Form I-864, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the INA, is a legally enforceable financial sponsorship contract required for most family-based immigrants and certain employment-based immigrants. By signing the form, the sponsor agrees to maintain the sponsored immigrant at the required income level and accepts specific financial obligations that can continue for years after permanent residence is granted.
The Form I-864 process involves more than showing a tax return. Sponsors residence is granted.
The Form I-864</ must calculate household size correctly, meet the applicable income requirement, establish U.S. domicile, submit acceptable financial evidence, and understand when a joint sponsor, household member, or assets may be used. A financially insufficient or improperly completed Affidavit of Support can prevent approval of an immigrant visa or adjustment of status application.
This guide explains the 2026 Form I-864 income requirements, household-size rules, tax documents, joint sponsors, Form I-864A, assets, domicile, sponsorship obligations, NVC procedures, adjustment of status requirements, and common filing mistakes.
Last reviewed: August 6, 2026. Poverty guidelines, forms, fees, and agency procedures can change. Sponsors should verify the current Form I-864 edition and applicable financial guidelines before submitting a case.
Certain employment-based immigrants also need it when a qualifying relative filed the petition or owns at least 5% of the petitioning entity.
The petitioning sponsor normally must file Form I-864 even when a joint sponsor is necessary.
Most sponsors must demonstrate income equal to at least 125% of the applicable HHS Poverty Guidelines.
A qualifying active-duty U.S. military sponsor petitioning for a spouse or child generally uses the 100% guideline instead.
The sponsor must be at least 18 years old and be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or lawful permanent resident with U.S. domicile.
Household size can include the sponsor, spouse, dependents, sponsored immigrants, and people covered by previous I-864 obligations.
A joint sponsor files a separate Form I-864 and cannot simply combine income with the petitioning sponsor.
Form I-864A allows certain household members to make their income or assets available to a sponsor.
Assets can sometimes make up an income shortfall, but different multipliers apply to different immigration situations.
Divorce does not terminate an existing Form I-864 obligation.
There is no separate USCIS filing fee for submitting Form I-864 with Form I-485.
What Is Form I-864?
Form I-864 is the Affidavit of Support required under section 213A of the Immigration and Nationality Act for specified immigrants. The form creates a contract between the sponsor and the U.S. government.
According to USCIS, the sponsor agrees to use available financial resources to support the sponsored immigrant when necessary and to maintain the immigrant at an annual income of at least 125% of the applicable federal poverty guideline, subject to the special 100% rule for certain active-duty military sponsors.
A sufficient Form I-864 can also be relevant to the public charge analysis. USCIS states that when the Affidavit of Support is required, a sufficient I-864 is considered favorably. It does not, however, replace the agency’s review of other factors that may apply to an applicant subject to the public charge ground of inadmissibility.
Who Must Submit Form I-864?
Form I-864 is required for most immigrants obtaining permanent residence through a family relationship. The principal groups include:
Spouses of U.S. citizens.
Unmarried children under 21 of U.S. citizens.
Parents of U.S. citizens age 21 or older.
Family-preference immigrants sponsored through Form I-130.
Certain employment-based immigrants when a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or lawful permanent resident relative filed the employment petition.
Certain employment-based immigrants when such a relative owns a significant interest of at least 5% in the entity that filed the employment petition.
Marriage-based applicants commonly submit Form I-864 as part of the Green Card process. Applicants filing from inside the United States should coordinate the financial sponsorship package with the Form I-485 adjustment of status application. Applicants processing an immigrant visa abroad normally submit financial sponsorship documents
through the National Visa Center.
Who Is Exempt From Form I-864?
Not every permanent residence applicant needs an I-864.
USCIS identifies several categories that are exempt from the Affidavit of Support requirement or use a different exemption procedure.
Examples can include applicants who have earned or can receive credit for 40 qualifying Social Security quarters, certain children who will automatically acquire U.S. citizenship under the Child Citizenship Act, self-petitioning battered spouses or children, and qualifying self-petitioning widows or widowers.
Other immigration categories, such as many refugees, asylees, Diversity Visa applicants, T or U beneficiaries, and employment-based immigrants with no qualifying family ownership connection to the petitioner, generally are not subject to the standard Form I-864 requirement.
