Is it ok to pay a random person to sign you the I-864?

[adelvalle 0]

Hi, I am trying to get my green card. I have been having problems with the form for affidavit of support, the rest is ready!!! I married my wife on an F-1 visa, and I had to quit my job (where I was making 50k+) that I had on my previous Employement Authorization which expired, now i had to cash in my retirement to survive on the mean time.

This is the problem: My wife has been living on grants and student loans (she's a student, of course ) so they have not been taxable hence she doesnt "make" the 17000 that we need since she didnot put those on her past tax returns. I told my lawyer if I could use my tax return and said no. All our friends are poor or work on Employement authorizations hence not elegible, and I am out of options. I am thinking on paying some random burguer flipper a couple of hundred bucks and hope to convince someone to do it for me even if he doesnt know me, someone young maybe in need of a few extra dollars for christmas. Is it illegal to do that?

Thanks a lot.

need-help@hotmail.com

[marie09 5]

Hi, I am trying to get my green card. I have been having problems with the form for affidavit of support, the rest is ready!!! I married my wife on an F-1 visa, and I had to quit my job (where I was making 50k+) that I had on my previous Employement Authorization which expired, now i had to cash in my retirement to survive on the mean time.

This is the problem: My wife has been living on grants and student loans (she's a student, of course ) so they have not been taxable hence she doesnt "make" the 17000 that we need since she didnot put those on her past tax returns. I told my lawyer if I could use my tax return and said no. All our friends are poor or work on Employement authorizations hence not elegible, and I am out of options. I am thinking on paying some random burguer flipper a couple of hundred bucks and hope to convince someone to do it for me even if he doesnt know me, someone young maybe in need of a few extra dollars for christmas. Is it illegal to do that?

Thanks a lot.

need-help@hotmail.com

Hi I'm sorry to hear of your I-864 sponsor nightmare. Unfortunately yes I believe it would be illegal to do what you proposed. Your I-864 sponsor(s) will legally be responsible for ensuring you don't become a public burden until you are a citizen/abandon permanent resident status. That is legally a big responsibility. I know it's hard to ask people but I would try asking her family or any family friends first. However distant... If not maybe several of your friends could help make up the total. I don't think there's a limit to how many I-864 sponsors you can have. I really sympathise with your situation as AOS is definitely very costly.

I'm sure more people will jump in here soon with more advice for you. Good Luck!

Edited December 2, 2009 by marie09

[Dakine 26]

Hi, I am trying to get my green card. I have been having problems with the form for affidavit of support, the rest is ready!!! I married my wife on an F-1 visa, and I had to quit my job (where I was making 50k+) that I had on my previous Employement Authorization which expired, now i had to cash in my retirement to survive on the mean time.

This is the problem: My wife has been living on grants and student loans (she's a student, of course ) so they have not been taxable hence she doesnt "make" the 17000 that we need since she didnot put those on her past tax returns. I told my lawyer if I could use my tax return and said no. All our friends are poor or work on Employement authorizations hence not elegible, and I am out of options. I am thinking on paying some random burguer flipper a couple of hundred bucks and hope to convince someone to do it for me even if he doesnt know me, someone young maybe in need of a few extra dollars for christmas. Is it illegal to do that?

Thanks a lot.

need-help@hotmail.com

You and your wife can combine your incomes to qualify. Your past taxes paid in the US should come into play also.

I think your lawyer is incorrect.

Edited December 2, 2009 by Dakine

[Michelle81 0]

There HAS to be a better way, if you get caught it will all be a waste of time anyways.

Think about it some more. The penalties are quite harsh if you do something stupid and illegal.

Good luck!

[dirtyweebesom 8]

Like Marie says, it's a huge financial and legal responsibility for someone to be your sponsor, so it's unlikely you'd ever find someone willing to take that on. Even my parents-in-law who were joint sponsor along with my husband were a bit wary of being financially bound to me for the rest of my life or until I leave the country (or become a US citizen).

