2008 HHS Poverty Guidelines
per: http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/08poverty.shtml

Persons in Family or Household	48 Contiguous States and D.C.		Alaska		Hawaii
	100% limit	125% limit	100% limit	125% limit	100% limit	125% limit
1	$10,400	$13,000	$13,000	$16,250	$11,960	$14,950
2	14,000	$17,500	17,500	$21,875	16,100	$20,125
3	17,600	$22,000	22,000	$27,500	20,240	$25,300
4	21,200	$26,500	26,500	$33,125	24,380	$30,475
5	24,800	$31,000	31,000	$38,750	28,520	$35,650
6	28,400	$35,500	35,500	$44,375	32,660	$40,825
7	32,000	$40,000	40,000	$50,000	36,800	$46,000
8	35,600	$44,500	44,500	$55,625	40,940	$51,175
For each additional person, add	3,600	$4,500	4,500	$5,625	4,140	$5,175

2007 HHS Poverty Guidelines (can be used until roughly April 2008)
per: http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/I-864P.pdf

Persons in Family or Household	Continental US & D.C. (100% Poverty Line)	Continental US & D.C. (125% Poverty Line)
2	$13,690	$17,112
3	17,170	21,462
4	20,650	25,812
5	24,130	30,162
6	27,610	34,512
7	31,090	38,862
8	34,570	43,212
For each additional person, add	3,480	4,350

Persons in Family or Household	Alaska (100% Poverty Line)	Alaska (125% Poverty Line)	Hawaii (100% Poverty Line)	Hawaii (125% Poverty Line)
2	$17,120	$21,400	$15,750	$19,687
3	21,470	26,837	19,750	24,687
4	25,820	32,275	23,750	29,687
5	30,170	37,712	27,750	34,687
6	34,520	43,150	31,750	39,687
7	38,870	48,587	35,750	44,687
8	43,220	54,025	39,750	49,687
For each additional person, add	4,350	5,437	4,000	5000

HI,

WHAT IS AT LEAST THE SALARY OF USC TO BE CONSIDERED IN POVERTY LEVEL?
THANKS..

Those are the limits that Ewok posted. For example, if you have a household of 2, then you need to make at least $17,500 (125%) unless your embassy looks at the 100% level. This is for the I-134. For the I-864 you need to look at the 125% level.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ANSWERING MY QUESTION...

Ok so I got this letter in the mail today which states:

"The petitioner/sponsor's income on the Federal income tax return does not meet or exceed 125% of the poverty guideline. The petitioner/sponsor's current income listed on form I-864 is sufficient; however, no evidence has been submitted as proof of current income.

In order to process your application further, submit evidence of the petitioner/sponsors current income."

The letter also states to submit federal income tax of the most recent year. We havent filled 07 because she has not received the W-2s yet.

I dont understand this.

First of all my household is of 6 and we live in NY state. That means my wife needs to make $35,500 a year. I sent her tax returns for the last year, 06. She has not filled for the 2007 year yet because she is still receiving her W-2s. She made 55K the year before and 56K the year 07 and I listed that because I sent the paper work in the month of december of 2007. I sent her 06 tax report.

Why are they asking for more evidence and what can I send to them. Her current paycheck stubs?

Does it mean that she does qualify or does not. I think 56 > 35 so why are they saying that does not meet or exceed 125%.

Thanks guys.

I don't know why they are asking for more documentation when she sufficiently meets the previous years income - below is a guideline of what you should send:

b2 Job Letters and Proof of Income.

Pay stub(s) showing income for the most recent 6 months and letters from all current employers are no longer required as initial evidence. The applicant, however, may submit either or both of these items (1) in response to a request for additional evidence (RFE), or (2) with a Form I-864 if the applicant believes doing so would help establish that the sponsor meets the governing income/assets threshold. If submitted, letters from current employers should show dates of employment, the nature of the job, wages or salary earned, number of hours/weeks worked, and prospects for future employment and advancement. It should be sufficient for the employer to say that the employment is of indefinite duration or words of similar effect. Promises of future employment are not required. link

Okay, I'm not sure I get this...

