The Department of Homeland Security issued updated poverty guidelines for 2003.  These guidelines are used for many things and in the immigration context are used to determine the required level of income for a valid I-864 Affidavit of Support. To be a qualifying sponsor, the petitioner must earn 125% of the federal poverty level.

For 2003, the federal poverty guidelines are as follows:

48 Contiguous States and the District of Columbia

Size of family                              Poverty guideline                       125%

2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . $12,120 . . . . . . .  . . . . . . .$15,150

3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .   15,260 . . . . . . . .. . .  . .. .  19,075

4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .   18,400 . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .  23,000

5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .   21,540 . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .  26,925

6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .   24,680 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30,850

7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .   27,820 . . . . . . . . . . .  .  . . 34,775

8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .   30,960 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   38,700

For family units with more than 8 members, add, $3,140 for each additional person and $3,925 to meet the 125% level.

Alaska

2. . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . .  . . . $15,140 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$18,925

3. . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . .  . .   19,070 . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . .  23,837

4. . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . .  . .   23,000 . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . .  28,750

5. . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . .  . .   26,930 . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . .  33,662

6. . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . .. . .   30,860 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   38,575

7. . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . .. . .   34,790 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   43,487

8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   38,720 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . .  48,400

For family units with more than 8 members, add, $3,930 for each additional person and $4,912 to meet the 125% level.

Hawaii

2. . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . $13,940  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$17,425

3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   17,550  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  21,937

4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   21,160  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  26,450

5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   24,770  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  30,960

6. . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . .   28,380  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  35,475

7. . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . .   31,990  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  39,987

8. . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . .   35,600  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  44,500

For family units with more than 8 members, add, $3,610 for each additional person and $4,512 to meet the 125% level.