How much money you need to make to sponsor an immigrant?
$22,887 a year is the most common amount of money that a person needs to be a green card sponsor. This amount of money is for someone who is not an active duty member of the military. This amount also is accurate if the sponsor is only sponsoring one person.
2024 Income Requirements for Green Card Sponsors
The most common minimum annual income required to sponsor a spouse or family member for a green card is $25,550. This assumes that the sponsor — the U.S. citizen or current green card holder — is not on active military duty and is sponsoring only one relative.
Minimum income requirement
How much will depend on current job and whether or not your partner has children. If your partner is alone, then you'll need to be earning an annual income of at least £29,000 from spring 2024 with planned increases to £34,500 and eventually £38,700, before tax in order to sponsor them.
What happens if the petitioner doesn't have enough income? Petitioners who cannot meet this level have two choices: 1) find a “joint sponsor” who will agree to also financially support the visa applicant, or 2) use the income of a household member to meet the Poverty Guidelines.
The sponsor will need to file Form I-864P, which is used to determine the minimum income requirement needed to file Form I-864 (the Affidavit of Support). The financial sponsor can also use assets (not just income) to meet these requirements. Assets include cash, stocks and bonds, and property (for example, a home).
For ALL sponsors:
A copy of your individual federal income tax return, including W-2s for the most recent tax year, or a statement and/or evidence describing why you were not required to file.
There are also ways to get a green card without a US company sponsor. Two of these ways are: (1) the EB1A visa; and (2) the National Interest Waiver. Through both of these options, you do not need a job offer and you do not need a company to file an immigrant visa petition on your behalf.
To become a sponsor, you must meet the financial requirements laid out in the HSS Poverty Guidelines for Affidavit of Support, which are updated annually. An immigrant sponsor is generally required to maintain an income of at least 125% of the federal poverty line based upon household size.
All sponsors must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, be at least 18 years old, and be living in the United States (including territories and possessions) when they file the affidavit of support. When and how do I file the affidavit of support? You do not need to file it with your I-130 petition.
- Be 18 years of age or older.
- Be a US citizen or permanent resident.
- Reside in the US or it's territories.
- Meet certain income requirements.
What is the minimum income to sponsor an immigrant in 2024?
| Sponsor's Household Size | 100% of HHS Poverty Guidelines* | 125% of HHS Poverty Guidelines* |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | $23,500 | $29,375 |
| 3 | $29,690 | $37,113 |
| 4 | $35,880 | $44,850 |
| 5 | $42,070 | $52,588 |
You bear more responsibility on the immigrant as a sponsor. If the unexpected happens, you may be faced with fines and lawsuits. Before you sign an Affidavit of Support, speak with an immigration attorney for free evaluation of your specific situation and how best to prepare for any undesirable outcome.
While you can't directly sponsor a non-relative friend, you still have the option to offer financial support and protection for an immigrant entering the US.
What cash value of assets is needed? The total net value of assets, less liens and liabilities against them, must equal five times the difference between the sponsor's income and 125% of the poverty level for the household size.
The sponsor's financial responsibility usually lasts until the applicant either becomes a U.S. citizen, or can be credited with 40 qualifying quarters of work (usually 10 years) under the Social Security Act.
The spouse who files the Affidavit of Support is referred to as the sponsoring spouse. The sponsoring spouse must generally provide financial support until the immigrant becomes a U.S. citizen or has completed 40 quarters of work.
So, what's the Minimum bank balance for a US visitor visa? We recommend showing a minimum of $6000-10000$ in your statement. Moreover, the more you can show, it will be of utmost benefit.
The minimum required income for most sponsors is 125% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for their household size and location. For a couple who live in the 48 contiguous states (mainland United States) and have no children, the required minimum annual income is currently $25,550.
When completing Form I-864, USCIS typically asks for your adjusted gross income (AGI), not your net income. Your AGI is your total income minus specific deductions allowed by the IRS, such as contributions to retirement accounts or student loan interest payments.
When you sign the affidavit of support, you accept legal responsibility for financially supporting the sponsored immigrant(s), generally until they become U.S. citizens or are credited with 40 quarters of work.
How long does it take to sponsor an immigrant?
Approximately 10 to 14 Months After Filing
Most Form I-130 petitions for immediate relatives are approved within a 10 to 14 month time frame, but they can take longer in some cases. If you are in the United States and also filed an application to adjust status, USCIS will begin reviewing Form I-485 at this point.
If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, you may be able to sponsor a family member for a Permanent Resident Card (Green Card).
A sponsor must pay the following visa sponsorship costs: cost of becoming a sponsor; nomination charges; and. migration agent costs associated with sponsorship and nomination applications.
In principle, there is no restriction on the number of people you can sponsor. However, the amount of minimum income required to sponsor a family member varies depending on the number of people you want to sponsor.
Many clients have asked me about sponsoring their friends. Unfortunately, the only way that you can sponsor a person's visa or green card application is if you are the non-citizen's employer, relative, or fiancé(e). The U.S. immigration laws do not allow you to sponsor someone just because they are your friend.
