsor (the U.S. citizen or permanent resident who filed the I-130 petition) and the U.S. government. By signing the I-864, the sponsor agrees to financially support the immigrant at or above the federal poverty level, reimburse any government agency that provides means-tested public benefits to the immigrant, and maintain this obligation until the immigrant becomes a U.S. citizen, earns 40 qualifying quarters of work (approximately 10 years), dies, or permanently departs the United States.
The I-864 is required for virtually all family-based green card cases and some employment-based cases. It is submitted as part of the I-485 adjustment of status application or the consular processing package.
2026 Income Requirements
The income threshold is 125% of the federal poverty guidelines for the sponsor’s household size. For active-duty U.S. military members sponsoring a spouse or child, the threshold is reduced to 100% of poverty guidelines.
The 2026 federal poverty guidelines (effective as of January 2026 for the 48 contiguous states) are used to determine the minimum income requirement. For a household of two (the sponsor and the incoming immigrant), the 125% threshold is approximately $27,050. Each additional household member adds approximately $6,000 to the required income. For a household of four, the threshold rises to approximately $39,000.
These figures are updated annually. Always verify the current guidelines before filing, as using outdated figures can result in a Request for Evidence or denial.
Who Counts in the Household Size?
Calculating household size for the I-864 is one of the most common sources of confusion. The sponsor’s household includes the sponsor themselves, the immigrant being sponsored, any dependents (children) coming with the immigrant, any persons the sponsor has previously sponsored on an I-864 who have not yet become citizens or earned 40 quarters, the sponsor’s spouse (if not the immigrant being sponsored), the sponsor’s own dependents claimed on tax returns, and any other person the sponsor is legally obligated to support.
Getting the household size wrong — even by one person — can push the income requirement above the sponsor’s actual earnings and trigger an insufficiency finding.
What Income Counts
USCIS evaluates the sponsor’s income based on the most recent federal tax return (typically the prior year’s return). Qualifying income includes wages and salary reported on W-2s, self-employment income reported on Schedule C, interest, dividends, and investment income, rental income, retirement and pension income, Social Security income, and military pay (including BAH, BAS, and special duty pay).
The I-864 asks the sponsor to report their current annual income and attach their most recent tax return (and W-2s or 1099s) as evidence. If the sponsor’s income has increased since the last tax return, a current employment letter stating the new salary can supplement the tax return — but the tax return itself is always required.
What If the Sponsor’s Income Is Not Enough?
If the petitioning sponsor’s income falls below the required threshold, there are three options:
Option 1: Include Household Member Income
Income from other household members who are at least 18 years old, reside in the same household as the sponsor, and are willing to sign Form I-864A (Contract Between Sponsor and Household Member) can be combined with the sponsor’s income to meet the threshold.
Option 2: Use a Joint Sponsor
A joint sponsor is a separate individual — any U.S. citizen or permanent resident — who agrees to take on the same financial obligation as the primary sponsor. The joint sponsor must independently meet the 125% poverty guideline threshold for their own household size plus the immigrants being sponsored. The joint sponsor files a separate I-864 with their own tax returns and income documentation. The joint sponsor does not need to be related to the immigrant.
Option 3: Use Assets
If income alone is insufficient, the sponsor (or joint sponsor) can use assets to make up the difference. For family-based immigration, the value of assets must equal at least three times the difference between the sponsor’s income and the poverty guideline requirement (or five times for non-immediate-relative categories). Qualifying assets include cash in bank accounts, stocks and bonds (at current market value), real estate equity (assessed value minus mortgages), and other significant assets that can be converted to cash within one year.
Required Documents for the I-864
- Completed Form I-864 signed by the sponsor
- Most recent federal tax return (Form 1040) with all schedules and attachments
- W-2s and/or 1099s for the most recent tax year
- Current employment verification letter stating job title, salary, and start date
- If using assets: bank statements, property assessments, brokerage statements
- If using a joint sponsor: separate I-864 from the joint sponsor with their own tax returns and income documents
- If using household member income: Form I-864A signed by each contributing household member, plus their tax returns
- Proof of U.S. citizenship or permanent residence of the sponsor
Common I-864 Mistakes
Using the wrong household size. Forgetting to count previously sponsored immigrants, the sponsor’s dependents, or the immigrant’s accompanying family members is the single most common error.
Not including tax returns. The I-864 requires tax transcripts or copies of actual returns. A letter from an employer alone is not sufficient, even if income clearly exceeds the threshold.
Filing with outdated poverty guidelines. The guidelines update annually, typically in January. Using the prior year’s figures can result in an RFE if income is close to the threshold.
Joint sponsor confusion. The joint sponsor must meet the income requirement independently — their income is not added to the primary sponsor’s income. The joint sponsor files a completely separate I-864 package.
Not understanding the legal obligation. The I-864 is an enforceable contract. The sponsored immigrant (or a government agency) can sue the sponsor for financial support if the immigrant receives means-tested public benefits. This obligation continues even after divorce. Many sponsors do not fully appreciate this when they sign.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my parents or siblings serve as joint sponsors?
Yes. Any U.S. citizen or permanent resident who meets the income requirements can serve as a joint sponsor, regardless of their relationship to the immigrant. Friends, employers, and other community members can also serve as joint sponsors.
What if I was not required to file taxes?
If your income was below the tax filing threshold, you should still file a return for I-864 purposes. Alternatively, you can provide a written explanation of why no return was filed, along with other evidence of income. However, not having filed taxes can complicate the I-864 significantly — consult an attorney.
Does the I-864 obligation end if we divorce?
No. The sponsor’s financial obligation under the I-864 survives divorce. It continues until the sponsored immigrant becomes a U.S. citizen, earns 40 quarters of work, dies, or permanently departs the United States.
What happens if the sponsor’s income drops after filing?
The I-864 is evaluated based on income at the time of filing. A subsequent drop in income does not retroactively invalidate a properly filed I-864, but the sponsor remains legally obligated to provide support.
Is the I-864 required for K-1 fiancé visa cases?
A simplified version (Form I-134, Affidavit of Support) is used for the K-1 fiancé visa stage. The full I-864 is required when the K-1 visa holder later applies for adjustment of status to permanent residence after marrying the U.S. citizen petitioner.
Get Your I-864 Right the First Time
A deficient I-864 is one of the most common reasons for green card delays and RFEs. Attorney Alfredo Lozano is Board Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and has prepared thousands of I-864 packages for Texas families. With offices in San Antonio, Eagle Pass, and San Angelo, the Lozano Law Firm ensures your Affidavit of Support is complete, accurate, and positioned for approval.
Schedule a consultation today to review your financial eligibility and prepare your I-864.
