Cosponsorship queries

[Paul & Ilona 0]

Hello helpful ones,

We're looking to my parents for cosponsorship as I'm at best going to a graduate student on a departmental stipend of 16 grand. My parents are worried about the legal liabilities on their end.

How exactly does cosponsorship work? I understand it as a form of payment deferrment for government assistance--should things come to that. Is it as simple as: any time that the person being sponsored applies for govt assistance, the government doles out the benefit, but charges the sponsors the balance of the assistance? Is this right?

We all understand that the cosponsor's liabilities extend until citizenship or 10 years of working have passed. There's also been mention of the fact that both the person being sponsored as well as the government is able to sue the sponor if the sponsor refuses to assist.

The relation between us and my parents is nothing short of perfect, and it would take a nuclear event to create friction between us, but should they still be apprehensive in signing onto a decade long aid process?

If someone has information/experiences that could assuage them that would be appreciated. Anyone that you would recommend talking to that would be authoritative on this?

[Paul & Ilona 0]

Hello helpful ones,

We're looking to my parents for cosponsorship as I'm at best going to a graduate student on a departmental stipend of 16 grand. My parents are worried about the legal liabilities on their end.

How exactly does cosponsorship work? I understand it as a form of payment deferrment for government assistance--should things come to that. Is it as simple as: any time that the person being sponsored applies for govt assistance, the government doles out the benefit, but charges the sponsors the balance of the assistance? Is this right?

We all understand that the cosponsor's liabilities extend until citizenship or 10 years of working have passed. There's also been mention of the fact that both the person being sponsored as well as the government is able to sue the sponor if the sponsor refuses to assist.

The relation between us and my parents is nothing short of perfect, and it would take a nuclear event to create friction between us, but should they still be apprehensive in signing onto a decade long aid process?

If someone has information/experiences that could assuage them that would be appreciated. Anyone that you would recommend talking to that would be authoritative on this?

My husband forgot to ask this in his post:

First, briefly, is co sponsorship the same as joint sponsorship??? I'm going to use the term co-sponsorship here, but if these are two completely different things, somebody please let us know.

[Delicia 1]

The only thing I know is co-sponsorship is a anther family member within the household and a join sponsor is someone outside the household. I can't answer the remaining questions.

[Misty1979 0]

The only thing I know is co-sponsorship is a anther family member within the household and a join sponsor is someone outside the household. I can't answer the remaining questions.

Delicia had it right with her statement. As long as your husband does not live with his parents, they would be considered "joint sponsors", and would fill out exactly the same form as your husband (I-864) and include the same sort of evidence, (ex. employment letters, W2's, copy of birth certificate, etc.)

I'm not very knowledgable about the legal liabilities involved with the Affadavit of Support either, unfortunately. I do seem to recall that if the situation were to arise, they primarily go after the petitioner for the funds... not the joint sponsor, although I could be wrong so don't quote me on it.

Hopefully pshbrk or YuandDan will see this thread and pop in here to give you some further info in that department

Edited December 3, 2007 by Misty1979

[MargotDarko 0]

The only thing I know is co-sponsorship is a anther family member within the household and a join sponsor is someone outside the household. I can't answer the remaining questions.

This isn't true. Someone within the household adding their income to total is called a "household member" and completes a I-864A. There is no official "co-sponsor" - it's just another word used casually when describing a "joint sponsor" who fills out the I-864.

[rjp44 1]

Hello helpful ones,

We're looking to my parents for cosponsorship as I'm at best going to a graduate student on a departmental stipend of 16 grand. My parents are worried about the legal liabilities on their end.

How exactly does cosponsorship work? I understand it as a form of payment deferrment for government assistance--should things come to that. Is it as simple as: any time that the person being sponsored applies for govt assistance, the government doles out the benefit, but charges the sponsors the balance of the assistance? Is this right?

We all understand that the cosponsor's liabilities extend until citizenship or 10 years of working have passed. There's also been mention of the fact that both the person being sponsored as well as the government is able to sue the sponor if the sponsor refuses to assist.

The relation between us and my parents is nothing short of perfect, and it would take a nuclear event to create friction between us, but should they still be apprehensive in signing onto a decade long aid process?

If someone has information/experiences that could assuage them that would be appreciated. Anyone that you would recommend talking to that would be authoritative on this?

You are right that it is a contract for a 10 year period. WIth you being a graduate student, I certainly don't see any problems in you being able to support your spouse over that period. If, for some unforseen reason, the marriage does not work out, remember the CR-1 in a conditional visa that is only good for 2 years and has to be finalized with removal of conditions.

[john_and_marlene 162]

Hello helpful ones,

We're looking to my parents for cosponsorship as I'm at best going to a graduate student on a departmental stipend of 16 grand. My parents are worried about the legal liabilities on their end.

How exactly does cosponsorship work? I understand it as a form of payment deferrment for government assistance--should things come to that. Is it as simple as: any time that the person being sponsored applies for govt assistance, the government doles out the benefit, but charges the sponsors the balance of the assistance? Is this right?

We all understand that the cosponsor's liabilities extend until citizenship or 10 years of working have passed. There's also been mention of the fact that both the person being sponsored as well as the government is able to sue the sponor if the sponsor refuses to assist.

The relation between us and my parents is nothing short of perfect, and it would take a nuclear event to create friction between us, but should they still be apprehensive in signing onto a decade long aid process?

If someone has information/experiences that could assuage them that would be appreciated. Anyone that you would recommend talking to that would be authoritative on this?

You are right that it is a contract for a 10 year period. WIth you being a graduate student, I certainly don't see any problems in you being able to support your spouse over that period. If, for some unforseen reason, the marriage does not work out, remember the CR-1 in a conditional visa that is only good for 2 years and has to be finalized with removal of conditions.

There are a few events that end the support obligation, but the passage of 10 years is not one of them.