I-864 Affidavit of Support: Income Requirements and Instructions (2026)

Form I-864 is a legally binding contract between you and the U.S. government. By signing it, you promise to support your immigrant spouse at a minimum income level for years — potentially decades — regardless of what happens to your marriage. It is not a formality. Errors in calculating household size or qualifying income are among the most common reasons marriage green card applications receive Requests for Evidence, and an I-864 that is incomplete or insufficient can cause a denial.

Why the I-864 Is Required

The Affidavit of Support addresses the public charge ground of inadmissibility under INA 212(a)(4). Congress designed this requirement to ensure immigrants have a financial sponsor rather than relying on government assistance. When you file Form I-864, you are accepting legal responsibility for your spouse's financial support.

This obligation is:

• Enforceable by law — the government can sue you to recover any federal means-tested benefits your spouse uses
• Durable — it survives divorce and bankruptcy
• Long-lasting — it remains in effect until your spouse naturalizes as a U.S. citizen, accrues 40 qualifying work quarters under Social Security (roughly 10 years of employment), dies, or permanently abandons their LPR status and departs the country

I-864 Income Requirements: The 2026 Threshold

Sponsors must demonstrate household income at or above 125% of the HHS Federal Poverty Guidelines for their household size.

For 2026, the minimum income thresholds include:

Military exception: U.S. Armed Forces and Coast Guard members petitioning for a spouse or child need to meet only 100% of the FPG (approximately $20,440 for a household of two in 2026).

Geographic exceptions: Residents of Alaska and Hawaii have higher thresholds to account for elevated cost of living. Alaska requires approximately $33,813 for a household of two; Hawaii requires approximately $31,113.

Calculating Household Size

Household size errors cause a significant share of RFEs. Your household size for the I-864 is not the number of people currently living with you. It is a statutory calculation that must include:

1. Yourself (the sponsor)
2. Your spouse, if you live together
3. All children or other dependents claimed on your most recent federal tax return
4. The intending immigrant (your foreign spouse)
5. Any derivative applicants immigrating with your spouse within the next six months
6. Any individuals for whom you have previously filed a Form I-864 that is still in effect

Include people even if they do not physically live with you. A college-age child who was claimed as a dependent on last year's tax return counts, even if they live on campus. A prior immigrant you sponsored who has not yet naturalized counts if their I-864 is still active.

What Counts as Qualifying Income

Qualifying income includes:

• W-2 wages and salary
• Self-employment income (net, from Schedule C)
• Retirement pension income
• Social Security benefits (including disability benefits)
• Alimony received
• Interest and dividends from investments
• Rental income (net)
• Other regular taxable income

What does not count:

• SNAP (food stamps)
• Medicaid
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
• Other federal means-tested public cash assistance programs

The income figure USCIS evaluates is your current annual income, evidenced by your most recent federal tax return (typically an IRS transcript or a complete copy including all schedules) and documentation of current employment. If your current income is higher than what your last tax return shows — for example, you got a promotion since filing — you can submit a current pay stub and a letter from your employer showing your annual salary to supplement the tax return.

When Income Falls Short: Assets and Joint Sponsors

If your income alone does not meet the 125% threshold, you have two options.

Using assets: Personal assets can supplement a sponsor's income. For a U.S. citizen sponsoring a spouse, the cash value of assets must equal three times the difference between your income and the required threshold. Example: if the threshold is $25,550 and your income is $20,550, the shortfall is $5,000. You need at least $15,000 in qualifying assets.

Qualifying assets include:

• Checking and savings account balances
• Stocks, bonds, and certificates of deposit
• Net equity in real property (documented through an appraisal minus outstanding mortgage balance)
• Cash value of life insurance policies

Using a joint sponsor: If you cannot meet the threshold with income and assets combined, you need a joint sponsor. A joint sponsor must:

• Be a U.S. citizen or LPR
• Be at least 18 years old
• Be domiciled in the United States
• Meet the income requirements independently — based on their own household size plus the intending immigrant, not your household

The joint sponsor files a separate, standalone Form I-864. Their obligation is separate from yours and carries the same legal weight. They do not need to be a family member; any qualifying person can serve as a joint sponsor.

Critical I-864 Filing Instructions

Sign with an original handwritten signature. Stamped or typed signatures result in rejection.

Use the current form edition. Download from uscis.gov immediately before completing. Outdated editions are rejected.

Attach required financial documents:

• IRS transcript or complete copy of your most recent federal tax return
• W-2s or 1099s from the most recent tax year
• Recent pay stubs (typically the most recent 2–3)
• If self-employed: Schedule C and current bank statements
• If using assets: account statements, appraisals, or other documentation of asset values

Three years of tax returns: USCIS instructions say you must provide the most recent tax year's return. Submitting three years of returns (if you have them) is standard practice and demonstrates income stability. If you did not file taxes in a prior year because your income was below the filing threshold, include a statement explaining that.

Multiple sponsors, multiple forms: If there is a joint sponsor, they file a completely separate I-864 with their own financial documentation. Do not combine information onto one form.

The I-864 is a contract, not just a form. Understanding what you are committing to — and ensuring the numbers are accurate before you sign — matters as much as completing it correctly. The US Green Card Through Marriage Guide covers the I-864 in a dedicated section, including how to document assets, what to do when income fluctuates, and how to structure the joint sponsor arrangement.