What Cash Value of Assets is Needed?
To be counted, the cash value of assets must equal five times the difference between the sponsor’s income and 125 percent of the poverty line for the household size. For example, a petitioner/sponsor with a household size of four and an income of $18,000 would need assets equal to five times the difference between his/her income and the income required for a family of four at the current federal poverty guidelines level. He/she would also need to show evidence of mortgages, liens, and liabilities against the assets. The cash value of assets required is different for these sponsors: Sponsors of immediate relative spouses and children of U.S. citizens must only show assets in the amount of three times the difference between the poverty guideline and actual household income. Sponsors of foreign orphans who will acquire citizenship after admission to the United States need only prove assets in the amount of the difference between the poverty guideline and actual household income.
The total net value of assets, less liens and liabilities against them, must equal five times the difference between the sponsor’s income and 125% of the poverty level for the household size Sponsors of spouses and children of U.S. citizens must only prove assets valued at three times the difference between the poverty guideline and actual household income. Sponsors of orphans who will acquire citizenship after admission to the United States must only prove assets equal to the difference between the poverty guideline and actual household income.
