Filing a family petition proves a relationship. It does not, by itself, prove the government will let the case finish. For almost every family-based green card, the PetitionerThe person or employer who files a petition on behalf of a beneficiary, such as a relative filing an I-130 or an employer filing an I-140.See it in the glossary must also sign Form I-864, a legally enforceable promise to support the immigrant financially. Most petitioners treat it as paperwork. It is closer to a contract that can outlast the marriage or relationship that created it.
What the sponsor is actually agreeing to
Form I-864 is required for Immediate relativeSpouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents of U.S. citizens. These categories are not subject to annual numerical limits.See it in the glossary of U.S. citizens and for every family preference category, F1 through F4. By signing it, the petitioner agrees to maintain the sponsored immigrant at an annual income of at least 125 percent of the federal poverty guidelines for the sponsor’s household size, a standard set to keep the immigrant from becoming what immigration law calls a Public chargeA ground of inadmissibility for applicants an officer finds likely at any time to become a public charge. For Form I-485 filings on or after September 18, 2026, USCIS guidance lets officers weigh a wider range of means-tested public benefits, not only cash assistance.See it in the glossary. This is not a one-time income check. It is a continuing legal commitment that exists independently of the immigration case itself once the immigrant becomes a permanent resident.
The 2026 income thresholds
The threshold is 125 percent of the HHS poverty guidelines, updated annually and varying by household size. For the 48 contiguous states in 2026:
| Household size | 125% income threshold |
|---|---|
| 2 | $27,050 |
| 3 | $34,150 |
| 4 | $41,250 |
| 5 | $48,350 |
| 6 | $55,450 |
| 7 | $62,550 |
| 8 | $69,650 |
Add $7,100 for each household member beyond eight. Household size counts the sponsor, the sponsor’s dependents, the immigrant being sponsored, and anyone from a prior Affidavit of supportForm I-864, in which a sponsor promises to financially support an intending immigrant so that the immigrant is not likely to rely on public benefits.See it in the glossary still in force, so families often undercount it. Active-duty military sponsors supporting a spouse or child use a lower 100 percent threshold instead of 125 percent.
If the sponsor’s income falls short
A sponsor whose income does not meet the threshold has two main options. A joint sponsor, who must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident living in the United States and independently meet the same income requirement, can file a separate Form I-864 accepting the same legal obligation. Alternatively, the sponsor can count certain assets, such as savings or property, generally at a multiple of the shortfall, though the exact multiplier depends on the immigrant’s relationship to the sponsor. A household member, such as a working adult child, can also contribute income by signing Form I-864A, which pools their income with the sponsor’s for this purpose without becoming a joint sponsor.
How long the obligation actually lasts
This is the part most petitioners underestimate. The affidavit of support does not expire when the immigration case closes, and it does not end if the sponsor’s relationship with the immigrant ends. Divorce does not terminate it. The obligation continues until one of a specific, limited set of events occurs: the immigrant becomes a U.S. citizen, the immigrant is credited with 40 quarters of work history under Social Security rules, generally about ten years, the immigrant permanently leaves the United States, the immigrant dies, or the sponsor dies. Short of one of those events, a sponsor who signed years ago for a spouse who later remarried someone else can still be legally on the hook.
The obligation is enforceable, not symbolic
The sponsored immigrant has a direct right to sue the sponsor in court to enforce the support obligation if income falls below the threshold. Separately, if the immigrant receives certain means-tested public benefits, the agency that paid them can seek reimbursement from the sponsor. Petitioners sometimes treat the I-864 as a formality cleared once at filing; in practice it is a standing financial exposure that a sponsor should weigh before signing, particularly for a relationship, such as a sibling or adult child case, where the sponsor and immigrant may see little of each other for years while a case is pending.
Every family-based case needs this filed correctly regardless of which relative is being sponsored, from a spouse to a sibling waiting years in the F4 category. For how the income test interacts with a specific relationship, see our guide to sponsoring parents, where the affidavit of support requirement is covered alongside the other eligibility rules unique to that category.