Affidavit of Support

[Meawmeowmeoe 1]

Hello,

My friend has asked me to help with the Affidavit of Support because they don't make enough income in order to apply for the green card base on marriage.

If I sign, will it effect me in any form of financial in the future? Will i be at the any risk regarding my own financial?

Please advise.

Thank you in advance

[Merrytooth 5,748]

Affidavit of Support I-864 is legal binding.

So one must think 10 times before committing to be co-sponsor / joint sponsor for someone.

According to the terms of the I-864, a sponsor's obligations terminate only when one of the following conditions applies to the sponsored immigrant:

• He./she has worked, or can be credited with, 40 quarters of coverage under the Social Security Act;
• He/she becomes a United States citizen;
• He/she no longer has lawful permanent resident status, and has departed the United States;
• He/she becomes subject to removal, but applies for and obtains in removal proceedings a new grant of adjustment of status, based on a new Affidavit of Support, if one is required;
• He/she dies.

Your I-864 obligations do not end when their marriage ends.

While chances of being sued by govt to pay back the benefits are very low (the govt would go after the main sponsor first then the joint/co-sponsor), the sponsored immigrant himself/herself could actually sue the I-864 sponsors for support:

Stump v. Stump, 2005 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 26002
Cheshire v. Cheshire - I-864 Affidavit of Support Enforcement in Divorce Action

Like this recent thread here:

http://www.visajourn...rt-under-i-864/

IMHO, I would not sign I-864 for anyone, maybe except my own immediate family.

[markandrizzatyler 14]

I think it depends on the persons you are sponsoring and how much trust and faith you have that that person will take care of themselves and their family , along with their ability to do so. We have a joint sponsor but in no way will I ( petitioner) will I allow her to become responsible for us. My wife and I may not have needed a joint sponsor but we did not want to take a chance since I was not very high above the requirements. I hope this helps

[Unlockable 7,314]

Can it? Yes

Will it? Not likely.

[Illiria 980]

in no way will I ( petitioner) will I allow her to become responsible for us.

There is nothing a petitioner can do to prevent a beneficiary who is intent on apllying for benefits or suing the affidavit of support signer.

Personally I would not sign an affidavit of support for anyone I was not petitioning myself, nor would I expect someone else to complete one for anyone I was petitioning. The stories on here of beneficiaries telling their petitioner they will go on benefits unless the petitioner gives them money are awful.

I have specifically said to certain family members that I will not petition for them as I do not want to become financially responsible for them when they inevitably end up on assistance. Luckily one of them gave up asking once they found out I can't directly petition for them. I love them dearly but I know what they are like when it comes to keeping jobs and supporting themselves.

[markandrizzatyler 14]

There is nothing a petitioner can do to prevent a beneficiary who is intent on apllying for benefits or suing the affidavit of support signer.

That is correct , however what i can do is be financially responsible for my wife , even if the marriage failed in the future . Its all a matter if integrity and there are many things to consider if one was to choose to co/joint sponsor

[Merrytooth 5,748]

Joint/Co sponsors may know the USC well, but may not know the USCs immigrant spouse at all.

There is a huge leap of faith to trust that the immigrant won't apply for benefits or sue in the future.

There are plenty of threads of USCs, joint/co-sponsors asking how to revoke I-864 once the marriage ended because they do not want to be burdened by I-864 obligations.

Of course there is NO way to revoke I-864 once the AOS is approved, Green Card in hand.

In another way, it is like "don't co-sign a loan, if you don't want to be responsible for paying it off".

[Meawmeowmeoe 1]

Thank you everyone for your input, I really appreciate it