I'm filing an immigrant visa petition on behalf of my brother, but as I have limited financial resources I cannot afford to sponsor his wife and children. Is this OK?
This is possible, however, it does mean that only the persons you are able to sponsor, which must include your brother, as the principal applicant, would be eligible to immigrate to the United States at this time. You would still be required to file an I-864 for your brother's wife and children, but could file at a later date when your financial circumstances had improved
What are the advantages of limiting the number of people I sponsor?
By limiting the number of persons you are sponsoring, you would reduce the household size and thereby face a lower minimum income requirement. You should note however, that when it comes to filing an I-864 on behalf of your brother's wife and children, your brother would still be counted in the total, as an alien whom you are still obligated to support.
I'm divorced and my child resides in my household part of the time and with my spouse the other. Is he or she counted as part of my household?
Dependent children of a divorced couple are members of the parent's household, even if they live part of the time with the other parent. A parent always has a legal obligation to support his or her child.
But my spouse claims my child as a dependent on his or her tax return.
Although only one of the parents may be legally entitled to child as a dependent on his or her tax return, the child is considered as part of both parent's households for purposes of the I-864 unless a parent can show that he or she has been relieved of any legal obligation to support the child.
Household Size