Now that you have submitted your forms to the USCIS, the next decision you need to make is in regards to your financial situation.
Per the Poverty Line requirements that the USCIS sets, you must determine if you meet those standards.

The first step in determining this, is to check the current Poverty Guideline standards.

The standards are based on all the people that you listed on your previous years Federal tax return.

So if you listed yourself and two (2) children, you will need to check the level of income for, four (4) people

1. Yourself
2. The (2) children
3. The intending immigrant

In the above example, your GROSS income as listed on your federal tax return must be at or in excess of $ 26,500.00

The current 2008 Poverty Guidelines are as follows:

Sponsor’s Household size                      125% of Poverty Line

2                                                                     $17,500.00
3                                                                     $22,000.00
4                                                                     $26,500.00
5                                                                     $31,000.00
6                                                                     $35,500.00
7                                                                     $40,000.00
8                                                                     $44,500.00

If you do not meet these requirements, you will need a co-sponsor that does meet these requirements before you will be able to sponsor your fiancé.

If you do meet these requirements, then form I-864 with its supporting documentation is all that is needed to submit to the USCIS.

If you do require a co-sponsor, the next question that you must answer,

Q: Does this co-sponsor live in your household (in other words) they physically live in your house.

If they answer to this is “No” then the co-sponsor will also need to supply you with form I-864 and their supporting documentation

If the answer is “Yes” then you must use form I-864A ,contract between household members.

When the co-sponsor does not live in your household, they must meet the full poverty requirements as stated above, they can not combine their income with yours to meet this guideline.

When the co-sponsor DOES live in your household, only in that event may you combine incomes to meet the requirements of the Poverty Guidelines.

Please note that many forms of Public assistance may not be used to meet the Poverty Guidelines, if you are receiving
any form of Public Assistance, check with the USCIS to determine if that assistance can be used to meet these guidelines.