The Department of Health and Human Services has issued new poverty guidelines. These guidelines are particularly important to immigration applicants since they provide a benchmark for determining whether someone will become a public charge. The ability to demonstrate that one has the income level to remain above poverty is necessary to establish eligibility for permanent residency. Furthermore, new immigration legislation may require sponsors for immigration to demonstrate that they have an income level above the poverty line. The following are the 1996 Poverty Guidelines for the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia:
- 1 family member – ,740
- 2 family members – ,360
- 3 family members – ,980
- 4 family members – ,600
- 5 family members – ,220
- 6 family members – ,840
- 7 family members – ,460
- 8 family members – ,080
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