Can You Afford This?

Poor Huddled Masses? Not exactly "poor"

Another fundamental part of the visa application stage is the review of your financial ability to start your life together in the US.  A finding that one is likely to become a "public charge" (i.e. dependant upon government assistance) is also a ground of inadmissibility to the US.  To prevent that, you need to submit Form I-864: the Affidavit of Support.  The I-864 is used to establish two things: domicile of the person signing the form; and financial status for supporting the intending immigration.

Domicile is essentially a state of mind regarding intent; a US citizen who has been residing abroad may still be domiciled in the US if their intention is to return to the US. For the petitioner-sponsor, this means the intent to return to the US either prior to or with the sponsored immigrant

Financial status means confirming earnings of at least 125% of the Federal Poverty Guideline for a family of your size annually in the US or have assets in the US that are either 1. five times that figure-for non-spouse sponsors (if 125% for your family size is $25,000, your assets would have to equal $125,000); or 2. three times that figure for spouse sponsors ($25,000 would require $75,000 of assets).  If you are not currently working in the US and/or you do not have sufficient assets, you can enlist a Joint Sponsor.  The Joint Sponsor will also have to submit an Affidavit of Support showing that their income or assets satisfies the 125% level for their family size, plus the intending immigrant (100% for military families).  To find the current 125% (or 100%) figure for your family size check out https://www.uscis.gov/i-864p .