Q: Is there a good solution when it’s difficult to find a financial sponsor?
A: There is a way to handle the financial sponsorship issue on your own by obtaining a “joint-sponsor exemption.” Many people qualify for this but remain unaware of the related regulations, so they struggle to find a sponsor. If you have paid taxes for at least 10 years (total of 40 quarters) in the U.S., you can qualify for an exemption from the financial sponsorship requirement. In other words, if the green card applicant has a valid Social Security number (SSN) and has reported enough income for at least 10 years, they do not need a separate financial sponsor. However, the SSN must have been obtained legally, and if you ever received public benefits such as Medicaid, that time must be excluded from the total. Once you receive the exemption, the sponsor’s obligation does not arise in the first place. Even if you filed taxes while out of status (undocumented), as long as you can prove those filings, you may still qualify.
Also, the amount of reported income each year needs to meet or exceed the Social Security Administration’s threshold for earning one quarter. This amount changes slightly each year. For example, in 2021, the annual income required to earn one quarter was $1,470, while in 2000 it was $780.
Q: Can my spouse or child also receive this benefit?
A: If your spouse has been married to you throughout those 10 years of tax filing, they may qualify for the joint-sponsor exemption as well, even if they did not personally file or did not have enough income. Additionally, a child under 18 shares in the quarters (credits) that the parent earned. This credit does not disappear when the child turns 18. Thus, if the child later applies for a green card after age 21 and has 40 quarters of credits through the parent, they would not need a separate financial sponsor.
Contact: (714) 295-0700, (213) 285-0700, greencardandvisa@gmail.com, KakaoTalk ID: greencards