The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has recently announced a major change in the financial requirements for individuals wishing to sponsor family members for a green card or immigrant visa.
This update, which took effect this month, raises the minimum income thresholds compared to previous years, following a revision of the poverty criteria set by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This information comes from NepYork.
According to NepYork, sponsors must now demonstrate a minimum income of $26,437 to sponsor an individual, compared to $25,550 last year, representing an increase of $887.
This change applies to residents of the 48 contiguous states (excluding Alaska and Hawaii) and aims to ensure that sponsors meet a level equivalent to 125% of the federal poverty threshold, a provision designed to confirm their ability to financially support the immigrants they are sponsoring.
The new criteria also apply to both individual sponsors and households with multiple people. For each additional member of the household, the required income increases by $6,875. The Department of Homeland Security explains that this measure is designed to ensure the financial stability of immigrants and to prevent their dependence on government assistance.
For residents of Alaska and Hawaii, where living expenses are significantly higher, the income requirements are more stringent. Alaska imposes the strictest criteria among all states, followed closely by Hawaii. However, there is an exception for active-duty military members sponsoring their spouse or children; they only need to meet 100% of the poverty thresholds, according to NepYork.
Sponsors submitting Form I-864 (Affidavit of Support) are legally obligated to reimburse the U.S. government if the sponsored immigrant uses public benefits within the first 10 years of their stay. This financial responsibility highlights the importance of meeting the new income requirements.
For other visa categories, such as employment-based visas, Diversity Visa (DV) lottery, or K-1 fiancé(e) visas, Form I-134 is required. Unlike Form I-864, which demands 125% of the poverty thresholds, Form I-134 only requires 100%, establishing a less stringent criterion. However, sponsors using this form may not be subject to the same obligation to repay public benefits used by the immigrant.
This revision impacts many immigrants and families in the immigration process, making it crucial for sponsors to comply with these new conditions in order to effectively support their loved ones.
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