2025 Green Card Sponsor Income Requirements

Introduction

For marriage-based green cards and other family members’ green cards, the role of the sponsor is very important, as they take the financial responsibility of the beneficiary,  and they ensure that the applicant will not become a burden on the US government after entering the United States. There are certain income requirements and other documents that must be satisfied before someone can become a sponsor; those requirements are discussed in detail below.

What Is The Minimum Income Requirement To Become A Green Card Sponsor?

Form I-864, also known as an Affidavit of Support, is a form submitted in many visa applications in which the financial dependency of the applicant is taken care of by an already living relative in the United States. 

The sponsor under this affidavit must meet the following minimum income standard in the 48 Contiguous States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Sponsor’s Household Size	100% of HHS Poverty Guidelines*	125% of HHS Poverty Guidelines*
	For sponsors on active duty in the U.S. armed forces who are petitioning for their spouse or child	For all other sponsors
2	$20,440	$25,550
3	$25,820	$32,275
4	$31,200	$39,000
5	$36,580	$45,725
6	$41,960	$52,450
7	$47,340	$59,175
8	$52,720	$65,900
	Add $5,380 for each additional person	Add $6,725 for each additional person

The minimum income standards for Alaska and Hawaii can be viewed on the USCIS Website.

How To Calculate The Household Size For Green Card Sponsorship?

 You can calculate the number of people in the household by counting:

1. Yourself.
2. Beneficiary is the person for whom you are signing Form I-864 which is the Affidavit of Support.
3. Unmarried children who are below the majority age
4. If there is anyone else who is dependent on you on your tax return
5. Anyone else for whom you have filed an affidavit of support

What Kind Of Income Can Be Included In A Green Card Sponsor?

The  money flow from the following sources qualifies for the income:

1. Wages and salaries from full-time employment 
2. You may also add the income of the salary and wages from other jobs if you have any.
3. If you are self-employed, then income from that can be counted.
4. Any income that you receive in the form of interest from investment.
5. Any social security benefits in the form of retirement income.
6. Payments received from a divorce settlement or child support arrangement can also count as income.

You can also include your assets to meet the minimum threshold of income requirement criterion:

1. When valuing your assets, the shortcoming of the income is valued at a multiple of the shortfall.
2. Cash savings, stocks, bonds, and real estate equity qualify as assets.
3. Cars and jewelry are not valued as they cannot be converted into cash easily.
4. You must demonstrate the true value of the asset through documentation.
5. Assets must be worth 3–5 times the income shortfall. 

What Kind Of Obligations Are Expected From A Sponsor In A Green Card Application?

The following are the obligations of the sponsor:

1.  By signing Form I-864, the sponsor enters a binding contract with the U.S. government by pledging to provide financial support to the immigrant and maintaining them at 125% of the federal poverty guidelines or higher.

2. The obligations remain in effect until one of the following occurs:

• The immigrant becomes a U.S. citizen.
• The immigrant completes 40 qualifying quarters of work in the U.S. (equivalent to 10 years).
• The immigrant departs the U.S. permanently.
• The immigrant or sponsor dies.

3.  If the beneficiary receives any kind of public assistance and uses public facilities then the government may ask the sponsor to reimburse for the same.

What Should Be Considered Before Becoming A Sponsor?

Before becoming a sponsor, you must understand that you will be completely financially liable to the beneficiary. Therefore you must understand the following things:

1. Carefully assess your ability to fulfill the financial commitment before signing.
2. Be aware that becoming a sponsor can expose you to legal actions.
3. Becoming a sponsor can be a long-term responsibility.
4. If they become a public charge you will be responsible to repay the government for the facilities used.

What Constitutes Income For A Green Card Sponsor?

To meet the income requirement:

1. There must be income from full-time, stable employment, preferable to seasonal or sporadic income. Your tax document is reviewed to provide context for income stability.
2. Your earnings should be generated in the U.S. However, there are exceptions to this rule for military personnel and Department of Defense contractors.
3. If your income falls short of the guidelines, you can use your assets to compensate.

What If I Cannot Meet The Minimum Income Requirement? Can I Include Income From Household Members?

You can include income from other adult members of your household, such as siblings, parents, or children. However, this is only permissible if these members agree to make their income available for supporting the sponsored relative further, keep the following things in mind:

1. Eligibility: Household members must be adults residing at the same address.
2. Agreement: The household member must complete and sign Form I-864A (Contract Between Sponsor and Household Member) to formalize their financial commitment.

What Is Joint Sponsorship In Green Card Applications?

If your combined income and that of your household members are still insufficient, you can involve a joint sponsor. A joint sponsor does not need to live with you or be a family member but must be a U.S. citizen or green card holder residing in the United States.

The joint sponsor must meet the income requirements independently. For example, if the minimum income threshold is $25,550, the joint sponsor must have at least this amount without combining their income with yours. The joint sponsor must submit their Form I-864 (Affidavit of Support). The joint sponsor must meet the threshold independently for the minimum income standard.

Can The Applicant Contribute To The Minimum Income Criteria For A Green Card Application?

The sponsored relative (the applicant) may also contribute their income to meet the financial requirements. However, the income must come from a reliable source that is expected to continue after they obtain the Green Card. The applicant must provide proof of the income source and its expected duration to demonstrate its stability.

Can The Foreign Income Also Be Counted For The Green Card Sponsor Income Requirement?

If the sponsor lives outside the United States, foreign income and assets do not count towards meeting the minimum income requirements. This rule ensures the sponsor has financial resources within the U.S. to support the applicant.

What Mistakes To Avoid While Calculating Income To Become A Green Card Sponsor?

Mistakes are very prominent when you are concerned with documents. Therefore, you should try to avoid them in order to avoid delays and rejection by keeping the following things in mind:

1. Miscalculating household size: You should count all the dependents and past sponsorships, as this can lead to incorrect income thresholds, which might lead to the rejection of the sponsorship application
2. Incorrect income estimation:  You should carefully assess and include all the income sources and proper documentation.
3. Ignoring the option to use assets: You should always assess your assets for a better opportunity to qualify as a sponsor.
4. Incomplete or inaccurate forms: While making the final submission, you should double-check all the sections and details, as any incomplete or inaccurate detail might lead to delay or rejection. FileRight simplifies this process with a guided online format, detailed filing instructions, and support for complicated questions, helping to ensure accurate and complete submissions.

Conclusion 

Becoming a sponsor comes with greater responsibility as you take the responsibility of the applicant in all circumstances by signing a contract with the U.S. government therefore, if there is any assistance enjoyed by the applicant that is for public use, then the government has the right to ask for the reimbursement from the sponsor.  

That is why you need to consider whether you are completely aware of the consequences of becoming a sponsor and do you have the minimum standards of income to become one.