An exemption should not be assumed merely because the applicant has personal savings or employment. A job offer does not replace Form I-864 when the law requires an Affidavit of Support.
Form I-864 Income Requirements for 2026
The standard sponsor generally must demonstrate income of at least 125% of the applicable HHS Poverty Guidelines for the sponsor’s household size. HHS publishes new poverty guidelines each year.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the 2026 poverty guideline for a two-person household in the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia is $21,640. The corresponding 125% amount used for most Form I-864 sponsors is $27,050.
Household Size
100% Guideline
125% Guideline
2
$21,640
$27,050
3
$27,320
$34,150
4
$33,000
$41,250
5
$38,680
$48,350
6
$44,360
$55,450
7
$50,040
$62,550
8
$55,720
$69,650
Each additional person
+$5,680
+$7,100
2026 HHS Poverty Guidelines for the 48 contiguous states and Washington, D.C. Alaska and Hawaii use higher amounts.
Alaska and Hawaii have separate, higher poverty guidelines. Sponsors living in either location should use the table applicable to their place of domicile rather than the figures above.
The 100% Rule for Active-Duty Military Sponsors
The lower 100% threshold does not apply to everyone who has served in the military. USCIS specifies that the sponsor must be on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces or U.S. Coast Guard and must be petitioning for the sponsor’s spouse or child.
A veteran who is no longer on qualifying active duty does not automatically receive the lower threshold. Likewise, an active-duty service member sponsoring a relative outside the qualifying spouse-or-child relationship generally remains subject to the standard 125% requirement.
How to Calculate Household Size for Form I-864
Household size is one of the most common sources of errors because it is not simply the number of people living at the sponsor’s address.
Depending on the circumstances, Form I-864 household size can include:
The sponsor.
The sponsor’s spouse.
Qualifying children or other dependents.
People claimed as dependents on the sponsor’s most recent federal tax return.
The principal intending immigrant.
Derivative immigrants being sponsored where applicable.
Immigrants previously sponsored on another Form I-864 when the earlier support obligation remains active.
Certain relatives or household members whose income is being included through Form I-864A.
The Department of State instructs sponsors in consular cases to include derivative applicants planning to immigrate within the applicable family unit and people in the United States whom the sponsor continues to support under a prior enforceable Form I-864.
Counting too few people can produce an artificially low income requirement and an insufficient affidavit. Counting the same person twice can create the opposite problem. Sponsors should follow the household-size instructions in the current edition of Form I-864 rather than simply copying the number of dependents from a tax return.
Current Income vs. Tax Return Income
Form I-864 asks about both current annual household income and federal tax-return history. These figures are related but are not necessarily identical.
A tax return reports income for a completed tax year. Current annual income describes the income the sponsor reasonably expects to earn at the current rate. A sponsor who changed jobs, received a raise, became self-employed, retired, or lost employment may therefore have a current income figure that differs substantially from the most recent tax return.
The current Form I-864 requires the sponsor to provide information from the most recent federal income tax year. USCIS instructions state that the sponsor must provide either an IRS tax transcript or a photocopy of the federal individual income tax return for the most recent tax year. Additional returns from the preceding years may be submitted when they help establish financial capacity.
Applicants should not assume that three years of complete federal tax returns are universally mandatory. The most recent return is the core requirement under the current form, although the form asks for income information from additional tax years and officers may request further evidence.
Documents to Submit With Form I-864
A typical financial sponsorship package may include:
A completed and properly signed Form I-864.
An IRS federal tax return transcript for the most recent required tax year; or a complete copy of the sponsor’s federal return with required supporting forms.
Forms W-2 or 1099 when applicable, particularly when a photocopy of the tax return rather than an IRS transcript is used.
Recent pay statements when useful to demonstrate current income.
An employer letter showing position, salary, and current employment when useful.
Evidence of self-employment income where applicable.
Evidence of U.S. citizenship, U.S. national status, or permanent residence when required.
Evidence of U.S. domicile when domicile is not obvious from the record.
Form I-864A and supporting documents for qualifying household members whose income or assets are being used.
