Federal Poverty Guidelines for I-864 & I-134 Sponsors (2025)
Federal poverty guidelines play a key role in determining whether a visa sponsor earns enough income to support an immigrant. These guidelines apply most often to Form I-864, Affidavit of Support, and in some cases Form I-134, Declaration of Financial Support.
If you plan to sponsor a family member, understanding how these numbers work can help you avoid delays, a Requests for Evidence (RFE), or denial.
Key Takeaways
- Federal poverty guidelines set the income threshold for Form I-864 and often guide Form I-134 decisions.
- Most I-864 sponsors must earn 125% of the guideline based on household size.
- Alaska and Hawaii use higher income limits than the contiguous U.S.
- The Visa Sponsor Income Calculator quickly shows whether your income qualifies.
What Are Federal Poverty Guidelines?
Federal poverty guidelines are income thresholds published each year by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Immigration agencies use these figures to decide whether a sponsor’s income is high enough to financially support an immigrant.
The guidelines vary by:
- Household size
- Geographic location (contiguous U.S., Alaska, or Hawaii)
- Year of filing
Why Federal Poverty Guidelines Matter for Form I-864
Form I-864 is required for most family-based green card cases. By signing this form, you agree to financially support the immigrant if needed.
To qualify as a sponsor, your household income must generally be at least 125% of the federal poverty guidelines for your household size. Some military sponsors may qualify at 100%.
If your income is not sufficiently above the requirement, you may still qualify by:
If you want extra confidence when preparing Form I-864, CitizenPath provides clear instructions written for everyday people. The affordable service checks for mistakes and builds a tailored checklist so you know exactly what to submit. You pay only when you’re satisfied and ready to download your I-864 package.
How Federal Poverty Guidelines Apply to Form I-134
Form I-134 is used in certain nonimmigrant situations, such as some visitor or fiancé(e) visas. Unlike Form I-864, it does not create a legally enforceable support contract.
There is no fixed percentage requirement written into the law for Form I-134. However, many consular officers still compare a sponsor’s income to the federal poverty guidelines when reviewing the form.
As a result, sponsors often use the same income benchmarks to evaluate whether they are likely to qualify.
How Household Size Affects the Income Requirement
Household size directly impacts the income level you must meet. When calculating household size for sponsorship, include:
- Yourself (the sponsor)
- Your dependents listed on tax returns
- Anyone else you sponsor on Form I-864
- The intending immigrant
Each additional household member raises the income requirement.
Use the Visa Sponsor Income Calculator
The easiest way to determine whether your income meets the federal poverty guidelines is to use CitizenPath’s free Visa Sponsor Income Calculator. The calculator uses current FPG tables to helps you:
- Enter your household size
- See whether your income meets the I-864 or I-134 threshold
- Identify if household member or a joint sponsor may be needed
2025 Federal Poverty Guidelines by Region
We have provided current tables for the federal poverty guidelines below. While most people use the table for the contiguous United States, residents of Alaska and Hawaii should use their respective tables.
Most sponsors preparing Form I-864 should use the column for “125% of FPG” because this represents a calculation of 125 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. However, active-duty military sponsoring an immediate relative or I-134 supporters should use the column for “100% of FPG.”
If the sponsor lives in one of the 48 contiguous states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam or the Northern Mariana Islands, use this chart.
| Sponsor's Household Size | 100% of FPG | 125% of FPG |
| 2 | $21,150 | $26,438 |
| 3 | $26,650 | $33,313 |
| 4 | $32,150 | $40,188 |
| 5 | $37,650 | $47,063 |
| 6 | $43,150 | $53,938 |
| 7 | $48,650 | $60,813 |
| 8 | $54,150 | $67,688 |
| Each additional person | Add $5,500 | Add $6,875 |
For immigration purposes, USCIS also publishes Form I-864P, HHS Poverty Guidelines for Affidavit of Support, which adapts the HHS federal poverty guidelines specifically for Affidavit of Support cases and shows the income levels sponsors must meet.
Examples: Using Federal Poverty Guidelines in Real Cases
These quick examples show how sponsors use the federal poverty guidelines to check whether they meet the income requirement for Form I-864 or Form I-134.
Example 1Green Card Sponsor Using Form I-864
Jacob is sponsoring his spouse and stepchild for immigrant visas. He has a household size of 3 and earns $50,000 per year. For a household of 3, Jacob compares his income to the 125% guideline for his location. Because his income is above that threshold, he likely meets the I-864 income requirement.
Example 2K-1 Sponsor Using Form I-134
Patricia is sponsoring her fiancé for a K-1 visa. She lives in Alaska and has a household size of 2. For Form I-134, she uses the 100% guideline for Alaska. She checks that her income is above the Alaska 100% amount for two people.
Federal Poverty Guideline FAQs
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