Question about marrying a US citizen & income
 

I've been trying to find information on income requirements when marrying a US citizen. Does either person, have to earn a certain amount of money for the non-US citizen to obtain a green card through marriage? Are there any other requirements I should know about?

Any info you can give me on this would be of massive help, thank you!

Re: Question about marrying a US citizen & income
 

(i) You don't obtain a green card through marriage to a US citizen.

(ii) After getting married you apply for a CR-1 visa, which you need to be allowed to live in the US. There are income requirements - 125% of the federal poverty level, which means just over $20k at the moment, or three times that in potentially liquid assets (doesn't have to be cash). If your US spouse doesn't meet either then income or assets basis you can have a joint sponsor. This is commonly a family member, but does not have to be, so long as they are resident in the US, this can be any US citizen or permanent resident.

(iii) on entering the US using your CR-1 you will trigger the production of a green card.

Re: Question about marrying a US citizen & income
 

Does the income requirement mean my current income in my home country (UK) or the income that I will be making once in the US?

Re: Question about marrying a US citizen & income
 

Neither. It is the income of the US citizen, if they are living in the US, or their income that will continue in the US if they are currently living overseas.

What you (foreign spouse) will be making is not included - you would need actual pay vouchers, which you won't have until you have started work, which you cannot do until you have a visa.

The foreign spouse's income is irrelevant unless either he/she is already employed in the US, or the income will continue after he/she relocates to the US.

Re: Question about marrying a US citizen & income
 

Gotcha. So just to make sure I understand 100%, my income as the non-US citizen would be irrelevant and not taken into account when moving to and living in the US after getting married? So i've no requirements to worry about on my end? And as long as the US citizens meets those requirements, I can live permanently in the US with a CR-1 visa whilst I await my green card?

Thanks for all your help by the way, just trying to wrap my head around things.

Re: Question about marrying a US citizen & income
 

Yes.
Correct, at least not in respect of a job and income.

If you need "assets" then after you get married all your assets are pooled. So for example if you are selling your home in the UK and your net equity will be £60,000 (after legal fees and selling expenses), then even if your spouse had neither income nor assets, you would qualify to get a CR-1 on the assets basis as you have easily more than the $61k-ish that you would need.
Yes, but remember the green card is only evidence of your status as a permanent resident, and you will actually be a permanent resident the moment you clear immigration, with the I-551 stamp in your passport as evidence, and legally able to work from that very moment - literally right their in the airport if you had a job to go to.
You're welcome, .... and welcome to BE BTW. :)

Re: Question about marrying a US citizen & income
 

Awesome. Are there any other requirements I should be aware of outside of job and income? I am a 22 year old UK citizen that works full-time. I don't have a degree and I've no criminal convictions or anything of that nature. Should everything be A-OK if the scenario we have discussed happens?


Thank you :)

Re: Question about marrying a US citizen & income
 

There is no qualification requirement for a spouse visa*, so based on what you have posted, and subject to the income requirements for your spouse, or joint sponsor, that we have discussed above, your visa should be all-but a formality once you have completed the forms and attended the medical. :nod:

* The US is very degree-centric, so you should seriously consider restarting your academic career, probably through the local community college, where courses are very cheap, either with a view to eventually transferring to a "four year college" to get a bachelor degree, or towards getting a trade skill such as plumbing or electrician's license.

Re: Question about marrying a US citizen & income
 

There is also a medical exam to get through. The following things can cause a problem:

- STDs
- TB
- mental health issues whereby you could be a danger to yourself or others
- previous history of or current substance abuse (including alcohol and marijuana - this often catches people out, especially those intending to move to WA, OR, CO or anywhere else where marijuana may be legal at a state level and they mistakenly believe that marijuana use won't be a problem. It is still illegal at a federal level and is a problem for immigrant visa applicants).

Re: Question about marrying a US citizen & income
 

I could go straight into a bachelor's degree course as I've already got my college done. Was thinking about a computer science degree if anywhere would accept me for that (my grade's aren't technically good enough but I'd be classed as a mature student so their might be an exception.)

It all seems so far away, I've wanted to live in the US my whole life but it looks like it will be a very long process unless I marry someone, which was why I was enquiring down that avenue.

Re: Question about marrying a US citizen & income
 

Should be all clear on that end. Thanks

Re: Question about marrying a US citizen & income
 

So this is just a speculative enquiry, and there isn't currently a prospective Mrs Mattataka in the picture? :unsure:

Re: Question about marrying a US citizen & income
 

Unfortunately not :( I'm planning to travel out there next year so fingers crossed lol :fingerscrossed:

Re: Question about marrying a US citizen & income
 

So this is all just hypothetical? The rules and procedures may well change in the coming years so it may be best to wait until it's a certainty before gathering information.

And then you need to hope that if you do happen to find a US citizen that you love enough to want to marry that he/she doesn't say "I've always wanted to live in the UK!" That would throw your plans of the American dream into disarray!

