Affidavit of Support (Form I-864): 2026 Income Requirements Explained
Plain-English guide to the I-864 Affidavit of Support: who must file it, the 125% federal poverty line requirement, joint sponsors, common evidence, and the most frequent reasons USCIS issues an RFE.
📋 Informational · Not legal advice
This article summarizes public USCIS guidance about Form I-864. MBO Immigration LLC prepares immigration forms — we are not attorneys and do not provide legal advice. For individual eligibility questions (especially when income falls short or sponsors have unusual situations), retain a licensed immigration attorney.
If you are sponsoring a family-based green card case, you will almost always need to file Form I-864, Affidavit of Support. It is the document where the petitioner promises the U.S. government to financially support the immigrant so that the immigrant doesn’t become a public charge.
This guide answers the questions we get asked most when preparing marriage and family-based green card packets.
Who must file Form I-864?
In family-based cases, the sponsor is normally the petitioner — the U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident who filed the I-130. They sign Form I-864 to promise financial support. If the sponsor’s income or assets do not meet the threshold, a joint sponsor can file an additional I-864.
Each I-864 is signed under penalty of perjury and creates a contract between the sponsor and the U.S. government that lasts until the sponsored immigrant becomes a U.S. citizen, has 40 quarters of work, leaves the U.S. permanently, or dies.
The 2026 income requirement: 125% of the federal poverty line
USCIS requires sponsors to show income (or income + assets) of at least 125% of the federal poverty guidelines for their household size. Active-duty military sponsoring a spouse or child only need 100%.
You can read the exact thresholds USCIS publishes for the year on Form I-864P, Poverty Guidelines. They update annually.
A simple way to think about it:
- Count your household: yourself, spouse, dependents, and the immigrant(s) you are sponsoring.
- Look up the 125% threshold for that household size on I-864P.
- Compare it to your most recent annual income as reported on the latest federal tax return.
If your income is at or above that number, you generally meet the requirement.
Documents you’ll usually attach
USCIS expects evidence of the income claimed on the form. Common items:
- Most recent federal tax return (full IRS transcript or Form 1040 with all schedules and W-2/1099s).
- Pay stubs from the last 6 months.
- Letter of employment confirming current employer, position, start date, and current salary.
- Bank statements if relying on assets.
- Birth certificates or other proof of household members.
Self-employed sponsors usually attach Schedule C / Schedule SE with their tax return and may include profit-and-loss statements.
Joint sponsors
If your income is below 125% of the poverty line, USCIS allows a joint sponsor — usually a U.S. citizen or LPR (often a parent, sibling, or family friend) who meets the income test on their own.
The joint sponsor:
- Must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or LPR over 18.
- Must reside in the U.S.
- Files their own Form I-864 with their full evidence package.
A joint sponsor’s income does not combine with the petitioner’s — they have to qualify for the household size on their own, including the sponsored immigrant.
If even with a joint sponsor your numbers still don’t meet the threshold, you can also use assets that equal 5x the shortfall (3x for spouses of U.S. citizens). That route is tighter and less common; double-check with an attorney.
Common reasons USCIS issues an RFE on I-864
In packets we’ve seen reviewed:
| Issue | What to do instead |
|---|---|
| Tax return year is older than “most recent” | Always attach the most recent filed return. If you filed an extension, include the extension paperwork. |
| Total household income confusing | List each contributor separately and only count contributors who sign Form I-864A. |
| Pay stubs missing or not 6 months | Include last 6 consecutive pay stubs showing year-to-date income. |
| Joint sponsor on a separate household | Joint sponsor must file their own I-864 + complete evidence — not just sign a letter. |
| Self-employed without schedules | Always include all schedules (C, SE) with the return. |
How MBO Immigration helps with I-864
We are a document preparation service (not attorneys). What we do for marriage and family green card cases:
- Identify the right sponsor / joint sponsor structure for your situation.
- Calculate household size and confirm against the current I-864P thresholds.
- Build the evidence binder (tax return, W-2s, pay stubs, employment letter) in the order USCIS expects.
- Cross-check your I-864 answers against the I-130, I-485, and other forms so the packet is consistent.
If your situation is unusual (recent unemployment, contractor income only, sponsor lives abroad, prior public-charge issue), pair us with a licensed immigration attorney before filing.