I-864 Income Calculator: 2026 Affidavit of Support Requirement

What is the income requirement for a marriage green card in 2026?

The sponsor needs current annual income at or above 125% of the HHS federal poverty guideline for their household size. For 2026 that is $27,050 for a household of 2 in the 48 contiguous states, effective March 1, 2026. An active-duty service member who filed the petition and is sponsoring a husband, wife, or a child under 21 uses the 100% figure instead, which is $21,640 for a household of 2.

What counts toward household size for Form I-864?

Count the sponsor, everyone immigrating on this affidavit, the sponsor's husband or wife if they are not the one immigrating, the sponsor's other unmarried children under 21, anyone else claimed on the sponsor's last federal tax return, anyone still covered by a prior I-864 the sponsor signed, and any relative who signs Form I-864A to add their income. A spouse is counted once, never twice, so a married couple with no children and no dependents is a household of 2.

What if my income is below the I-864 threshold?

Four things can close the gap. The income of the person getting the green card counts, costs nothing, and does not make the household bigger. A relative who signs Form I-864A can add their income. A joint sponsor can sign their own I-864 and meet the amount for their own household. Savings and property can cover it, but they have to be worth 3 or 5 times the amount you are missing.

Who can be a joint sponsor for Form I-864?

Any U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or lawful permanent resident who is at least 18 years old and whose main home is in the United States. No family connection is required. They have to meet the 125% amount for their own household size, counting the people they are taking on from your case, and the original sponsor's income is never added to theirs. There can be one joint sponsor per person getting a green card, and never more than two in one family.

Can I use assets instead of income to meet the I-864 requirement?

Yes, partially. A U.S. citizen sponsoring a husband, a wife, or a child of 18 or over needs assets worth 3 times the shortfall. Everyone else needs 5 times, including a U.S. citizen sponsoring a child under 18 and any green card holder sponsor. Assets count if you could sell them within a year without a big loss: savings, stocks and bonds, property equity, and a second car if you keep one working car out. Retirement accounts have no clear published rule, so this tool leaves them out of the total.

Can I count my spouse's income on Form I-864?

If your spouse is the person getting the green card, their own income counts, and it counts even while they are still living abroad. No extra form is needed for that unless other people are immigrating with them, in which case they also sign Form I-864A. If your spouse is not the person immigrating, they can add their income as a household member on Form I-864A, and they can do that even if they live somewhere else. Either way, the same job has to keep paying after the green card is granted.

Does rental income, self-employment income, or Social Security count for the I-864?

Yes to all three. The figure that decides the case is the sponsor's current annual income, meaning what they earn now, not the total income line on last year's tax return. The tax return is the evidence you send to back that figure up. Countable income includes wages before taxes, self-employment profit after business costs, rent from property you own, Social Security retirement and SSDI, pensions, interest and dividends, and alimony or child support you receive. It does not include SSI, food stamps, TANF, Medicaid, or CHIP. VA benefits, unemployment, and workers' compensation have no clear published rule, so expect questions if you rely on them.