Asset documentation when assets are necessary to overcome an income shortfall.
If the sponsor was legally not required to file a federal income tax return, the sponsor should provide an explanation and evidence establishing why filing was not required. Simply failing to file a required return is different. When a return was legally required but was not filed, the sponsor may need to resolve the tax-filing issue before relying on Form I-864.
Using Assets When Income Is Too Low
Assets can supplement income when current household income does not reach the required threshold. The important number is the difference between the qualifying household income and the required guideline amount.
USCIS generally requires qualifying net assets equal to at least five times that income shortfall. Two important exceptions reduce the multiplier.
Situation
Required Asset Value
Most Form I-864 cases
5 × the income shortfall
U.S. citizen sponsoring a qualifying spouse or child
3 × the income shortfall
Certain foreign orphan cases acquiring citizenship after adoption in the United States
1 × the income shortfall
For example, if a sponsor needs $41,250 for the household but has $35,250 in qualifying income, the shortfall is $6,000. Under the general five-times rule, qualifying net assets would need to total at least $30,000. Under a qualifying three-times situation, the amount would be $18,000.
USCIS requires assets to be convertible to cash within one year without considerable hardship or financial loss to the owner. The relevant amount is generally the net value after mortgages, loans, liens, or other liabilities.
Potential assets can include savings, certain investment accounts, stocks, bonds, real property equity, and other assets that meet USCIS requirements. Evidence should establish ownership, current value, liabilities, and liquidity.
Can the Immigrant’s Income or Assets Be Counted?
In some circumstances, yes. An intending immigrant’s assets may be included when they meet the normal documentation and liquidity requirements. USCIS instructions specifically permit use of the intending immigrant’s qualifying assets regardless of where the person resides, provided sufficient evidence is submitted.
Income is more restrictive. The intending immigrant’s income generally must be from a lawful source that will continue after the person becomes a permanent resident. A temporary foreign salary that will end when the immigrant moves to the United States should not be treated as continuing income merely because it appears on a recent pay statement.
The need for Form I-864A depends on how the intending immigrant’s income is being used and whether accompanying family members are also being sponsored. Follow the current Form I-864 and I-864A instructions for the specific household structure.
What Is a Joint Sponsor?
A joint sponsor is a separate qualifying person who accepts the same type of legally enforceable financial responsibility when the petitioning sponsor cannot meet the requirement.
The joint sponsor must generally:
Be at least 18 years old.
Be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or lawful permanent resident.
Be domiciled in the United States, a U.S. territory, or qualifying possession.
File a separate Form I-864.
Meet the financial requirement for the immigrants the joint sponsor agrees to sponsor and the joint sponsor’s own household.
A joint sponsor does not have to be related to the petitioner or immigrant. A friend, relative, or another qualifying individual may serve in the role.
The petitioner cannot avoid filing Form I-864 simply because a strong joint sponsor is available. In family-based immigration, the petitioning sponsor normally must still submit the petitioner’s own Affidavit of Support.
How Many Joint Sponsors Can a Case Have?
The current USCIS instructions allow no more than two joint sponsors for a family unit. This corrects a common misconception that an unlimited number of sponsors can be added until the combined income becomes sufficient.
A joint sponsor must qualify for the immigrant or immigrants assigned to that sponsor without informally combining the joint sponsor’s income with the petitioner’s income or another joint sponsor’s income.
A joint sponsor may, however, have qualifying household members whose resources are documented through Form I-864A. That is different from adding the petitioner’s income to the joint sponsor’s income.
Form I-864A: Using a Household Member’s Income
Form I-864A, Contract Between Sponsor and Household Member, allows an eligible household member to make income and/or assets available to the sponsor. The household member also accepts enforceable financial obligations connected to the sponsorship.
According to USCIS, a qualifying household member can include a spouse, parent, child, adult son or daughter, or sibling who shares the sponsor’s principal residence. A person lawfully claimed as a dependent on the sponsor’s most recent federal tax return may also qualify even if that person does not live at the same address.
Each qualifying household member whose resources are used generally completes a separate Form I-864A. This is fundamentally different from a joint sponsor: the household member pools qualifying resources with the Form I-864 sponsor, while a joint sponsor files a separate Form I-864 as an independent sponsor.
