Affidavit of Support (Form I-864) Asset Requirement Calculator

How to use: How this I-864 asset requirement calculator works

Form I-864 (Affidavit of Support) generally requires a sponsor to show household income at or above a percentage of the federal poverty guideline for the sponsor’s household size and location. If the sponsor’s projected countable income is below the required amount, certain assets may be used to cover the difference. This calculator uses the 2026 Affidavit of Support poverty guideline table and helps you estimate:

• The poverty guideline for your household size and region (contiguous U.S., Alaska, or Hawaii).
• The required income at 125% (standard) or 100% (certain active-duty cases).
• Your income shortfall (if any).
• The minimum assets required by applying an asset multiplier (commonly 1×, 3×, or 5×).
• Your adjusted assets total after applying a liquidation factor to each asset you list.

What to enter (and what the fields mean)

The calculator uses annual amounts in U.S. dollars. Enter your best estimate of income that is stable and reasonably expected to continue. For assets, list items you can convert to cash within about one year without serious hardship, and apply a liquidation factor to reflect penalties, taxes, liens, or quick-sale discounts.

• Household size: Include the sponsor, the intending immigrant(s), dependents claimed on the sponsor’s tax return, and any other people required by the I-864 instructions.
• Location: Poverty guidelines differ for the 48 contiguous states (plus D.C. and territories), Alaska, and Hawaii.
• Filing date: The guideline table in effect on the Form I-864 filing date controls, so verify the current official table before filing.
• Required income multiple: Most cases use 125%. Certain active-duty military sponsors petitioning for a spouse or unmarried child under 21 may use 100%.
• Projected countable household income: Annual income you expect to be countable for the next 12 months.
• Asset multiplier category: A simplified selection that applies 5× (general), 3× (U.S. citizen sponsoring spouse/child), or 1× (certain orphan adoption cases).

Formulas used (plain language + compact math)

The calculator follows a straightforward sequence:

1. Look up the poverty guideline P for your household size and location.
2. Compute required income R = P × m, where m is 1.25 or 1.00.
3. Compute shortfall S = max(0, R − I), where I is your income.
4. Compute required assets A = S × k, where k is 1, 3, or 5.

For each asset you list, the calculator applies an adjustment: Adjusted asset value = Declared value × (Liquidation factor ÷ 100). It then sums adjusted values across all assets.

Worked example (realistic, simplified)

Example (illustrative only): A household of 3 in the contiguous U.S. needs 125% of the 2026 guideline. If the guideline is $27,320, then required income is $27,320 × 1.25 = $34,150. If projected countable income is $28,000, the shortfall is $6,150. If the case uses a 3× asset multiplier, the minimum assets estimate is $6,150 × 3 = $18,450. If you list $14,000 in savings at 100% and a $5,000 CD at 90%, adjusted assets are $14,000 + $4,500 = $18,500, which slightly exceeds the $18,450 estimate.

Notice what the example demonstrates: the multiplier applies to the shortfall, not to the entire guideline amount. If your income already meets the requirement, the shortfall is zero and the required assets output will also be zero.

Asset documentation tips (what sponsors commonly prepare)

The calculator is a planning tool, but the numbers are most useful when you can back them up with documents. In many cases, sponsors prepare a simple asset inventory that matches what they enter here. Typical supporting evidence may include bank statements, brokerage statements, proof of ownership, and documentation of any liens or loans that reduce net value. If you apply a liquidation factor (for example, 90% for a CD due to an early withdrawal penalty), keep a note explaining why.

• Cash and savings: often supported by recent statements showing current balance and account holder.
• Certificates of deposit: statements plus any early withdrawal penalty schedule (use a lower liquidation factor if needed).
• Stocks or mutual funds: brokerage statements; consider market volatility when choosing a factor.
• Real estate equity: appraisal or market analysis and proof of mortgage balance; equity is value minus debt, then discounted for selling costs.
• Vehicles: generally only persuasive if you have more than one and can show the extra vehicle is not essential; use a conservative factor.

This page does not decide whether an asset is acceptable; it simply helps you quantify how much you might need and how your own asset list compares after discounts.

Introduction: Household size notes (why this input changes the result)

Household size is one of the biggest drivers of the poverty guideline threshold. A common source of confusion is that the I-864 household size is not always identical to the number of people on a tax return. For example, you typically count the sponsor, the sponsor’s spouse (if any), dependent children, any other dependents claimed, the intending immigrant, and any additional immigrants being sponsored on the same affidavit. If a household member’s income is being used via Form I-864A, that person may also be part of the household size calculation.

If you are coordinating with a joint sponsor, remember that the joint sponsor completes a separate I-864 with their own household size and their own income and asset figures. Many families use this calculator twice: once for the primary sponsor and once for the joint sponsor, then compare which path produces the cleanest documentation.

Assumptions, limitations, and documentation notes

• Guideline year: The built-in table uses 2026 Affidavit of Support guideline amounts. Poverty guidelines change annually, and the table in effect on the I-864 filing date controls.
• Household size rules: This tool does not validate who must be counted; it uses the number you enter.
• Income countability: USCIS may treat certain income types differently depending on stability and evidence.
• Asset acceptability: Not every asset is equally persuasive; documentation and liquidity matter.
• Not legal advice: This page provides an estimate for planning; verify details with official instructions or a qualified professional.

Next steps

After you calculate, use the summary table to compare scenarios (for example, conservative vs. optimistic income, or different liquidation factors). If you are still short, you may consider additional assets, a household member’s qualifying income (Form I-864A), or a joint sponsor.

If your result is close to the line, consider building a buffer. A small surplus can help absorb rounding, documentation differences, or a more conservative interpretation of variable income. The “Asset cushion” line in the summary table is designed to make that buffer visible.