Low income citizen?

I am marrying my girlfriend to apply her a green card. but my income is very low and my credit is terrible. Is it still possible for me to apply a green card for my girlfriend? She's been in the US with her student visa for a few years. Her visa is expiring soon. I don't want her to go back to her country.

[sandra]

Green Card FAQs

"You must meet certain income requirements whether you are a sponsor, a joint sponsor, or a substitute sponsor. You must show that your household income is equal to or higher than 125 percent of the U.S. poverty level for your household size."

For more info see...

What are the income requirements for an affidavit of support?
http://www.legalzoom.com/law_library...uirements.html

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"The Affidavit of Support form (Form I-864) requires the immigrant's petitioner to be the immigrant's sponsor and requires the sponsor to demonstrate an income level at or above 125 percent of the Federal poverty line. The Affidavit of Support Form I-864 must be completed by U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents who sponsor family members as immigrants to live in the United States. "

For more info see...

Green Card Sponsors Held Financially Accountable
http://immigration.about.com/od/fami...orsFinance.htm

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"In order to obtain immigration benefits available to a spouse, there must be a valid marriage between the parties. In most situations, a marriage is valid for immigration purpose if it is recognized by the law of the state where it occurs. However, a marriage that is legally valid may still be disregarded if it is found to be a sham marriage, entered into by the parties to obtain immigration benefits and without any intention to live together as husband and wife. The marriage must also be legally subsisting at the time that the immigration benefit is sought with an exception where the US citizen is deceased.

Either the US citizen must also provide an affidavit of support, guaranteeing the support the immigrant spouse for at least 10 years or until the beneficiary becomes a US citizen. In order to guarantee this support, the sponsor must meet the annual income requirement of 125% of the current federal poverty guidelines or show that he or he has enough assets to support the immigrant spouse. If the sponsor cannot meet this income requirement, then he or she may find other joint sponsors."

For more info see...

What are the requirements for obtaining a Marriage Green Card?
http://www.messersmithlaw.com/green-...reen-card.html

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"Although it's usually relatively easy for the foreign-born spouses of U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents to come to the U.S., the BCIS doesn't take kindly to folks who marry for the sole purpose of obtaining a green card. The countless TV sitcom and movie plots you've seen on this subject are close to the truth. The BCIS will want to see evidence that yours is truly a marriage and not just a union on paper. You and your spouse should expect to answer questions about each other and about the marriage, as well as provide physical evidence of the relationship. For this reason, in addition to important documents like your marriage certificate, be sure to save things like travel documents, vacation and family photos, billing statements, and other tangible evidence of your life together."

For more info see...

Gaining Permanent Resident Status (or a Green Card) in the United States
http://www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/Dumm...s.id-2068.html


eom

Thank you very much, Sandra... This helps me a lot. How about my credit? Is the INS going to look at my credit as well? (I have credit problem with unpaid balance that I hope that after my girlfriend and I get married, she can legally work in the US and help me pay these bills)

[judg4]

Normally that will not be scrutinized.

[jff.law]

The income they ask for is a percentage of your anual income.