U.S. Domicile Requirement
Income alone does not make someone an eligible sponsor. The sponsor must also establish domicile in the United States.
Domicile generally refers to the sponsor’s principal residence with the intention to maintain it as a permanent home. A sponsor temporarily living abroad may still satisfy the requirement if the sponsor maintained a U.S. domicile or qualifies under specific employment rules.
A sponsor who genuinely lives abroad and no longer has U.S. domicile may establish an intention to reestablish domicile no later than the immigrant’s admission. The Department of State identifies evidence such as:
Opening or maintaining U.S. financial accounts.
Transferring funds to the United States.
Seeking or accepting employment in the United States.
Securing housing.
Registering children in U.S. schools.
Making U.S. investments.
Other concrete preparations demonstrating an actual move.
A joint sponsor cannot cure the petitioner’s failure to satisfy the petitioner’s own domicile requirement. If the petitioner is required to be the sponsor but cannot establish U.S. domicile, adding a joint sponsor alone does not solve the problem.
How Long Does the Form I-864 Obligation Last?
The Form I-864 support obligation does not simply last ten years. Forty qualifying Social Security quarters often take approximately ten years to accumulate, but ten calendar years alone do not automatically terminate the contract.
Under the current Form I-864 and USCIS rules, the sponsorship obligation can terminate when the sponsored immigrant:
Becomes a U.S. citizen.
Has worked or can receive credit for 40 qualifying quarters under the Social Security Act.
No longer has lawful permanent resident status and departs the United States.
Receives a new grant of adjustment of status in removal proceedings based on a new Affidavit of Support when one is required.
Dies.
The obligation also ends when the sponsor dies, although a sponsor’s estate may remain responsible for obligations that accrued before death.
Does Divorce End Form I-864 Sponsorship?
No. USCIS expressly states that divorce does not terminate Form I-864 obligations. This point is particularly important in marriage-based Green Card cases.
The legally enforceable support contract exists independently of the continuation of the marriage. The sponsored immigrant may have enforcement rights under federal law, and government agencies may have reimbursement rights for certain means-tested public benefits.
Couples pursuing permanent residence through marriage should review the broader marriage-based Green Card process before treating financial sponsorship as merely another document in the filing package.
Sponsor Liability for Means-Tested Public Benefits
Form I-864 is legally enforceable. If the sponsored immigrant receives certain designated means-tested public benefits while the support obligation remains in force, the agency that provided those benefits may seek reimbursement from the sponsor.
Not every government program is considered a means-tested public benefit for Form I-864 purposes. Sponsors should not assume that every medical, educational, food, housing, or emergency program automatically creates a reimbursement claim.
USCIS also requires sponsors to report changes of address using Form I-865 while the sponsorship obligation remains active. The current Form I-864 warns that failure to properly report an address change within 30 days may result in a civil penalty.
Can a Sponsor Withdraw Form I-864?
A sponsor may be able to withdraw an Affidavit of Support before the immigration benefit becomes final. Timing is critical.
For an adjustment-of-status case, USCIS must actually receive the written withdrawal before the agency makes the final decision on Form I-485 for the withdrawal to be effective. Once adjustment has been granted based on the affidavit, the sponsor cannot simply revoke the contract afterward.
In an immigrant visa case, withdrawal becomes substantially more restricted once the immigrant visa has been issued. Anyone considering withdrawal should act promptly and obtain case-specific legal advice.
Form I-864 for Adjustment of Status
Applicants adjusting status inside the United States generally submit Form I-864 as supporting evidence with Form I-485 when the Affidavit of Support requirement applies.
There is no separate USCIS filing fee for Form I-864 itself. It forms part of the adjustment package. USCIS reviews whether the sponsor qualifies, whether the household size is correct, and whether income, assets, domicile, and supporting evidence establish a sufficient Affidavit of Support.
An insufficient required affidavit can create a public charge inadmissibility problem and prevent approval of adjustment. Applicants should also coordinate the financial package with other required evidence, including the Form I-693 immigration medical exam when applicable.
