Many families talk about “sponsoring someone for citizenship” without realizing that U.S. immigration law does not work that way. Sponsorship usually means helping a relative get a green card and signing a financial contract that can last for many years. Understanding what you are really agreeing to before you sign anything can protect both you and your family member.
Pollak PLLC helps U.S. citizens and permanent residents in Dallas, Fort Lauderdale, and across the United States sort through these responsibilities, plan for income requirements, and think ahead to a future citizenship application.
What Sponsorship for U.S. Citizenship Really Means
In U.S. immigration law, relatives do not sponsor someone directly for citizenship. Instead, qualifying U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents sponsor relatives for immigrant visas and green cards by filing petitions such as Form I 130, Petition for Alien Relative. In many family cases, a sponsor also signs a financial sponsorship form, usually Form I 864, Affidavit of Support, promising to help support the immigrant.
Naturalization is a separate step. Once a person has a green card and meets time, residence, and other requirements, they apply for U.S. citizenship themselves using Form N 400. Sponsorship can open the door to permanent residence and create a path that may lead to citizenship, but the sponsor does not file for citizenship on the relative’s behalf. The relative must qualify and apply for naturalization in their own name when the time is right.
Is There a Separate Sponsor Form for U.S. Citizenship?
There is no separate sponsor form for U.S. citizenship. When people talk about “citizenship sponsor forms,” they are almost always referring to two main documents. The first is Form I 130, which starts the green card process by proving the qualifying family relationship. The second is Form I 864, which is a binding financial contract saying that the sponsor will help support the immigrant at a certain income level.
Pollak PLLC often hears from families in Dallas, Fort Lauderdale, and other cities who have been told they can “sponsor for citizenship” and are understandably confused. Once they learn that sponsorship is really about green cards and long term financial responsibility, they can make better choices about how to help their relatives.
Who Can Sponsor a Family Member on the Path to Citizenship?
Only certain relatives can sponsor family members for green cards, and the rules are different for U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents.
- S. citizens can sponsor spouses, unmarried children under 21, unmarried adult children, married children, parents if the citizen is at least 21, and siblings
- Lawful permanent residents can sponsor spouses and unmarried children, both under and over 21, but cannot sponsor parents or siblings
Spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents of U.S. citizens age 21 or older are called immediate relatives. They are not subject to annual visa caps, so their green card cases are not held back by the long waiting lines that affect many other family categories. Other relatives, such as married children or siblings of U.S. citizens, fall into family preference categories where visas are limited each year, which can create long waits before a green card is even available. Those delays also push back the earliest date when a relative can apply for citizenship.
How Does Family Sponsorship Work in Dallas and Fort Lauderdale?
Family sponsorship follows a similar pattern whether the sponsor lives in North Texas or South Florida. A U.S. citizen in Dallas might sponsor a spouse who already lives in the United States by filing Form I 130 and, if the spouse qualifies, requesting adjustment of status so the spouse can receive a green card without leaving the country. A U.S. citizen in Fort Lauderdale might sponsor a parent who lives abroad by filing Form I 130 and then completing consular processing through the National Visa Center and a U.S. consulate.
In both cases, the main steps involve filing the family petition, waiting for approval, moving through National Visa Center processing when required, attending a visa interview or adjustment interview, and, if approved, receiving a green card. Once the relative becomes a permanent resident and later meets the three year or five year naturalization rules, they file their own citizenship application. For many families, this is part of a broader plan that includes family immigration and green card sponsorship as an early step on the path to U.S. citizenship.
Your Financial Responsibilities as an Immigration Sponsor
When you sign Form I 864, you take on several important legal duties that can last many years:
- You promise to help maintain the sponsored immigrant’s income at or above 125 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for your household size, or 100 percent for certain active duty military sponsors
- You agree that the immigrant or certain government agencies can sue you in court to enforce this promise
- You may be required to reimburse certain means tested public benefits paid to the immigrant
- Your obligations continue until a specific termination event occurs, not just until the marriage or relationship ends
Form I 864 is a contract under federal law. It is not a casual letter of support, and private agreements between you and the immigrant usually do not cancel what you promised the government. Before signing, it is important to understand what you are committing to and how it might affect your own finances in the future.
