I-864P 2026: The Poverty Guidelines Chart for Sponsors
Written by the Ellis Porter content team. This article has not been reviewed by an attorney. It is general information, not legal advice.
In plain English
Form I-864P is the chart that tells a sponsor how much income they need to sign an affidavit of support. For 2026, most sponsors in the lower 48 states need at least $27,050 for a household of two, $34,150 for three and $41,250 for four. Active-duty service members sponsoring a spouse or child need a lower amount, and Alaska and Hawaii have higher figures. These numbers took effect on March 1, 2026 and change every year.
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If you are checking whether you earn enough to sponsor
If a family member is counting on you to sponsor their green card, the income question can feel like a pass or fail test. It is more manageable than it looks. Here is the chart USCIS uses, and how to read it for your household.
Form I-864P is the chart of HHS poverty guidelines that USCIS uses for Form I-864, the Affidavit of Support. It sets the minimum income a sponsor must show for each household size. The 2026 figures are effective beginning March 1, 2026.
Most sponsors need income at or above 125% of the guidelines. Sponsors on active duty in the U.S. armed forces who are petitioning for their spouse or child use the 100% column instead.
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The Sponsor’s I-864 Worksheet
Work out your household size, check your income against the current guidelines, and understand what your signature commits you to before you sign.
The 2026 I-864P chart: 48 states, D.C. and territories
This table covers sponsors in the 48 contiguous states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
The 2026 I-864P chart: Alaska
The 2026 I-864P chart: Hawaii
How to read the chart for your household
Start with your household size, then pick the column that applies to you.
- Count your household. Household size generally includes the sponsor, their dependents, the sponsored immigrants, and anyone else the sponsor is already obligated to support.
- Pick your column. Use the 125% column unless you are on active duty in the U.S. armed forces and petitioning for your spouse or child.
- Pick your table. Alaska and Hawaii have their own, higher tables. Everyone else in the list above uses the first table.
- Compare your income to the figure in that row. If your income is at or above it, you meet the I-864P minimum.
A quick example. You are a U.S. citizen in Texas sponsoring your spouse, and you have one child. Your household is three people, so the 2026 figure is $34,150.
Petitioning for a family member?
See how the I-130 works and what your relative’s path looks like.
When the new numbers apply
USCIS says the 2026 guidelines are effective beginning March 1, 2026. The figures change every year when HHS updates its poverty guidelines, so check the USCIS I-864P page for the current chart before you file.
If your income falls short
Coming in under the line does not end the case. There are three common routes, and our Form I-864 guide covers each in more depth.
- Assets. Significant assets such as savings, stocks or property equity can sometimes make up the difference, usually valued at several times the income shortfall.
- A household member. A relative in your household can add their income on Form I-864A.
- A joint sponsor. A separate qualifying person can file their own Form I-864. A joint sponsor must be a US citizen or permanent resident, at least 18 years old, and domiciled in the US.
Each of these has its own rules, and the right one depends on your facts.
The new I-864 edition and the credit check
The chart is not the only thing that changed this year. On August 31, 2026, USCIS published a new edition of Form I-864, edition date 08/24/26. Beginning October 1, 2026, USCIS accepts only the 08/24/26 edition.
USCIS says the new edition includes a privacy release that authorizes it to request information from one or more consumer reporting agencies. If you have a credit or security freeze on your file, USCIS may not be able to get the information it needs, so respond quickly to any request to release the freeze.
What the affidavit of support means for you
Signing Form I-864 is a real commitment. USCIS reminds sponsors that the I-864 is a legally binding contract with the U.S. government to financially support the sponsored immigrant. If the immigrant receives means-tested public benefits, the agency that paid them can ask the sponsor to repay the cost.
USCIS lists the federal means-tested public benefits as food stamps, Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and the State Child Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Each state decides which, if any, of its own public benefits are means-tested.
Most sponsors meet the requirement without trouble. It still helps to know the commitment before you sign.
How Ellis Porter can help
Household size, which income counts, and whether assets or a joint sponsor will close a gap are the places sponsors most often get stuck. A licensed Ellis Porter family immigration attorney can review your numbers before you file, so the affidavit of support supports the case instead of slowing it down. If you are earlier in the process, start with our guide to the I-130 petition.
This article is general information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Income requirements change every year and depend on your specific facts. Confirm the current figures with USCIS and consult a licensed immigration attorney.
Frequently asked questions
What is Form I-864P?
Form I-864P is the USCIS chart of HHS poverty guidelines used to complete Form I-864, the Affidavit of Support. It lists the minimum income a sponsor needs for each household size. The 2026 figures are effective beginning March 1, 2026.
What are the 2026 I-864P income requirements?
For most sponsors in the 48 contiguous states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, the 2026 minimum is 125% of the poverty guidelines: $27,050 for a household of two, $34,150 for three, $41,250 for four and $48,350 for five, plus $7,100 for each additional person.
How much income do I need to sponsor my spouse in 2026?
If your household is two people, you and your spouse, the 2026 minimum for most sponsors in the lower 48 states is $27,050. It is $33,813 in Alaska and $31,113 in Hawaii. A sponsor on active duty in the U.S. armed forces who is petitioning for a spouse or child uses the 100% column, which is $21,640 for a household of two in the lower 48.
What is 125% of the poverty line for 2026?
For I-864 purposes, 125% of the 2026 HHS poverty guidelines is $27,050 for two people, $34,150 for three, $41,250 for four, $48,350 for five, $55,450 for six, $62,550 for seven and $69,650 for eight in the lower 48 states, with $7,100 added for each additional person.
What if my income is below the I-864P minimum?
You still have options. Significant assets can sometimes make up a shortfall, a household member can add income on Form I-864A, or a joint sponsor who qualifies can file a separate Form I-864. Which route works depends on your facts, so it is worth having an attorney look before you file.
Petitioning for a family member?
See how the I-130 works and what your relative’s path looks like.
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