When pursuing a visa for your family member, you may face all kinds of steps and requirements. The financial requirements associated with visa applications are all too easy to overlook, and they include various fees. You should also pay close attention to the financial sponsorship requirements for your family member’s immigration case. In order to help your loved one stay in the United States, you will need to prove that you have the necessary financial resources to support them. How exactly do you prove this? What exactly is financial sponsorship, anyway? These are questions you might want to ask an experienced immigration lawyer in Dallas.
What Is Financial Sponsorship for a Family Visa in Texas?
United States Customs and Immigration Services (USCIS) states that all family-based visas must include financial sponsorship. A financial sponsor is someone who agrees to financially support the new immigrant after they arrive in the United States. Why is this necessary? Many immigrants encounter serious financial challenges after arriving in the country, and the financial sponsorship requirement ensures that they will have the support they need to start a new life in a new country.
For example, a new arrival in the United States might only have limited savings. Many of the most successful immigrants admit that they once arrived in the country with only a few dollars in their pockets. While these “rags to riches” stories are an important part of American culture and identity, the state is also concerned about having to support new arrivals. In other words, the government does not want to pay the cost of supporting new immigrants, as these expenses would fall on the taxpayer.
The solution to this potential problem is the financial sponsorship requirement. By proving that you have financial stability, you can reassure the government that your relative will not become a burden for the taxpayer.
Income Requirements for Financial Sponsorship
The general rule is simple: You must earn at least 125% of the income associated with the Federal poverty level. This level changes each year, so you may need to check with an immigration lawyer to see whether you meet the requirements. That being said, the Federal poverty level is quite low, and many people will not struggle to meet this requirement. As of 2025, 125% of the poverty level is equivalent to annual earnings of about $26,000.
However, it is important to note that if you plan on sponsoring more than one person to come to the United States, you will need to earn more. For example, you might be planning to sponsor a family member and their two children. In this case, you will need to add about $7,000 for each person you plan to bring. If you want to sponsor a family of four, your minimum income requirement increases to about $40,000 per year.
Asset Requirements for Financial Sponsorship
If you do not meet the income requirements for financial sponsorship, you may also use your assets to qualify. For example, you might be retired. Perhaps you inherited a large sum, and you do not need to work. Whatever the case may be, you can use your wealth to sponsor your relative.
Assuming your income is zero, your assets must be five times the amount of the income requirement. If you earn more than zero dollars per year, you can subtract your income from the minimum income requirement and then multiply that number by five. If your assets are above this amount, you can financially sponsor your relative.
You Can Find Other People to Support Your Loved One
If you do not have the necessary assets or income to sponsor your relative, you can still sponsor them. However, you must find other individuals who can help you qualify. These individuals must meet the income or asset requirements, and they must be willing to accept financial responsibility for your loved one. You must also accept partial responsibility, and everyone involved in the process must file “affidavits of support.”
What is an Affidavit of Support?
The Affidavit of Support is also known as “Form I-864.” If you want to become a financial sponsor for your relative, you must complete and file this form. The form requires you to detail your income and financial resources. Remember, this form is a type of “sworn statement.” You could face serious consequences for lying or misrepresenting the truth when filling out the form, and you should always be truthful about your financial resources.
You also need to provide certain tax information when filling out your affidavit. The relevant authorities can use this information to look up your tax returns and determine whether the information you provided is accurate.
If you do not meet the income requirements, you’ll need to provide evidence of your assets instead. This evidence might include real estate documents, brokerage statements, tax records, property deeds, and so on. Speak with your family immigration lawyer to learn more about the necessary evidence for proving asset ownership. The USCIS and the government may request additional documents and evidence to verify your assets or income. You must be ready to comply with these requests with the necessary documentation and evidence.
Do Not Attempt to Lie on Your Affidavit of Support
USCIS makes it clear that falsifying an affidavit is a criminal offense. A false affidavit will also prevent your loved one from coming to the United States, and they may never have the ability to start a new life in this country.
Can an Immigration Lawyer in Dallas Help Me With a Family Visa?
If you’re trying to help your family member obtain a visa, you may want to speak with an experienced immigration lawyer in Dallas. While financial sponsorship is an important requirement for most family visa applications, there are also many other requirements to consider. These include language requirements, criminal background checks, medical examinations, consular interviews, and much more. To learn more about financial sponsorship and other steps, contact The Presti Law Firm, PLLC, at your earliest convenience.