How Much Income Do I Need To Be a Sponsor?
Sponsors generally must show income at or above 125 percent of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services poverty guidelines for their household size. The guidelines are updated regularly, so the required income can change from year to year. Meeting this standard is one of the main financial tests in family based cases.
Several factors affect how much income you need to show:
- The household size, which usually includes you, the immigrant, any children or dependents, and sometimes others you have sponsored
- Your current annual income as shown on recent tax returns, pay stubs, and possibly employer letters
- Whether a joint sponsor or household member will add their income to help meet the requirement
- Whether certain assets, such as savings or property, can be counted if income alone is not enough
Because the poverty guideline charts change over time, sponsors who are close to the line should review the current numbers and consider speaking with a family immigration lawyer in Dallas or a family green card lawyer in Fort Lauderdale before filing. Planning early can help avoid last minute surprises at the National Visa Center or consular stage.
What Is the Difference Between a Primary Sponsor, Joint Sponsor, and Household Member Sponsor?
In many cases, more than one person is involved in meeting the financial support requirement. The roles are different, but each comes with serious obligations.
- The primary sponsor is the main petitioner who files Form I 130 and signs Form I 864 as the lead sponsor
- A joint sponsor is a second sponsor, usually a U.S. citizen or permanent resident with enough income, who signs a separate Form I 864 when the primary sponsor does not meet the income requirement alone
- A household member sponsor is a qualifying family member living in the same household who signs Form I 864A so their income or assets can be counted
All of these sponsors can be held responsible under the Affidavit of Support. Joint sponsors and household members may be sued or asked to reimburse benefits just like primary sponsors. Pollak PLLC often helps families in North Texas and South Florida understand these roles so that everyone who signs knows what they are agreeing to before a case moves forward.
How Long Sponsor Obligations Last and When They End
The obligations in Form I 864 do not last forever, but they do continue until a specific event happens. In most cases, sponsor responsibilities end when one of the following occurs:
- The immigrant becomes a U.S. citizen
- The immigrant works and earns 40 qualifying quarters of work in the United States, which is often about 10 years
- The immigrant permanently leaves the United States and gives up permanent residence
- The immigrant is ordered removed but later obtains a new green card based on a different Affidavit of Support
- The sponsor dies
- The immigrant dies
Until one of these termination events occurs, the sponsor’s obligations usually remain in place, even if income changes or the personal relationship breaks down. Understanding this timing helps sponsors plan for the long term and avoid misunderstandings about when they are truly released from responsibility.
Do My Sponsor Responsibilities End When We Divorce?
Divorce alone does not end the obligations created by Form I 864. Even if a marriage ends, the sponsor may still be responsible for supporting the immigrant at 125 percent of the poverty guidelines until a real termination event occurs, such as the immigrant becoming a U.S. citizen or reaching 40 quarters of work. This surprises many people who assume that a divorce decree cancels their support obligations.
Anyone who has sponsored a spouse and is now separating or divorcing should speak with an immigration sponsorship and citizenship lawyer about their situation. A lawyer can explain how the Affidavit of Support works alongside family law orders and what risks remain even after the personal relationship has ended.
Can a Child Sponsor a Parent on the Road to U.S. Citizenship?
A U.S. citizen child who is at least 21 years old can sponsor a parent for a green card as an immediate relative in the IR 5 category. This is one of the most common ways that parents of U.S. citizens obtain permanent residence. Green card holders cannot sponsor parents, so this is a benefit reserved for U.S. citizens.
The basic process usually follows a few main steps:
- The U.S. citizen child files Form I 130 to prove the parent child relationship
- The case proceeds through consular processing abroad or adjustment of status in the United States, depending on where the parent lives and how they entered the country
- The child or another qualified sponsor signs Form I 864 and provides financial evidence to meet income requirements
- The parent receives a green card if the petition and application are approved
Pollak PLLC regularly helps U.S. citizen children in Dallas, Fort Lauderdale, and other communities understand this process, gather the right documents, and think through the financial commitment they are making as sponsors.
How Does a Child Sponsoring a Parent Affect the Parent’s Path to Citizenship?
