Risks of being a sponsor?

[cloclo421 0]

My friend asked my husband and I to sponsor her 18 year old niece to come over to the US for some school She enrolled in a community college English course which is US$10,000. I think her plan is to first get the girl over here and to find a way so she can stay permanently(like she did). She told us we do not have to be responsible for anything (nor pay for anything) but to deliver the right paperwork to the school. My husband is successful so he has the proper bank statements, my friend does not have the financial ability to do so. Also her niece does not have any money either. My friend makes it sound so easy but I am getting fearful since I have heard that sponsoring is like being a co-signer on a loan and that we will be responsible for anything this girl does or whatever expenses she incurs and we do not want to have trouble on our hands. Can anyone please help and tell me what the real story is?

[EAbbas 213]

My friend asked my husband and I to sponsor her 18 year old niece to come over to the US for some school She enrolled in a community college English course which is US$10,000. I think her plan is to first get the girl over here and to find a way so she can stay permanently(like she did). She told us we do not have to be responsible for anything (nor pay for anything) but to deliver the right paperwork to the school. My husband is successful so he has the proper bank statements, my friend does not have the financial ability to do so. Also her niece does not have any money either. My friend makes it sound so easy but I am getting fearful since I have heard that sponsoring is like being a co-signer on a loan and that we will be responsible for anything this girl does or whatever expenses she incurs and we do not want to have trouble on our hands. Can anyone please help and tell me what the real story is?

It only refers to public assistance or government assistance programs. It doesnt mean that you would be responsible for credit cards, living expenses car payments etc. IF she uses government assistance/welfare then the government can choose to ask to be reimbursed for this.

[ATPEACE 43]

If the student has no money to cover her education, then you'll will have to show proof that you'll have the $10,000 to cover her schooling. That may mean transfering $10,000 into her personal account. Are you and your husband prepared to do that, remember each school is different in their requirements.

Edited July 5, 2011 by ATPEACE

[cloclo421 0]

Thank you EAbbas for your answer... Congrats on your marriage!

@ AtPeace- Does that mean if for some reason she cannot pay it but still enrolls we have to pay the school?

[EAbbas 213]

i understood she would pay her own tuition and if she cant she gets out of status making her visa void and has to return.... Its only for government assistance programs such as food stamps and welfare etc tuition is not government assistance unless she gets gov assistance for school but that would almost be unheqard of usually they have to pay their own way.....read the i864 legality info

[LIFE'SJOURNEY 970]

Eabbas, the 864 has nothing to do with a student visa, you are confusing the two.

[LIFE'SJOURNEY 970]

Thank you EAbbas for your answer... Congrats on your marriage!

@ AtPeace- Does that mean if for some reason she cannot pay it but still enrolls we have to pay the school?

No, if she is still enroll and can't pay, she will be dis-enroll from the school, and then she will become out of status. Then she will be living in the US illegal. No, the school may ask for the full tution up front the first year. This is where they are looking for the student to have the tution money available before they offer them a student visa.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

A student visa is a non-immigrant visa. It does not require an Affidavit of Support. There is no path from a non-immigrant visa to that of a resident.

Getting an education in the US is very expensive. The costs up to a Bachelor's degree will be tens of thousands of dollars alone, all the while she's not allowed to work, aside from 20 hours on campus, if, and only if they have a suitable position open at the cafeteria of the school.

I understand her desire to move to the US perfectly, but ya'll should sit down together and think this through from a cost and practical perspective.

[Harsh_77 718]

Ebbas is mixing things up.

I would say is you are helping someone to illegal enter the country by showing the finance.

As you have mentioned your friend is asking you to show your finance documents to bring her niece over but then who is going to pay for her education if your friend cannot pay and her niece cannot pay then who is going to pay?

She will dissolve into thousands and thousands of illegal immigrant, if I was in your place I would not do it.

By helping her you are only helping illegal immigration.

[Jojo92122 1,924]

My friend asked my husband and I to sponsor her 18 year old niece to come over to the US for some school She enrolled in a community college English course which is US$10,000. I think her plan is to first get the girl over here and to find a way so she can stay permanently(like she did). She told us we do not have to be responsible for anything (nor pay for anything) but to deliver the right paperwork to the school. My husband is successful so he has the proper bank statements, my friend does not have the financial ability to do so. Also her niece does not have any money either. My friend makes it sound so easy but I am getting fearful since I have heard that sponsoring is like being a co-signer on a loan and that we will be responsible for anything this girl does or whatever expenses she incurs and we do not want to have trouble on our hands. Can anyone please help and tell me what the real story is?

Basic question - if your friend and her niece do not have the money for college, then where is this money going to come from? Isn't she essentially asking you to commit fraud by using your finances to prove that there is sufficient funds for the niece to attend college when the money is not really available? How are they going to come up with $10,000/year? Foreign students cannot legally work their first year in the US, and can only work on campus after the first year.

What happens if the niece decides not to attend school or work illegally or remain in the US illegally? Of course your friend will guarantee that none of this will happen, but there is no way to force the niece to do anything. Are you prepare for this? Are you willing to accept these risks?

Run!!!!!!