Form I-864 for Consular Processing and NVC
In a standard consular immigrant visa case, the petitioner and any additional financial sponsors generally upload the applicable Affidavit of Support forms and financial documents through the Consular Electronic Application Center after NVC processing begins.
The National Visa Center reviews the submitted forms for completeness before transferring a documentarily complete case toward embassy or consulate processing. A deficient financial submission may be marked incomplete or invalid in CEAC and require correction or additional evidence.
It is therefore inaccurate to treat an NVC document problem as automatically being a USCIS-style Request for Evidence. NVC and USCIS use different systems and procedural terminology.
The Department of State’s current visa fee schedule lists a $120 Affidavit of Support Review fee when the affidavit is reviewed domestically through the applicable immigrant visa process. This is separate from the immigrant visa application processing fee. Certain cases are exempt from the AOS fee.
Applicants completing immigrant visa processing abroad can review the site’s consular processing and NVC guide for the broader sequence of fees, documents, DS-260 processing, and the immigrant visa interview.
Current Form I-864 Edition
As of this review, USCIS lists the 10/17/24 edition for Form I-864. USCIS began accepting only that edition on February 10, 2025.
Form editions can change. Before filing, download the current version directly from USCIS and confirm that every page belongs to the same accepted edition. Using pages from different editions or an edition USCIS no longer accepts can result in rejection or other filing problems.
Common Form I-864 Mistakes
Using the wrong household size.
Forgetting a prior sponsored immigrant whose I-864 obligation remains active.
Using the 100% poverty guideline without meeting the active-duty military exception.
Using an outdated poverty table.
Using an outdated Form I-864 edition.
Failing to sign the affidavit properly.
Failing to submit the petitioner’s I-864 because a joint sponsor is being used.
Attempting to combine the petitioner’s income informally with a joint sponsor’s income.
Using more than two joint sponsors for a family unit.
Using a household member’s income without Form I-864A when that contract is required.
Assuming every asset shortfall uses the five-times multiplier.
Using gross property value instead of net equity.
Counting an asset that cannot reasonably be converted to cash.
Relying on foreign employment income that will end after immigration.
Submitting W-2s without the required tax return or transcript.
Failing to explain why a federal tax return was not legally required.
Ignoring a significant change in current income after the most recent tax return.
Failing to establish U.S. domicile.
Assuming a joint sponsor can cure the petitioner’s lack of domicile.
Assuming divorce terminates the sponsorship obligation.
Form I-864 Filing Checklist
Confirm that Form I-864 is required for the immigrant category.
Download the current USCIS edition.
Confirm the sponsor is at least 18 and has qualifying immigration status.
Establish U.S. domicile.
Calculate household size carefully.
Use the correct 2026 poverty guideline for the sponsor’s location.
Determine whether the 125% or qualifying military 100% threshold applies.
Calculate current annual household income.
Include the required federal tax return or IRS transcript.
Add current income evidence when useful or requested.
Prepare Form I-864A for qualifying household members when required.
Calculate the correct asset multiplier if assets are needed.
Document ownership, net value, and liquidity of assets.
Use a qualifying joint sponsor when necessary.
Remember that the petitioner generally still files Form I-864 even when a joint sponsor participates.
Sign and date every required financial sponsorship form.
Submit all pages required by the applicable USCIS or NVC process.
Keep a complete copy of the signed financial sponsorship package.
Form I-864 is much more than proof that a sponsor earns a particular salary. Household size, current income, tax history, domicile, joint sponsorship, assets, and the legal obligations created by the contract all matter. Sponsors should review the current USCIS form instructions and HHS Poverty Guidelines immediately before filing, particularly when income is close to the threshold, the sponsor lives abroad, self-employment is involved, previous sponsorship obligations remain active, or a joint sponsor or household member is necessary.
Alejandro Daniel Jose is an entrepreneur and digital editor specializing in U.S. immigration content. He leads Visa for the United States, an editorial project focused on explaining visa types, application procedures, and immigration policy updates. Content is researched and verified against official sources including USCIS, the U.S. Department of State, and the Federal Register. This site provides practical, source-checked information and does not replace professional legal advice.
