Being that you all live together, they are correct. She is a household member not a joint sponsor. There is a difference. I joint sponsor is someone of a different household that is basically co-signing for if you don't qualify by yourself. A household member means that both of your incomes are combined to see if you qualify for a household of 3 including your spouse. This actually may be to your benefit because she would have to qualify or EVERYONE in the household by herself if she were a joint sponsor, which would be $32,275. Your entire household would need to make that amount combined rather than you and her both having to make that seperately