Green Card Through Marriage Process Steps: Exceeding New Poverty Guidelines Thresholds.

Has Green Card Process Became Easier?

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The green card through marriage process steps…

• Involve meeting or exceeding poverty guidelines

• New 2016 guidelines published here: https://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty-guidelines

Persons Poverty Guideline

in Family/ Household 2015

1 $11,770

2 $15,930

3 $20,090

4 $24,250

5 $28,410

6 $32,570

7 $36,730

8 $40,890

Green Card Application Implications

• Who is affected: Sponsoring spouse

• Must demonstrate adequate income to support one and one’s spouse lifestyle

• Establish beyond doubt, the new immigrant will not become public burder

Application of the Poverty Guidelines

• What qualifies as income?

• Income must exceed poverty guidelines by at least 25% (multiply the guideline number by 125%)

• Use the appropriate number for your specific household, assuming the sponsored spouse is living in that same household with his or her dependents

Poverty Guidelines 2016: What Changed From Last Year?

Persons USCIS

in Family/ Household

2015 2016 % changeQualification

Threshold

1 $11,770 $11,880 0.9% $14,850

2 $15,930 $16,020 0.6% $20,025

3 $20,090 $20,160 0.3% $25,200

4 $24,250 $24,300 0.2% $30,375

5 $28,410 $28,440 0.1% $35,550

6 $32,570 $32,580 0.0% $40,725

7 $36,730 $36,730 0.0% $45,913

8 $40,890 $40,890 0.0% $51,113

Poverty Guideline

Source: www.hhs.gov

Poverty Guidelines 2016: Observations of Changes From Last Year• Small revisions up from the previous year • None exceeding 0.6%

• 7 and 8-person household guidelines stayed flat

• 1-person household guideline grew by 0.9%• This number is irrelevant for green card seekers because husband + wife = at

least 2-person household

Poverty Guidelines 2016: Observations of Changes From Last Year (continued)• But inflation in 2015 was 0.7%*

• Vs. largest increase in guidelines by 0.6%

• Does that mean it became easier to qualify to become a sponsor for one’s immigrant spouse?• Some people may argue so…

* Source: http://www.usinflationcalculator.com/inflation/current-inflation-rates/

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