My uncle has asked me for help with I864 (sponsor) i want to help but im worried

[euler1354 0]

Hi forum,

My uncle has recently asked me to sign the form i864 as he is trying to adjust his state and get greencard in US via his USC wife(my aunt).

Since they couldnt qualify the i864 required income, they have asked me for help on this.

I'm willing to help and want to help but I can also be a nervous and anxious guy.

I have read up on the I864 form and understood my obligation but also had some questions. 

I'm not worried about my uncle suing me in the court for money (125% poverty line) since we are family,

but i'm more worried about public means tested help and having enforceable reimbursement from govt agencies.

I will greatly appreciate your help on understanding.

 

1)  My uncle is 60 and he might or might not need some government help in the future. I trust that he will not do this before he gets naturalized (since he promised me that he wouldnt)

However, If he unknowingly applies for some help OR plain simply had to apply for some help (not intentionally to screw me over)  will government agency still grant him help?  even though he is an immigrant with me as sponsor?  How come there arent any government steps to check if applicants have sponsors? (such as applications for medicaid, foodstamps and etc..)

 

2) How common is it for government agencies to go after me (sponsor)?    

   Can one of my defense be " Why did your agency grant him help without counting my income? "

 

3) In case the reimburse requested amount is super high (like + 100K dollars) , can I opt to pay my uncle 150% poverty line money instead of paying back government (which will financially ruin me)

 

4) When counting 40 quarters of work, does this count months prior to his adjustment of status to greencard holder?

 

5) If government agency does decide to go after the immigrant's sponsor, Am i the only one on the hook? since my aunt(USC spouse) couldnt sponsor to begin with?

  or will there be some liability to my  aunt(USC spouse)?  

  (If so, i will feel a little bit more relaxed that both uncle and aunt will be even extra more careful)

 

5) How common is this situation when a USC like me is asked to sign a relative's i864?   Do I sound over-worried?

 What were you first thoughts when you were in a similar situation? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Crazy Cat 41,904]

I don't have the answers to all your questions.  However, I find it refreshing that you are actually thoroughly researching this matter.  We have seen stories here where people either didn't do the research required, or didn't care about their real responsibilities regarding I-864s..and the ramifications later bit them hard.......Well Done!!!

[Boiler 45,559]

We can comment about what has happened in the past, but we do not know the future.

 

You can never be certain that someone will, or can naturalise.

 

Seems your Aunt has little resources, doe he? At 60 what are his plans?

 

 

[Ryan H 3,812]

Moved from IR-1/CR-1 Progress Reports to General Immigration-Related Discussion.

[Villanelle 4,122]

On 5/7/2018 at 5:17 PM, euler1354 said:

 

 

1)  My uncle is 60 and he might or might not need some government help in the future. I trust that he will not do this before he gets naturalized (since he promised me that he wouldnt)

However, If he unknowingly applies for some help OR plain simply had to apply for some help (not intentionally to screw me over)  will government agency still grant him help?  even though he is an immigrant with me as sponsor?  How come there arent any government steps to check if applicants have sponsors? (such as applications for medicaid, foodstamps and etc..)

 

2) How common is it for government agencies to go after me (sponsor)?    

   Can one of my defense be " Why did your agency grant him help without counting my income? "

 

3) In case the reimburse requested amount is super high (like + 100K dollars) , can I opt to pay my uncle 150% poverty line money instead of paying back government (which will financially ruin me)

 

4) When counting 40 quarters of work, does this count months prior to his adjustment of status to greencard holder?

 

5) If government agency does decide to go after the immigrant's sponsor, Am i the only one on the hook? since my aunt(USC spouse) couldnt sponsor to begin with?

  or will there be some liability to my  aunt(USC spouse)?  

  (If so, i will feel a little bit more relaxed that both uncle and aunt will be even extra more careful)

 

5) How common is this situation when a USC like me is asked to sign a relative's i864?   Do I sound over-worried?

 What were you first thoughts when you were in a similar situation? 

 

 

1. Yes they still may grant him help. Some programs are funded by federal funds, some by state funds, some a combo. Federal guidelines will prohibit him from getting certain benefits for 5 years, some states allow immigrants under 5 years to get benefits. 

 

2. Currently no gov agency is going after people that owe. They have done it a few times in the past but they found it cost more in collection fees then they actually recouped. They talk about making a better more efficient system to collect but right now its just talk. With the current white house it may become a reality. Like Boiler said no one knows the future. 

 

3. No. If he takes benefits then they must be paid back (if asked to pay back). To keep him from getting benefits you would theoretically give him X amount of money so he wouldnt be qualified for them. 

 

4. Yes. Any work hes done in the US (as long as it was legal and reported on his taxes) will give him SS credits. He can go to the SS website and see how many credits he currently has or he can call them and inquire.

 

5. You and your aunt are going to be 'on the hook'./ they would come after her first, then you

 

6. It is very common for people to be joint sponsors/co-sponsors. It can be hard to tell someone no in your family when they need help. Being overly worried is common also. Its a big commitment and because of his age its more risky that he wont be able to work and support himself. Deciding to help someone with sponsoring is a personal decision. If you have a good relationship and are confident in their finances and promises it should ease some of the worry. 

[euler1354 0]

3 hours ago, Damara said:

 

1. Yes they still may grant him help. Some programs are funded by federal funds, some by state funds, some a combo. Federal guidelines will prohibit him from getting certain benefits for 5 years, some states allow immigrants under 5 years to get benefits. 

 

2. Currently no gov agency is going after people that owe. They have done it a few times in the past but they found it cost more in collection fees then they actually recouped. They talk about making a better more efficient system to collect but right now its just talk. With the current white house it may become a reality. Like Boiler said no one knows the future. 

 

3. No. If he takes benefits then they must be paid back (if asked to pay back). To keep him from getting benefits you would theoretically give him X amount of money so he wouldnt be qualified for them. 

 

4. Yes. Any work hes done in the US (as long as it was legal and reported on his taxes) will give him SS credits. He can go to the SS website and see how many credits he currently has or he can call them and inquire.

 

5. You and your aunt are going to be 'on the hook'./ they would come after her first, then you

 

6. It is very common for people to be joint sponsors/co-sponsors. It can be hard to tell someone no in your family when they need help. Being overly worried is common also. Its a big commitment and because of his age its more risky that he wont be able to work and support himself. Deciding to help someone with sponsoring is a personal decision. If you have a good relationship and are confident in their finances and promises it should ease some of the worry. 

Thank you for your detailed response on this. More on the work credits. Do they count the work credits before his greencard status?

 

In addition.. I'm thinking that these govenment agencies [such as SSI or medicaid..] they should actively ask and request for sponsors income when non citizen requests for means tested help.  Is this not the general practice?.  My question is how often these agencies grant help to non citizens that have sponsors.

 

 

[Villanelle 4,122]

Yes they count any credits the person has earned. In order to earn a credit he would have to report his income under his SSN or tax ID number on his taxes. Call SSA or use their website to find out how many credits he has and how many more he needs for USCIS and his retirement.

 

As for them asking and requesting sponsors income- I already answered you. Some programs are federally funded, some are state funded. The federal programs will exclude anyone who hasnt been an LPR for 5 years from them. Some state programs dont do this and dont ask about sponsorship. So in some states its quite often that immigrants get benefits. In other states it never happens.