Who can be a joint sponsor
- A U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or lawful permanent resident.
- At least 18 years old and domiciled in the United States.
- Willing to accept joint legal liability for supporting the immigrant.
A joint sponsor does not need to be a family member — a friend or colleague can serve. They file their own separate Form I-864.
The income rule
A joint sponsor must independently meet 125% of the poverty guidelines for their own household size plus the immigrant(s) they are sponsoring. Income cannot be combined across sponsors: if the primary sponsor is $5,000 short, a joint sponsor earning $5,000 doesn't help — the joint sponsor must clear the entire threshold alone. Check any candidate's numbers with our income calculator using their household size.
Documents a joint sponsor needs
- Their own Form I-864 (fully completed and signed).
- Most recent federal tax return or transcript (last 3 years recommended).
- W-2s or 1099s, recent pay stubs, and an employer letter.
- Proof of status: U.S. passport, birth certificate, naturalization certificate, or green card.
Pitfalls
Only two joint sponsors are allowed per family unit, and each immigrant can have just one joint sponsor. The obligation is serious and long-lasting — it survives divorce and generally continues until the immigrant naturalizes, earns 40 quarters of Social Security work credits, leaves the U.S. permanently, or dies. Joint sponsors should understand they can be sued for support and may have to repay means-tested public benefits the immigrant uses.