Visa Dictionary

TODAY: Sponsorship for marrying a US citizen

Recently US Congress has passed the new "Family Sponsor Immigration Act," i.e. the act about sponsorship for family-based immigration, with 404 Yes and 3 No votes. There are a few new regulations that will not really interest our readers, such as replacement of a deceased sponsor with another person. However, it is reason enough for us to give those of you who wish to marry a US citizen a somewhat better overview.

Many applicants who want to enter the US and live there permanently are required to prove that they have the necessary financial means. This is the case for certain non-immigration visas, especially if the applicant does not a formal work permit. Form I-134 is the one probably best known for this scenario. Among other things it is also being used for the interview for lottery winners.

The "Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act" of 1996 brought along a more detailed document, the I-864 that requires more information from the sponsor and includes greater legal responsibility. So please make sure your US partner knows about the importance of this.

Indeed the US government or any other responsible authority may sue your US spouse in case he or she doesn't support you financially as an immigrant. This document is valid for up to ten working years, or until naturalization (which is possible after three years).

By the way, you will also find detailed information about dual citizenship in today's How To section.

Sponsorship is required in all cases of family-based immigration and employment-based immigration processes. A key word is the "poverty line," calculated every year by the US Department of Health. The US sponsor must prove that he or she has an income 125% above this line, the only exceptions will be made for spouses of US soldiers. A separate minimum will be calculated for each person living in the sponsor's household or joining the sponsor's household with the foreign spouse, e.g. children. The income of the US citizen must be higher than required for the entire household. In some cases, especially for younger applicants, the US citizen's income may not be sufficient. For this case, US law allows for the so-called co-sponsorship, which can only be done by certain people. In this case, the same sponsorship period as the one mentioned above applies.

Please note: it is not possible to have someone from the foreign spouse's home country act as a sponsor!

For 2002, the following income limits apply:

48 STATES AND DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

FAMILY SIZE POVERTY LINE 125%

1 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .. $8,860...... ... ..$11,075
2 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .. $11,940.........$14,925
3 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .. $15,020.........$18,775
4 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .. 18,100........$22,625
5 ... ... ... ... ... ... .. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .21,180........$26,475
6 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .. 24,260........$30,325
7 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .. 27,340........$34,175
8 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .. 30,420........$38,025

ALASKA

FAMILY SIZE POVERTY LINE 125%

1 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .. $11,080.........$13,850
2 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .. 14,930..........18,663
3 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .. 18,780........ ... 23,475
4 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .. 22,630........ ... 28,288
5 ... ... ... ... ... ... .. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... . 26,480..........33,100
6 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .. 30,330........ ... 37,913
7 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .. 34,180.........42,725
8 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .. 38,030.........47,538

HAWAII

FAMILY SIZE POVERTY LINE 125%

1 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .. $10,200.......$12,750
2 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .. 13,740........17,175
3 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .. 17,280........21,600
4 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .. 20,820........26,025
5 ... ... ... ... ... ... .. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... . 24,360........30,450
6 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .. 27,900.........34,875
7 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .. 31,440.........39,300
8 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .. 34,980.........43,725

In case you have any questions about this rather complex topic, best use the contact form on our homepage.