Once a parent receives a green card, they become a lawful permanent resident and start on their own track toward possible U.S. citizenship. In many cases, parents who are sponsored by adult U.S. citizen children need to hold a green card for at least five years and meet continuous residence, physical presence, good moral character, and testing requirements before applying for naturalization. When the time comes, the parent files Form N 400 for citizenship. There is still no separate sponsor form at that stage.
If the parent later becomes a U.S. citizen or earns 40 qualifying quarters of work, the child’s obligations under Form I 864 usually end. Families are wise to think about sponsorship and citizenship together, including what long term support might look like, how the parent’s income may grow over time, and what happens if circumstances change. Talking with a family immigration lawyer can help put both the green card process and future citizenship into one clear plan.
Risks, Liability, and When To Talk to a Sponsorship and Citizenship Lawyer
Sponsorship can be a meaningful way to help a loved one, but it does involve real financial risks that should be understood in advance:
- You may need to support the immigrant at 125 percent of the poverty guidelines even if your relationship changes
- Government agencies may ask you to repay certain means tested public benefits paid to the immigrant
- The immigrant may sue you in state or federal court to enforce the Affidavit of Support
- Your obligations can last many years, sometimes until the immigrant becomes a U.S. citizen or earns 40 qualifying quarters of work
In practice, many sponsorships never lead to lawsuits or reimbursements, especially when the immigrant is able to work and support themselves. However, these worst case scenarios are possible, and sponsors should go into the process with clear eyes. Understanding how courts view Form I 864 and how long obligations can last helps families make informed decisions about whether and how to move forward.
Can Sponsors Be Sued Under the Affidavit of Support?
Sponsors and joint sponsors can be sued under Form I 864. Courts often treat the Affidavit of Support as a binding contract. They may enforce it even if the sponsor and immigrant are divorced, even if the immigrant is not working, and even if there are private agreements between the parties. Lawsuits often focus on the difference between the immigrant’s current income and the 125 percent poverty guideline amount, and they can sometimes seek support for past years as well.
Anyone who receives a demand letter, a government notice about benefit reimbursement, or a court complaint related to Form I 864 should speak with a sponsorship and citizenship lawyer. An attorney can review the facts, explain possible defenses, and discuss options for negotiation or litigation.
When Should I Talk to a Sponsorship and Citizenship Lawyer in Dallas or Fort Lauderdale?
Legal advice is especially important when the situation involves difficult choices or financial strain. It makes sense to talk to a lawyer before sponsoring a relative if you are unsure whether you meet income requirements or worried about long term liability. It is also wise to get advice if you are being asked to act as a joint sponsor or household member and want to understand what that role really means in practical terms.
People who have already signed Form I 864 and are now divorcing, separating, or facing financial hardship should also consider speaking with counsel. The same is true if you receive a notice from a benefits agency, a reimbursement demand, or if the immigrant has mentioned possible legal action. Pollak PLLC works with sponsors and intending immigrants in Dallas, Fort Worth, Plano, Irving, Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, Hollywood, Pompano Beach, and nationwide to evaluate obligations, structure sponsorship carefully, and align family immigration and green card sponsorship with long-term citizenship planning. For many, this includes a chance to talk to a citizenship and naturalization lawyer about how sponsorship today may shape future options.
Need Help With Sponsorship and Citizenship Planning? Reach Out to Pollak PLLC Today
If you are thinking about sponsoring a spouse, parent, or child, or you have already signed an Affidavit of Support and are unsure what comes next, it can be helpful to talk through your options with an experienced immigration lawyer. Pollak PLLC helps families understand who can sponsor whom, how income and household size affect eligibility, and what long term obligations look like under Form I 864. The firm also advises people who are already sponsors and want to plan for future citizenship applications, both for themselves and for their relatives.
Pollak PLLC maintains offices in the Dallas area and in Fort Lauderdale, but represents clients across the United States. The firm also works with sponsors and intending immigrants around the world through phone and virtual appointments. If you need guidance on U.S. citizenship sponsorship, schedule a consultation to discuss your responsibilities, risks, and next steps with an immigration attorney at Pollak PLLC.
