Cosponsorship

[rob132 0]

Hi,

My daughter recently married a 23 year old Costa Rican living undocumented in the U.S. He entered legally with his family on a travel visa many years ago. They'd like us to cosponsor, but we are reluctant to do so because of the unlimited liability involved, and because they have been married only since December.

• When you sign the affidavit of support, you accept legal responsibility for financially supporting the sponsored immigrant(s) generally until they become U.S. citizens or can be credited with 40 quarters of work. Your obligation also ends if you or the individual sponsored dies or if the individual sponsored ceases to be a permanent resident and departs the United States.
• Note: Divorce does NOT end the sponsorship obligation.
• If the individual you sponsored receives any "means-tested public benefits," you are responsible for repaying the cost of those benefits to the agency that provided them. If you do not repay the debt, the agency can sue you in court to get the money owed. Any joint sponsors or household members whose income is used to meet the minimum income requirements are also legally responsible for financially supporting the sponsored immigrant.

Has anybody else cosponsored and can they share their experiences? Any advice?

[KayDeeCee 4,896]

If the immigrant should apply for and receive means tested benefits, then the government may use the I-864 to be paid back for those benefits. They would go after the USC petitioner/primary sponsor first. If they cannot get the money out of them, then they could then go after the joint sponsor to repay. Before signing, you need to be absolutely comfortable with it. I suppose it would depend on whether or not you trust that the immigrant would not become a public charge before they either have 40 quarters of work, abandon their green card, become a US citizen, or die.

~ Moved from AOS from Family Based to AOS from Work, Student & Tourist Visas ~

[carton025 38]

I think you know that you have already answered the question(s) you ask. Best of luck!

Sid