Permanent residency through marriage

P

passionate0829

Registered Users (C)
Hi everyone, I am new here and I need some help from experienced people. I really appreciate every input.
I am a first year graduate student in the United States. I just became a naturalized U.S citizen. I am in a relationship with an international student here in the US, and I want to marry her so that she can apply for permanent residency. Since I am still in school and have no job, is it possible for me to help my girlfriend become a US resident through marriage? Any input is appreciated.
 
yes you can ! you are a student so you would need a co-sponsor, it can be anybody you know why is above the poverty line
 
TheRealCanadian said:
That's an exceptionally poor reason to marry someone.
Click to expand...
Of course, that isn't the reason I want to marry her.
Thank you for your reply, doctor1 and TheRealCanadian. I am still dependent, and my parents are not really above the poverty line. Combining both of their wages, they make around $1400-1500 a month. They also have to support my two brothers, who are still in college. Do you know where I can find out more information about the income requirement?
 
The sponsor (or co-sponsor, in your case) needs to be 25% above the poverty line for their household size. In your case, that would mean themselves plus you and your future wife, and your brothers if they are still dependents. $1500/month is not even close to that level, even if your brothers are excluded. See http://aspe.hhs.gov/POVERTY/09poverty.shtml

However, it is extremely unlikely they are supporting themselves and you and your two brothers in college on just $1500/month, unless they and your brothers are outside the US in a very inexpensive country. They must have other assets or income they didn't tell you about.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Jackolantern said:
The sponsor (or co-sponsor, in your case) needs to be 25% above the poverty line for their household size. In your case, that would mean themselves plus you and your future wife, and your brothers if they are still dependents. $1500/month is not even close to that level, even if your brothers are excluded. See http://aspe.hhs.gov/POVERTY/09poverty.shtml

However, it is extremely unlikely they are supporting themselves and you and your two brothers in college on just $1500/month, unless they and your brothers are outside the US in a very inexpensive country. They must have other assets or income they didn't tell you about.
Click to expand...
My family receives housing support from the government, so we only paid around 30% of the rent. My brothers and I work part-time, and receive financial aid, scholarships and subsidized federal loans for college. That's how we survive. Definitely, my parents are unable to support my brothers and I financially. Thank you very much for your helpful information, Jack.
@triple citizen: I really want to wait until I graduate and get a job, then get married. But the problem is that my girlfriend is suffering with paying high tuition as an international student, and she currently has to work 40h/week to be able to support herself. I really want to help her, but I don't really have a lot of options. If I can help her become a resident, then she won't have to pay high tuition anymore. She's just in her second year, and I don't think she can handle such workload in 3rd and 4th years because it gets harder.
Is it possible that I can ask my relative to be my co-sponsor as long as he/she is above poverty line? I think I can try to ask some relatives.
 
passionate0829 said:
Is it possible that I can ask my relative to be my co-sponsor as long as he/she is above poverty line?
Click to expand...
Yes another relative can be the co-sponsor. But remember that because USCIS would be expecting them to support you both, the household size for determination of the poverty line would have to include their existing household plus you and your future wife, and then their income must be 25% higher than that. If they have significant assets they can use that to reduce the income requirement (generally, divide the assets by 5, and reduce the required income level by that result).

And I'll also reiterate TripleCitizen's point about being financially independent ... if you enter a marriage without your finances in good order, that's a recipe for marriage problems and divorce. Numerous friends who got married in their early to mid-twenties before they were financially ready are now divorced and some also paying alimony. If your main motivation to marry her is based on her immigration situation rather than the desire to be together until she is 50, 60, 70, and 80, that's also not a good sign.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top