U.S. Poverty Guidelines

Yearly, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issues the U.S. poverty guidelines, which are utilized to conclude if a person or a family is suitable for certain government benefits. These guidelines are significant for immigration aspects, especially in regards to family sponsorship and affidavits of support. 

The HHS has made public the U.S. poverty guidelines for the year 2026 (published in January 2026); for affidavits of support, the 2026 figures apply from 1 March 2026.

Each year, the HHS issues three different poverty guidelines. One of them indicates the guidelines for the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia. The second and thirds ones are for Alaska and Hawaii.

The obligation for a U.S. citizen or green card holder to become a sponsor is to dispose of an income and assets valued at minimum 125% of the U.S. poverty guidelines. 

Here are the 125% of poverty line charts for the year 2026:

125% of poverty line for the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia

•    Family members: 1 – USD 19,950;
•    Family members: 2 – USD 27,050;
•    Family members: 3 – USD 34,150;
•    Family members: 4 – USD 41,250;
•    Family members: 5 – USD 48,350;
•    Family members: 6 – USD 55,450;
•    Family members: 7 – USD 62,550;
•    Family members: 8 – USD 69,650.

For families comprised of more than eight members, add USD 7,100 for every additional person. Our immigration attorney in Miami can provide you further information on this matter.

125% of poverty line for Alaska

•    Family members: 1 – USD 24,938;
•    Family members: 2 – USD 33,813;
•    Family members: 3 – USD 42,688;
•    Family members: 4 – USD 51,563;
•    Family members: 5 – USD 60,438;
•    Family members: 6 – USD 69,313;
•    Family members: 7 – USD 78,188;
•    Family members: 8 – USD 87,063. For families comprised of more than eight members, add USD 8,875

for every additional person. 

125% of poverty line for Hawaii

•    Family members: 1 – USD 22,950;
•    Family members: 2 – USD 31,113;
•    Family members: 3 – USD 39,275;
•    Family members: 4 – USD 47,438;
•    Family members: 5 – USD 55,600;
•    Family members: 6 – USD 63,763;
•    Family members: 7 – USD 71,925;
•    Family members: 8 – USD 80,088. For families comprised of more than eight members, add USD 8,163

for every additional person.

Although many sponsors are able to prove they dispose of an income greater than 125% of the U.S. poverty guidelines without any problems, the matter is not as simple as that in all cases. Persons who have difficulties and have any queries about this significant condition of green card issuance should ask for advice from an immigration lawyer in the United States.