How can you have a household of one? Do they mean before you and your spouse get together, assuming it's just you and your spouse? If not, then you'd always have a household of at least two people; maybe more, if children or other family members were involved.

I'm pretty sure they will count your soon-to-be spouse as one of the members of the household. So, the minimum should be 2, if you live alone without dependents. someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

I think they are just talking about if you are single. The poverty guidelines are used by HHS for getting public assistance benefits also not just immigrations

right, i remember reading a longgg time ago that generally the i-134 looks for 100% of the poverty guideline and the i-184 looks for 125%...is this true??? if its 125% then i would just squeak by for 2007, if its 100% then im ay-okay.

I think the 100% or 125% depends on the consulate.

But, since your interview is before April 15, you should be OK with the 2007 guidelines.

What was the increase from 2007? Was there an increase? It doesnt seem like it to me.

There was an increase...don't remember what it was.

I have a quick question and hopefully someone can help me out with it. My fiance, Eric, has been paying child support on the side and it never used to affect his income. And according to the guides, he was above the 125% for a 2 person household.

But in two weeks he will be going to court and there is talk of them taking child support off of his pay which will affect his income. I'm also wondering, will we have to cliam it as a 3 person household even though his daughter is living with the mother? If that is the case then it looks like we will be under the 100% and need to find a co-sponsor.

Thanks guys for any help that you can provide!

I don't understand why child support will affect his income.

If they take the child support out of his income it stays the same, its just that his take home pay is less, but his gross income does not change. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

Since he is supporting his daughter, he should list her as being a partial dependent on the I-134. I don't know how that would affect the household size. I *think* you would need to meet the household of 3 requirements.

Of course, I could be totally wrong

Thanks for the info. See, I thought they took the total from his home pay. Now when you say income.. do you mean before taxes? Because if it is after taxes then his child support will affect his total because the Government takes it right out of his pay.

Before taxes.

Hi Fellow VJ Members!

So, I originally posted this in the NVC thread, but no one could seem to really give me a specific answer, but now reading through this thread, I have additional questions. Hope you guys/girls could help me out.

What is the difference between the I-134 and the I-864? I am filing a I-130, which form will I be filing?

Here is my big question:
I have been at my job for the past 3 years or so and my salary is well over the poverty limity. My tax return for 2006 was over the 125% poverty line, but 2007's tax return missed it by $2,500 because I was in Germany visiting my husband and getting married. I have paychecks to prove that had I been there my income would have been well over the limit. Here's my question: Is my I-130 going to get denied because my tax return didn't cut it, or are they going to be able to accept the letter from my employer (and personal employee record, pay stubs, etc.) as proof enough that my income is well above the 125% poverty line. Are they understanding to the fact that I wasn't in the country, but my wages are well above the limit?

Any help/input would be appreciated! Thank you guys.

Kind regards,

Przy

Can anyone please help me with my question above?? Would be greatly appreciated.

The employer's letter and pay stubs are fine. The Tax Returns aren't used in isolation.

I'm really trying to understand correctly.... we need two affidavits of support on the K-1 visa journey? The first one that shows my income level at 100% of the povertly level or above and then the second one, at a later time (adjustment of status, maybe), showing 125%? I'm really sorry if it seems like I haven't read the guides, but, in fact I have, and it just seems a little confusing.

Also, on a discussion of a co-sponser, does anyone have any idea if being a co-sponser affects that persons income tax returns (or anything else)... in any way? I mean, ideally, if the fiance were NEVER to receive public benefits, then the co-sponsor would never be liable or be affected in any other way? I just want to be totally prepared when I talk to our possible co-sponser.

Thanks a lot for any advice

The affidavit of support is used to determine whether the beneficiary will become a public charge. Some consulates will ask for the 125% level, others 100%, so I would double check with your consulate to make sure. At AOS, after entry into the US, it is 125%.

The affidavit of support (I-864, I-134 is not binding) should not affect taxes.