The income requirements for a green card sponsor are the same in Illinois as the other states. It’s important to note that several factors influence your income requirement.
Household size
Larger household sizes require a bigger income requirement for you to be a green card sponsor. Household size includes you in the number. For households of two, the income requirement is $21,775. The minimum income needed increases by $5,675 for each additional household member.
Note that these numbers are subject to change, so always check before you submit an application. Federal immigration law is responsible for setting these guidelines.
Military service
Those who serve in the military have a lower income requirement to be a green card sponsor. Households of two must earn at least $17,420. Each additional household member increases the requirement by $4,540.
What sources of income count?
When you’re calculating your annual income, you can include alimony, child support, retirement benefits, dividends, investment income, wages and salaries. You can’t include the income of other people in your household unless they agree to have financial responsibility over the person you want to sponsor. They would have to fill out form I-864A.
Income from the person you want to sponsor might count. As long as they will keep their source of income while living in the U.S., you can use their income to help qualify.
Joint sponsor
A joint sponsor, someone outside of your household, is an option if your household doesn’t meet the income requirement. However, you can’t add the joint sponsor’s income to your household’s for meeting the income requirement. They must qualify on their own. The form for them to fill out is Form I-864.
Meeting the income requirements to sponsor someone for a green card in the U.S. is fairly straightforward. You have several options in meeting the requirement if your income alone isn’t enough.
