Green Card Sponsorship Now Requires $27,050 Minimum Income — 2026 Poverty Guidelines Explained

If you're a US citizen or green card holder planning to sponsor a family member's immigration, the income bar just changed. The 2026 Federal Poverty Guidelines — released in January — set new minimum income thresholds for the Affidavit of Support (Form I-864).

Key Takeaways

1. $27,050 minimum for sponsoring one person (household of 2) — up $1,500 from 2025
2. Income must be on your US tax return — expat income counts only if filed with IRS
3. Joint sponsors can help if you don't meet the threshold alone
4. Assets are an alternative — 3x the income gap (or 5x for non-spouse)
5. Combined with the 75-country freeze, family immigration to the US is getting harder in 2026
6. File your taxes — even if you live abroad, you need US tax returns to sponsor anyone

For more on US expat tax obligations, see our guide on US taxes for expats.

Last updated: March 31, 2026

What's the New Minimum Income?

$27,050/year for a household of two (you + the person you're sponsoring). This is 125% of the 2026 Federal Poverty Level, which is the standard used for immigration sponsorship.

Here's the full breakdown:

Who Needs to Meet This Income Requirement?

Any US citizen or permanent resident filing an Affidavit of Support (Form I-864) for:

• Family-sponsored green cards — spouse, parents, children, siblings
• Some employment-based green cards — when a family member is the petitioner
• Diversity Visa lottery winners — if the sponsor's income is required

What Counts as Income?

This is where it gets tricky for expats:

Counts toward the requirement:

• W-2 wages and salary
• Self-employment income (Schedule C)
• Social Security benefits
• Pension/retirement income
• Rental income
• Investment income (dividends, interest, capital gains)
• Alimony received

Does NOT count:

• Public benefits (Medicaid, food stamps, welfare)
• One-time gifts
• Informal/cash income without tax documentation
• Income earned abroad that wasn't reported to the IRS

What If I Don't Meet the Income Requirement?

You have several options:

1. Joint sponsor — a second person (US citizen or permanent resident) can co-sign the Affidavit of Support with their income
2. Assets — you can use assets worth 3x the gap (5x for non-spouse). Example: if you're $10,000 short, show $30,000 in assets
3. Employment offer — the immigrant's job offer in the US can sometimes help demonstrate they won't be a public charge

How Does This Affect Expats Living Abroad?

If you're a US citizen living in Portugal or Thailand and earning income abroad, you must report it to the IRS. Your worldwide income counts — but only if it's on your tax return.

Common scenarios for expats: