2026 Marriage-Based Immigration Financial Requirements
2026 Income Requirements for Marriage-Based Immigration
The income requirement depends on where you are in the immigration process. A K-1 fiancé visa generally uses Form I-134 and the 100% federal poverty guideline benchmark. CR-1 and IR-1 spouse visas generally use Form I-864 and 125% of the guideline. After a K-1 marriage, adjustment of status normally moves to the I-864 standard as well.
This page compares those three stages so you can see which financial rule applies. For detailed CR-1 and IR-1 guidance on Form I-864, assets, household size, and joint sponsors, see our CR-1 spouse visa income and financial requirements guide.
Quick Comparison
Which income requirement applies?
The most important distinction is the stage of the case and the affidavit of support form being used.
K-1 Fiancé Visa
Typical form: Form I-134
Income benchmark: 100% of the federal poverty guideline.
The consular officer also considers the overall financial circumstances of the applicant and sponsor. Meeting the guideline does not by itself guarantee approval.
CR-1 / IR-1 Spouse Visa
Typical form: Form I-864
Income requirement: Generally 125% of the federal poverty guideline.
Form I-864 has detailed rules for household size, qualifying income, assets, household-member income, and joint sponsors.
Adjustment of Status After K-1
Typical form: Form I-864
Income requirement: Generally 125% of the federal poverty guideline.
After the K-1 beneficiary enters the United States and the couple marries, the financial standard changes from the K-1 visa-stage I-134 framework to the I-864 framework used for the green card application.
2026 Poverty Guidelines
2026 income amounts for the 48 contiguous states and Washington, D.C.
These figures use the 2026 HHS poverty guidelines. Alaska and Hawaii have separate, higher guideline amounts.
| Household Size | 100% Guideline K-1 Benchmark |
125% Guideline Most I-864 Cases |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | $21,640 | $27,050 |
| 3 | $27,320 | $34,150 |
| 4 | $33,000 | $41,250 |
| 5 | $38,680 | $48,350 |
| 6 | $44,360 | $55,450 |
| 7 | $50,040 | $62,550 |
| 8 | $55,720 | $69,650 |
For households larger than eight, the 2026 HHS guideline for the 48 contiguous states and Washington, D.C. adds $5,680 for each additional person at 100%. The equivalent 125% increase is $7,100 per additional person.
Important: The 125% column is the general I-864 rule. A qualifying active-duty member of the U.S. Armed Forces who is sponsoring a spouse or child may use 100% of the applicable poverty guideline.
Official reference: 2026 HHS Poverty Guidelines.
K-1 fiancé visa income requirements
At the K-1 visa interview, the consular officer may request Form I-134, Declaration of Financial Support. The Department of State states that K-1 applicants using Form I-134 should show sponsor income at 100% of the federal poverty guideline.
That 100% figure is a benchmark, not a guarantee. K-1 public-charge review can involve the total financial picture, including income, resources, assets, obligations, and other relevant circumstances.
For a complete K-1-specific explanation, see K-1 fiancé visa income and financial requirements.
CR-1 and IR-1 spouse visa income requirements
CR-1 and IR-1 spouse visa cases normally use Form I-864, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the INA. The petitioner generally must demonstrate income at or above 125% of the applicable poverty guideline, subject to the active-duty military exception.
This is the spouse-specific topic page for the detailed rules:
CR-1 / IR-1 Spouse Visa Financial Requirements: Income, I-864, Assets & Joint Sponsors
Use that guide when you need to calculate household size, determine what income counts, understand asset multipliers, or decide whether a household member or joint sponsor is needed.
After a K-1 Marriage
Adjustment of status uses a different financial standard
A K-1 case can involve two different financial tests at two different stages. The K-1 visa interview generally uses Form I-134 and the 100% guideline benchmark. After entry to the United States, marriage, and filing for adjustment of status, the U.S. citizen spouse normally submits Form I-864.
That means a sponsor who had enough income for the K-1 visa interview may still need to meet a higher threshold for the green card stage. In most cases, the Form I-864 requirement is 125% of the applicable poverty guideline.
If you are deciding between the fiancé and spouse visa paths, this difference is worth reviewing before filing so you understand both the immediate and later financial requirements.
Household Size
The required income depends on how many people must be counted
Household size is not always simply “the sponsor plus the immigrant.” The correct count depends on the form and the people the sponsor is already financially responsible for.
For Form I-864 cases, household size can include the sponsor, the sponsored immigrant, certain dependent children or other dependents, and some previously sponsored immigrants when the support obligation is still in force. Household-member income may sometimes be added through Form I-864A.
Because these rules can materially change the required dollar amount, use the CR-1 spouse visa financial eligibility guide for the spouse-visa household-size calculation rather than simply counting everyone who happens to live at the same address.
Proof of Income
What financial evidence should a sponsor prepare?
Tax evidence
For an I-864 case, the sponsor generally provides the most recent required federal tax return information or an IRS tax transcript. Additional tax history can also be relevant depending on the form and case circumstances.
Current income evidence
Recent pay statements and an employer letter can help document current employment and current annual income, especially when current earnings are different from the income shown on the most recent tax return.