Re: Question about marrying a US citizen & income
 

Very true. It's just my personality, I have to know every little detail about a thing even if I'm forming a plan this early.. I am serious about it though.

Hah yeah that would be quite the spanner in the works, however I think we'd discuss long-term 'wants' early on :lol:

Re: Question about marrying a US citizen & income
 

Not really. Once you activate the CR-1 visa at the US Port of Entry, the visa is invalid and means nothing. Your passport will be stamped with an I-551 which is the paper version of the green card and will be valid for one year while you wait for the USCIS to mail the actual green card to you at your US address.

Also as you are married, your assets become the USC's assets as well and can be used to help them meet the financial obligation to fulfill the I-864 affidavit of support. Your employment is worthless in that regard but your assets can be helpful.

There is much to wrap you head around and you have only touched on one-quarter of it.

I'm asking this to be transferred to the proper immigration forum, which is the US marriage-based visa forum. You might like to read some of the posts there.

Re: Question about marrying a US citizen & income
 

Good. I'm sure that once he/she realizes it's the passport you're in love with, not the person, he/she can get out quickly before getting too involved. So it's definitely a good idea to make it clear very early on that a ticket to the USA is your priority. Good luck.

Re: Question about marrying a US citizen & income
 

Yeah, "Hi, I'm Mattataka, and I would like to marry you so I can get a green card", is certain to get things off on the right note. :rolleyes:

Such topics are likely to come up in conversation fairly early, especially if guided by Mattataka, and therefore there is no need to be blunt. I don't believe it is normal to provide a list of "demands" on any first date, and visa/immigration is no different from politics, religion, or preference for family/children, etc. - all these things should come out naturally as a relationship develops.

Re: Question about marrying a US citizen & income
 

There's nothing wrong with looking for a partner that aligns with what you want too. I'm not going to enter into a relationship with someone that wants to live in France when I want to live in America, nor would I marry someone I wasn't in love with for entry to the US. It's called being realistic and therefore searching accordingly for someone that aligns with what you want.

Re: Question about marrying a US citizen & income
 

Again, does it not make sense to want to meet an American woman if my goal is to live in America, rather than someone who doesn't want to live there? Don't see how that would be considered using a person, I'm just being realistic.

Re: Question about marrying a US citizen & income
 

I would argue that it is probably a better idea to find another way, for example gaining a degree (if you do not already) and moving into a field that might get you transferred. While I don't believe it's a 'bad thing' to take the route you are suggesting, it might be a good idea to get that little chestnut out of the way early on.

Trust me, your prospective partner will have to put up with plenty 'mail order bride' gags. Especially if she ends up being from a more rural area of the 50.

Re: Question about marrying a US citizen & income
 

Gotcha. I will take a look at the posts there, thanks.

Re: Question about marrying a US citizen & income
 

I agree, and thought exactly like you before I got married. There was no bad intent, and no deceit involved when I met the then-future Mrs P.

In reality there is little practical difference between seeking out potential life partners who live in Yorkshire and ones who live in another country.

Re: Question about marrying a US citizen & income
 

Not sure what the last part meant but to me it just seems logical that I would want to find a partner that is a US citizen and wants to live there.

Thank you for all your help on the subject it is much appreciated.

Re: Question about marrying a US citizen & income
 

I think you should start working towards that CS degree. You could potentially set yourself up for a few different visa avenues.

Re: Question about marrying a US citizen & income
 

I agree that gaining a degree would be wise and I probably will end up doing that.

Re: Question about marrying a US citizen & income
 

Poor lady ... if she only knew that her main attractive is her ability to sponsor you for a green card. As the song says: "What's Love Got To Do With It"

Re: Question about marrying a US citizen & income
 

As someone has has been down that path, you are waaay off base!

Re: Question about marrying a US citizen & income
 

As is often the case, I don't have a clue what you are talking about.

Unless you are implying that I was married because of my ability to sponsor a foreigner to the US.

Re: Question about marrying a US citizen & income
 

So are you saying that it wasn't purely chance that you fell for a US citizen, you were hoping that might happen and thus facilitate your move?

Re: Question about marrying a US citizen & income
 

There is no lady in question, I wanted to gather info incase the situation does arise.

And yes of-course this infers I would love to meet an American woman, wanting to live there and all, but I would not marry someone I didn't want to marry for the purpose of a green card (I think that would create a rather unpleasant situation).

There is, however, nothing wrong with getting myself out there and meeting one I DO want to marry :)

Re: Question about marrying a US citizen & income
 

It was a US dating web site. You do the math! ;)

Re: Question about marrying a US citizen & income
 

Happily, words, not numbers, were always my thing!!! :sneaky:

Re: Question about marrying a US citizen & income
 

Were you in the US at the time or doing it from england? lol

Re: Question about marrying a US citizen & income
 

I was in the UK. :nod:

Re: Question about marrying a US citizen & income
 

The OP has been given sufficient information towards his hypothetical path forward.

Thread closed.

Rene
Moderator