To support a foreign national visitor, you’ll need to prepare Form I-134, Declaration of Financial Support. For the I-134 declaration to carry any weight, you’ll need to provide evidence of your income and/or financial resources. Generally, you must have an income that is at least 100% of the federal poverty guidelines. However, individuals supporting an individual with a K-1 visa should demonstrate a higher income if possible.
I-134 Income Requirement to Support a Foreign National Visitor
The easiest way to check if you qualify as a financial supporter on Form I-134 is use our Visa Sponsor Income Calculator. Do a quick check to determine your income qualifications to support a nonimmigrant visitor.
Alternatively, you can review the latest federal poverty guidelines to see if your income is sufficiently above 100% of the guidelines for your household size.
Use CitizenPath’s Nonimmigrant Support Package to prepare Form I-134 and get step-by-step instructions for your situation. Our software will help make sure you’re calculating your household size and income qualifications correctly. Try it now >>
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Determining Income on Form I-134
Your current income is the gross amount you expect to earn this year. If you have an annual salary of $36,000 and this is your only job, your current income is likely $36,000. However, if you started the year unemployed and began working on May 1, your current income would likely be approximately $24,000. (That’s because 8 of 12 months would be ¾ of $36,000.) Don’t confuse current income with your tax return. Your tax return shows a history of your income.
Your total income may include sources of income in addition to your employment. Your total individual income includes:
- Wages, salaries, tips
- Taxable interest
- Ordinary dividends
- Alimony and/or child support
- Business income
- Capital gains
- Taxable IRA distributions
- Taxable pensions and annuities
- Rental income
- Unemployment compensation
- Workers compensation and disability
- Taxable Social Security
Means-tested public benefits such as food stamps, SSI, Medicaid, TANF and CHIP should be excluded from income.
Determining Your Household Size
To determine if you meet the income requirements, you’ll also need to know your household size. Generally, your household includes you and any dependents. Add together your current dependents and the intending immigrants. If your beneficiary has children that will accompany, they must be included in the calculation. To determine your household size, add together the following as applicable:
- Yourself
- Any people listed as dependents on your tax return
- Any immigrants that you have sponsored in the past
- Your fiancé and any children that will join
I-134 Income Requirement to Support a K-1 or K-3 Visa Holder
Shortly after the K visa holder enters the country, they will likely adjust status to permanent resident. In the case of a K-1 fiancé, they must marry and then can apply for the green card through adjustment of status. Part of the adjustment application will include Form I-864 Affidavit of Support. On Form I-864, the petitioning sponsor must generally have an income that is 125 percent of the federal poverty guideline. This should be taken into consideration before preparing Form I-134. Although it is possible to have a job change or circumstances that affect income, sponsors should intend to keep these documents consistent. If the petitioning sponsor is unemployed or otherwise does not meet the I-864 income requirement, it is possible to get a joint sponsor.
Insufficient Income to Support a Nonimmigrant Visitor
If you have determined that you are unable to meet the I-134 income requirement, there are a couple of options. You may use property and assets to qualify as an I-134 supporter. Alternatively, the nonimmigrant beneficiary can use a different supporter.
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