Form I-864 · Field-by-Field Guide
I-864 Affidavit of Support, field by field
The I-864 is where sponsors prove they can financially support their immigrant spouse. Small errors like the wrong household size, outdated income figures, or a miscounted prior obligation are one of the top reasons USCIS issues a Request for Evidence. These guides cover the fields applicants get wrong most often.
- Form
- I-864 Affidavit of Support
- Who completes it
- The U.S. citizen or LPR sponsor
- 2026 income test
- 125% of Federal Poverty Guidelines
- Household of 2
- $27,050 minimum
Common mistakes
Where applicants most often go wrong
Who counts toward I-864 household size?
Part 5 asks you to count yourself, your dependents, anyone you have previously sponsored on an I-864 who has not yet met certain milestones, and the immigrant you are sponsoring now. Most people undercount, and a lower household size makes your income look higher, which triggers an RFE.
Is current annual income the same as last year's tax return?
No. Part 6 asks for your current annual income, meaning what you are earning right now, annualized. If you got a raise since your last tax return, use the new number. If you are self-employed, this is where it gets nuanced.
Do prior sponsorships count against my household size?
They can. If you sponsored someone on an I-864 in the past and they have not become a U.S. citizen, earned 40 qualifying quarters, or had their status end, they still count toward your household size. This catches sponsors by surprise.
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2026 · household of 3
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The guides
Field-by-field guides
11 guides covering every field where sponsors trip up, in the order they appear on the form.
- Start hereWhich Affidavit of Support form do you need?I-864, I-864EZ, or I-864A? How to tell which form your situation calls for before you fill anything out.
- Part 2 · Item 5Country of DomicileWhat domicile means, why USCIS asks, and how to answer if you currently live abroad but intend to return.
- Part 2 · Item 12Active-Duty Military SponsorsActive-duty sponsors can qualify for the lower 100% poverty guideline instead of 125%. Who qualifies and how to claim it.
- Part 5 · Item 1Total Number of Persons in HouseholdExactly who to include, who to exclude, and how to handle edge cases like college-age children and previously sponsored immigrants.
- Part 5 · Item 6Prior I-864 ObligationsWhether previous sponsorships still count, how to tell if a prior obligation has ended, and how to document it if it has.
- Part 6 · Item 7Current Annual IncomeWhat 'current' means, how to calculate it from a pay stub, and what to enter if you are self-employed or recently changed jobs.
- Part 6 · Items 8-14Household Member IncomeWhen household members' income counts, how to document it, and when USCIS requires them to file a separate I-864A.
- Part 6 · Items 15-19Prior Year Income (Tax Returns)Which years to include, what to do if your income has changed significantly, and how it interacts with current annual income.
- Part 7AssetsWhen assets can supplement income that falls short, how to calculate the asset threshold, and which assets USCIS accepts.
- If income falls shortJoint SponsorWhen your own income is not enough, a joint sponsor can step in. Who can be one, what they file, and the obligation they take on.
- Related · I-864AWho Can Combine Income (I-864A)When a household member combines their income with yours, they file an I-864A. Who is eligible and how their income is counted.
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Continue reading
- 01Form I-864 Affidavit of Support: Complete 2026 Guide
- 02I-864 Part 5, Item 1: Total Number of Persons in Household (2026)
- 03I-864 Current Annual Income (Part 6, Item 7): What to Enter in 2026
- 04I-864 Income Calculator: Green Card Affidavit of Support (2026)
- 05What If the Petitioner's Income Is Too Low? Joint Sponsor Options
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