own, essentially taking the place of the sponsor. Therefore, the joint sponsor must be able to demonstrate
income sufficient to meet 125% of the poverty guidelines to support both her own household, plus the
intending immigrant. However, in a single family petition involving multiple immigrating family members and
up to two joint sponsors, each joint sponsor need only include the person he or she is sponsoring as part of
the household size (in addition to other members of the sponsor’s actual household), rather than everyone on
the family petition.
Example: Kimora, the sponsor, resides in California and wants to immigrate her husband and four
children from Japan. She already has one child in the United States. To meet 125% of the poverty
guidelines for a family of seven, she needs to make $47,575. She does not earn enough to meet this
amount. She has two friends, Miko and Sayako, who are willing to be joint sponsors, but when they
calculate their own household size and add Kimora’s husband and four kids, neither one of them earns
enough to meet 125% of the poverty guidelines. However, Kimora’s joint sponsors could divide among
themselves the individuals in the family petition to reduce their household size and meet the required
income level. Miko could be the joint sponsor for Kimora’s husband and two of their children. She
would then only have to show that she makes enough to support her own household plus three others.
Then, Sayako could be a joint sponsor for Kimora’s two other children and would only have to show
that she makes enough to support her own household plus two other people.
PRACTICE TIP: Mix and Match to Get to 125%. The easiest way to meet the Affidavit of Support requirement is
simply to rely on income from the sponsor and joint sponsor(s), and to attach the most recent year’s tax return
plus recent pay stubs.
However, you can also get creative and combine household income, joint sponsors, and significant assets to
reach the 125% mark. However, keep in mind this will likely require more extensive paperwork to demonstrate
the value of the assets and other sources of income. A joint sponsor can include income from members of his
or her household, just like the main sponsor. Significant assets belonging to a sponsor, joint sponsor,
household member, or the intending immigrant can be counted. For example, if Ellen agrees to be a joint
sponsor, she may use her own contributing household member’s income to reach 125%. Both she and the
contributing household member can use significant assets to help reach the amount.
V. Practical Considerations: Which Forms and Supporting Documents
A. Supporting Documentation to Include with Form I-864
In a standard case, using income alone to meet the financial requirements, you should include along with the
I-864 form the following:
• Proof of the sponsor’s U.S. immigration status (a copy of their U.S. permanent resident card, U.S.
naturalization certificate, U.S. birth certificate, or U.S. passport);
• A copy of the sponsor’s most recent federal income tax return (IRS form 1040) and associated
Schedules; and
• Three to five of the sponsor’s last pay stubs (e.g. if submitting the Affidavit of Support in mid-April and
the individual is paid twice per month, at a minimum include the two pay stubs covering March and
the one they have for the first two weeks of April, a total of three pay stubs).
An employer letter verifying the sponsor’s monthly or annual income, or their hourly rate of pay and the hours
of work per week, may also be helpful in some cases. A recent pay stub should be brought to the interview,
and if taxes have been filed by the sponsor and/or joint sponsor since the Affidavit of Support was filed, copies
of those should be brought to the interview as well.