About the Affidavit of support

[Karma0 0]

So the long and the short is that my wife currently isn't making enough money to meet the poverty line to make our Affidavit of Support "good enough".

My brother in law is more then willing to do one for us, however he was told that it could in the future effect his credit and could in the future cause him issues.

I wasn't aware if this is the case but does someone filling out an Affidavit of Support for my Green card papers effect them as far as credit score or hold them to any obligations in that way?

Thank you for your time.

[Hank_ 9,174]

I don't see how it can affect anyone's credit. But signing as a co-sponsor does create a commitment of support....... IF and only IF... one day the beneficiary became a public charge. Not sure if I worded that right but close.

Edited February 22, 2012 by Hank_Amy

[* Kristin * 49]

Credit, no... but as the other person said, there are legal obligations if you become a public charge.

I thought we were going to need a cosponsor and my uncle was going to do it; however, he's a lawyer - read the paperwork - and then said "no way!"

Hope everything works out!

So the long and the short is that my wife currently isn't making enough money to meet the poverty line to make our Affidavit of Support "good enough".

My brother in law is more then willing to do one for us, however he was told that it could in the future effect his credit and could in the future cause him issues.

I wasn't aware if this is the case but does someone filling out an Affidavit of Support for my Green card papers effect them as far as credit score or hold them to any obligations in that way?

Thank you for your time.

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

Worst case scenario - you collect means tested public benefits in the US while the affidavit of support is still enforceable. The government agency - federal or state - that provided those benefits finds out about the affidavit of support and decides to enforce it (doesn't happen very often). They send a bill to your wife. She refuses to pay. They send a bill to your brother in-law. He refuses to pay. They file a civil lawsuit against your wife and your brother in-law. The judge slaps a lien on both of them. NOW his credit has been adversely affected.

A lot of things have to go wrong before the above scenario can happen. You can prevent it from ever happening by never filing for means tested public benefits in the US, at least not while the affidavit of support is still enforceable. Your wife could stop it from ever affecting your brother in-law by paying the bill. Your brother in-law could stop it from ever getting to court by paying the bill.

I signed affidavits of support for three different immigrants a little under two years ago. Last month I pulled my credit report from each of the three credit reporting agencies in the US because I was going to get a car loan, and I wanted to know what my standing was when bargaining for a decent interest rate on the loan. There was nothing - ABSOLUTELY NOTHING - on my credit report at any of the credit agencies regarding those affidavits.