Sponsoring a family member for a green card involves more than filing paperwork. Understanding where you stand financially before you apply can help you avoid delays and prepare for the process ahead.
The 125% income threshold
When you sponsor a family member for permanent residency, you must file Form I-864, the affidavit of support. This legally binding document commits you to providing financial support for the immigrant if they cannot support themselves.
The requirement ties directly to the federal poverty guidelines that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services publishes each year. Most sponsors must demonstrate a gross annual income of at least 125% of these poverty guidelines for their household size. Active-duty military members sponsoring a spouse or child may qualify at a lower threshold of 100%.
For 2026, a sponsor in Colorado with a household size of two must earn at least $27,050 per year. A household of four requires $41,250, and each additional person raises the minimum by $7,100.
Household size and how it is counted
To determine your total, start with yourself as the sponsor. Add your spouse if you are married, all unmarried children under 21, and any other dependents listed on your most recent federal tax return. You must also count the family member you are sponsoring, but not twice (for example, do not count your spouse as both your spouse and the sponsored immigrant).
Previous sponsorship obligations factor into the count as well. If you filed an affidavit of support for someone else and that obligation has not ended, you must include that person in your total.
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) evaluates your income using your most recent federal tax return, specifically the total income reported on Line 9 of IRS Form 1040. If you filed a joint tax return but are qualifying based only on your own individual income, USCIS will evaluate your income using your W-2s and 1099s rather than the combined total income on your tax return.
Options when income falls short
Falling below the income threshold does not necessarily end the sponsorship process. One of the most common solutions is finding a joint sponsor—a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident who independently meets the 125% requirement. The joint sponsor files a separate Form I-864 and takes on the same legal obligations as you.
Another option involves household members who live with you and are willing to combine their income with yours. A working spouse, adult child or parent at the same address can submit Form I-864A to contribute their earnings toward the total. This approach can make a meaningful difference for sponsors who are close to the threshold but not quite there.
You may also use qualifying assets to close the gap, though the required asset value is significantly higher than the income shortfall itself. If you are a U.S. citizen sponsoring a spouse or an unmarried child under 21, your assets must equal three times the difference between your income and the minimum requirement. For other family-based cases, the multiplier is five times the difference.