Green Card Sponsor Income Requirements 2025

Key takeaways Every family-based green card applicant must have a financial sponsor to support the beneficiary. The sponsor must fill out Form I-864 and meet the minimum income requirement.    The minimum income requirement for most sponsors is 125% of the federal poverty line. If they don’t meet the requirements, they may use household income, the intending beneficiary’s income, a joint sponsor, or qualifying assets.   Sponsors who don’t meet the income requirements may supplement with assets like cash, their home, or a second vehicle as long as they provide proof of ownership and other documentation.

In most cases, each family-based immigration applicant must have a financial sponsor responsible for the incoming immigrant’s financial stability. If not, the incoming immigrant may be ruled inadmissible and be deemed as a public charge. The financial sponsor will have to file Form I-864, Affidavit of Support, with the green card application. This form is a contract between the sponsor and the federal government where the sponsor promises to support the intending immigrant financially if they can’t do so on their own. You must submit a separate Form I-864 for each intending immigrant you are sponsoring.

 

 

Minimum income requirements

To qualify for a green card, the sponsor must have an annual income of at least 125 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. Couples living inside the United States must follow the guidelines below for a marriage case.

 

Source: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS): 

 

 

 

For military sponsors, refer to the chart below

 

Source: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

 

 

How to calculate your sponsor’s household size?

To calculate your household size you must include:

• They must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or a lawful permanent resident (green card holder)
• Must be at least 18 years of age
• Living in the United States or its territories
• Willing to be held jointly liable for the financial support of the intending immigrant

 

Note: Even if you’re using a joint sponsor, the original petitioner must still complete and submit a Form I-864 for the intending immigrant. The original petitioner is still held legally accountable for the intending immigrant’s financial support alongside the joint sponsors.

 

Can I use my assets?

You also have the option to use your assets as a substitute for your income. You can use your assets if they meet these criteria

• Your asset can be converted into cash within one year
• It won’t cause considerable financial hardship to the owner
• You can provide a description of the asset, proof of ownership, and evidence to support the basis of its net cash value 
• You may also need to provide evidence to establish the location, ownership, date of acquisition, and value of any real estate 

 

 

What kind of assets may I use?

Cash

According to the USCIS, you can use assets like checking or savings accounts, certificates of deposits, mutual funds, and any individual stocks or bonds. 

 

Home

You may also use the net value of your home, which is the appraised value of your home minus any mortgages and any debt still owed on the home. You must show evidence of ownership, a recent appraisal by a licensed appraiser, and any evidence of mortgages, trust deeds or any liens on the home.

 

Second Vehicle

You can also use the net value of a second automobile if you prove one is not being used as an asset. The net value of the vehicle is the market value of it subtracting any debt/loans still owed on the vehicle.

 

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• You (the sponsor)
• The green card applicant
• Your children (unmarried and under 21 years old)
• Anyone else you claim as a dependent on your tax return
• Any derivative beneficiaries (Anyone applying for a green card with your spouse/relative)
• Anyone else you are sponsoring on a separate Affidavit of Support

 

 

What if I don’t meet the income requirement?

If you don’t meet the minimum annual income requirement, there are options you can take.

 

Income from members of your household

You can include income from relatives/dependents living in your household if they are at least over the age of 18 and are willing to be jointly responsible for the intending immigrant. The dependent must complete and sign form I-864A, Contract Between Sponsor and Household Member. 

 

 

Income from the intending immigrant if they’re your spouse

The income of the intending immigrant can be included under certain conditions and depending on who the intending immigrant is. If the intending immigrant is your spouse, their income can be included if it will continue from the same source after obtaining a green card. Your spouse must show evidence of that to be qualified.

 

 

Income from the intending immigrant if they’re a relative

If the intending immigrant is a relative, then 2 conditions must be met. The first condition is that their income must continue from the same source after obtaining a green card. The second condition is that your relative must be currently living with you in your residence. You must provide evidence to support both conditions in order to be qualified.

 

 

Income from people outside of your household

If the income from members of your household or the intending immigrant is still not enough, then a non-relative can become a joint sponsor. Becoming a joint sponsor means filing their own Form I-864 and using their income entirely to support the intending immigrant and/or their family. The joint sponsor’s income can’t be combined with your income or the intending immigrant’s income. There may be no more than two joint sponsors.

 

 

The requirements to become a joint sponsor are as follows:

• They must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or a lawful permanent resident (green card holder)
• Must be at least 18 years of age
• Living in the United States or its territories
• Willing to be held jointly liable for the financial support of the intending immigrant

 

Note: Even if you’re using a joint sponsor, the original petitioner must still complete and submit a Form I-864 for the intending immigrant. The original petitioner is still held legally accountable for the intending immigrant’s financial support alongside the joint sponsors.

 

Can I use my assets?

You also have the option to use your assets as a substitute for your income. You can use your assets if they meet these criteria

• Your asset can be converted into cash within one year
• It won’t cause considerable financial hardship to the owner
• You can provide a description of the asset, proof of ownership, and evidence to support the basis of its net cash value 
• You may also need to provide evidence to establish the location, ownership, date of acquisition, and value of any real estate 

 

 

What kind of assets may I use?

Cash

According to the USCIS, you can use assets like checking or savings accounts, certificates of deposits, mutual funds, and any individual stocks or bonds. 

 

Home

You may also use the net value of your home, which is the appraised value of your home minus any mortgages and any debt still owed on the home. You must show evidence of ownership, a recent appraisal by a licensed appraiser, and any evidence of mortgages, trust deeds or any liens on the home.

 

Second Vehicle

You can also use the net value of a second automobile if you prove one is not being used as an asset. The net value of the vehicle is the market value of it subtracting any debt/loans still owed on the vehicle.

 

At Citizenwide, we believe that simple immigration cases shouldn’t cost you thousands in legal fees. 

Save money on immigration