Financial Requirements to Get a U.S. Green Card

In order to succeed in your application for a U.S. green card (lawful permanent residence), you must prove that you are not likely to become a public charge -- in other words, receive need-based public assistance from any government agency within the United States. Likelihood of becoming a public charge is one of the grounds of inadmissibility; and being found inadmissible will result in your being denied a green card. Many people are denied green cards every year on this basis.

In order to overcome any suspicion that you might end up receiving public assistance, you will need to provide evidence of your likely sources of support up front, as part of the green card application process. For people applying based on employment, this is usually fairly simple, because they can show that they'll have a job. If, however, you're applying for a green card based on family, or on having won a slot in the diversity visa lottery, you may have to show that someone in the United States is willing to support you, or that you have significant savings or other assets with which to support yourself even if you don't find a job. You'll have to fill out specific and detailed forms to show your source(s) of support, and provide financial documents.