Self-employment evidence
Self-employed sponsors may need stronger documentation showing that claimed income is current, ongoing, and supported by tax and business records.
Other qualifying income
Depending on the applicable affidavit rules, qualifying income can come from sources other than wages. The key question is whether the income may legally be counted and whether the evidence establishes that it is available and expected to continue.
Assets
Can assets make up for income that is too low?
Sometimes. But the rules are different for Form I-134 and Form I-864, which is another reason not to treat all marriage-based immigration cases as though they use one financial formula.
K-1 / Form I-134 assets
Current Form I-134 instructions allow assets that can be converted into cash within 12 months and used to support the beneficiary. The instructions also describe when home equity and automobiles may be counted.
There is not a simple universal I-134 rule stating that every $1 of missing annual income must always be replaced by exactly $5 of assets. The consular officer evaluates the financial evidence in the context of the K-1 public-charge determination.
CR-1 / IR-1 / Form I-864 assets
Form I-864 has specific asset rules. When a U.S. citizen is sponsoring a spouse, qualifying net assets generally must equal at least three times the difference between household income and the required income level. Other I-864 cases can use a different multiplier.
For the complete spouse-specific calculation, see how assets work for CR-1 and IR-1 spouse visa sponsorship.
Joint Sponsors
What if the petitioner does not meet the income requirement?
For a CR-1 or IR-1 spouse visa or a marriage-based adjustment of status case using Form I-864, a qualifying joint sponsor can often solve an income shortfall. The petitioning sponsor still submits Form I-864, and the joint sponsor submits a separate Form I-864 and must independently meet the applicable sponsorship requirement for the immigrants being sponsored.
A joint sponsor’s household is not simply combined with the petitioner’s household to create one large household and one combined income figure. Household-member income is a separate concept and may require Form I-864A.
K-1 cases are different because they use Form I-134 rather than the legally binding Form I-864 framework. Additional financial support can be relevant, but the consular officer determines whether the evidence is sufficient under the K-1 public-charge review.
For more help, see financial joint sponsor options and the detailed CR-1 spouse visa financial requirements page.
Planning Ahead
Why check the financial requirement before filing?
Financial sponsorship usually becomes important later in the visa or green card process, but waiting until the interview or adjustment stage to review the rules can leave little time to correct a problem.
Check the correct stage
Do not assume that the K-1 visa-stage income benchmark and the later green card income requirement are the same.
Calculate household size correctly
An incorrect household count can produce the wrong minimum-income figure even when the poverty-guideline table itself is correct.
Review current income early
If current income is below the required level, you may need time to document qualifying assets, household-member income, or a joint sponsor where permitted.
Use the right affidavit rules
Form I-134 and Form I-864 are not interchangeable. Their legal effect, evidence rules, and financial analysis differ.
Frequently Asked Questions
Marriage immigration income requirement FAQ
How much income do I need to sponsor my fiancé in 2026?
For a K-1 fiancé visa using Form I-134, the Department of State identifies 100% of the federal poverty guideline as the income benchmark. For a household size of two in the 48 contiguous states and Washington, D.C., the 2026 guideline is $21,640.
How much income do I need to sponsor my spouse in 2026?
Most Form I-864 spouse cases use 125% of the federal poverty guideline. For a household size of two in the 48 contiguous states and Washington, D.C., that is $27,050 for 2026. See the CR-1 / IR-1 spouse visa financial requirements guide for the detailed rules.
Does a K-1 fiancé visa use the same income requirement as a marriage green card?
No. The K-1 visa stage generally uses Form I-134 and the 100% poverty-guideline benchmark. Adjustment of status after the marriage normally uses Form I-864 and the generally applicable 125% standard.
Can I use assets if my income is below the requirement?
Potentially, yes. Form I-134 and Form I-864 both permit certain assets to be considered, but the rules are not the same. Form I-864 has specific asset-multiplier rules, while Form I-134 is evaluated under a different financial-support framework.
Can I use a joint sponsor for a spouse visa?
Yes, a qualifying joint sponsor may be used in many I-864 spouse cases when the petitioner does not have enough qualifying income. The petitioner must still submit Form I-864, and the joint sponsor generally must independently satisfy the applicable sponsorship requirement.
More Help
Financial sponsorship resources
CR-1 / IR-1 Spouse Visa Financial Requirements
Detailed spouse-specific guidance on Form I-864, income, assets, household size, and joint sponsors.
Read the spouse visa income guide
K-1 Fiancé Visa Financial Requirements
Learn how the K-1 visa-stage I-134 financial review differs from the I-864 rules used later.
Read the K-1 income guide
Financial Joint Sponsor
Understand when additional sponsorship may be available and which financial form applies.
Learn about joint sponsors
Public Charge and Fiancé or Spouse Visas
Review how financial sponsorship fits into the broader public-charge analysis.
Read the public charge guide
Official References
Government sources used for the 2026 requirements
Next Step
Make sure you are using the financial rule for your visa path
If you are pursuing a spouse visa, continue with the CR-1 / IR-1 financial guide for the detailed I-864 calculation. If you are still deciding between fiancé and spouse visa options, use the eligibility quiz to compare the paths.
Fred Wahl, The VisaCoach