[Mimino 2]

They are only financially responsible if you start living on welfare and use other gov. sponsored "amenities."

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

The "believes" of other members notwithstanding, I don't know of any law prohibiting the solicitation of support. So, yes, I "believe" it is legal to use a random person to sign the Affidavit of Support as a co-sponsor for you.

The problem you maybe encountering is that the "burger flipper" needs not only to sign the form, but also provide you with his or her tax returns. If you can find somebody willing to do that, more power to you.

[SunDrop 59]

financially bound to me for the rest of my life or until I leave the country (or become a US citizen).

This isn't correct. They are liable to be sued by the Government for reimbursement if you benefit from any federal assistance, for a period of 10 years (or 40 tax periods as a couple, so 5 years if you are both working throughout) OR you qualify to naturalise, and do so, after 3 years from the issue date of your first GC having been continuously married to the same USC during that time.

I told my lawyer if I could use my tax return and said no.

You absolutely can use a beneficiary's income towards the I-864. Says so right on the form. I'd fire your lawyer, since he can't even read the instructions... Not only can you do it by using your tax returns, but if your current annual income is higher than last year's, you can simply enter your projected annual income (evidenced by paystubs and a letter from your employer) and combine it with your wife's under the household income field. The exception to the beneficiary's income being considered is if the source of income will not continue after the AOS is complete (so you are on a time-specific contract, for example or only employed through an agency).

However, I do not know what of your wife's income through grants and sponsorship can be considered.

Edited December 3, 2009 by SunDrop

[christeen 966]

Nothwithstanding the legality issues... The "random" person would have to provide you with their full financial disclosure, tax information, SS# and everything about them... In this day and age I do not know anyone who would do that, even for a bit of "Christmas Cash"... That is a blatent invitation to identy theft... Do you best to combine your incomes and if you have ANY way to ask family or pool $$ from friends to put under one account for assets... Good Luck

[dirtyweebesom 8]

financially bound to me for the rest of my life or until I leave the country (or become a US citizen).

This isn't correct. They are liable to be sued by the Government for reimbursement if you benefit from any federal assistance, for a period of 10 years (or 40 tax periods as a couple, so 5 years if you are both working throughout) OR you qualify to naturalise, and do so, after 3 years from the issue date of your first GC having been continuously married to the same USC during that time.

Sorry, I shouldn't have made such a dramatic statement, as I knew sponsors would only be financially responsible for me if I required federal assistance. But I also thought they are no longer held responsible for you if you permanently leave the country?

As regards what the other posters have said, the OP would be lucky to find a "random burger flipper" who'd be willing to disclose so much financially sensitive information. I would definitely try to find a close friend or relative instead.

[adelvalle 0]

Nothwithstanding the legality issues... The "random" person would have to provide you with their full financial disclosure, tax information, SS# and everything about them... In this day and age I do not know anyone who would do that, even for a bit of "Christmas Cash"... That is a blatent invitation to identy theft... Do you best to combine your incomes and if you have ANY way to ask family or pool $$ from friends to put under one account for assets... Good Luck

So let me know if Im understanding these correctly. When you mentioned about pooling money for assests. Actually I have an account with 5000 and my wife has a savings account with 5000 as well. Also she has a car valued at $15,000, and I have another one for $10k. Can we use that towards those $17.000? Or we actually need someone to give tax returns???

Thanks for all the fast replies, I'm starting to think that I made a huge mistake by going to that lawyer.

Thanks again.

[Anh map 2,098]

I call troll

[FortLaudy 10]

What do you guys mean when writing "I call troll"... i've seen it on a few posts and it always baffles my mind... care to inform this newbie please?? thanks !

[English Muffin 59]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troll_%28Internet%29

[rmncm 0]

Hell, I make enough...I'll sign it for $50,000 in installment payments for the next 5 years. Let me know.