Affidavit of Support for Non-Family

[6BQ5 0]

My wife’s friend came to the US on a tourist visa in November 2019. She met a fellow and married him in May 2020. The couple submitted their paperwork a month or two ago. Unfortunately, their finances have fallen apart and the fellow will probably be filing for bankruptcy. My wife and I are thinking the couple may ask us to be their financial sponsors.

 

I am unsure if this is possible since my wife and I are not blood related to the couple. 
 

My wife and I got married on a K-1 visa. I don’t want my sponsorship of the couple to impact our own visa journey.

 

Can anyone offer any insights on how a sponsorship like this could affect me and my wife?

 

Thanks! :)

[Boiler 45,525]

You have completed one I 864, the obligations have not changed, a big ask for a friend.

[Adventine 3,196]

1 hour ago, 6BQ5 said:

My wife’s friend came to the US on a tourist visa in November 2019. She met a fellow and married him in May 2020. The couple submitted their paperwork a month or two ago. Unfortunately, their finances have fallen apart and the fellow will probably be filing for bankruptcy. My wife and I are thinking the couple may ask us to be their financial sponsors.

 

First, have they actually asked you to be their sponsor? Or are you only anticipating that they will ask you?

Second, are you willing to take on the financial obligation for what seems like an indefinite period of time?

Third, will this put additional strain on your own marriage?

[SalishSea 17,836]

2 hours ago, 6BQ5 said:

My wife’s friend came to the US on a tourist visa in November 2019. She met a fellow and married him in May 2020. The couple submitted their paperwork a month or two ago. Unfortunately, their finances have fallen apart and the fellow will probably be filing for bankruptcy. My wife and I are thinking the couple may ask us to be their financial sponsors.

 

I am unsure if this is possible since my wife and I are not blood related to the couple. 
 

My wife and I got married on a K-1 visa. I don’t want my sponsorship of the couple to impact our own visa journey.

 

Can anyone offer any insights on how a sponsorship like this could affect me and my wife?

 

Thanks!

Bottom line is you have to ask yourselves if you would be willing to reimburse the US government for any means-tested benefits she should use.  Certainly not a risk most are willing to take for a casual friend.

[aaron2020 11,651]

2 hours ago, 6BQ5 said:

My wife’s friend came to the US on a tourist visa in November 2019. She met a fellow and married him in May 2020. The couple submitted their paperwork a month or two ago. Unfortunately, their finances have fallen apart and the fellow will probably be filing for bankruptcy. My wife and I are thinking the couple may ask us to be their financial sponsors.

 

I am unsure if this is possible since my wife and I are not blood related to the couple. 
 

My wife and I got married on a K-1 visa. I don’t want my sponsorship of the couple to impact our own visa journey.

 

Can anyone offer any insights on how a sponsorship like this could affect me and my wife?

 

Thanks!

You can be their Joint Sponsor.  A blood relative is not required.  Anyone who is a USC or LPR over the age of 18 can be a Joint Sponsor.

 

It could complicate your wife's case if their case gets approved before yours.  Once their case gets approved, then you would need to add the sponsored immigrant to your household count.  If you make enough to sponsor your wife and her friend, then no problem.  If you don't make enough, then you would need a Joint Sponsor for your case.

As a Joint Sponsor, you will be responsible for reimbursing the US Government for any means tested benefits that the intending immigrant may receive.  The duration could be for life if the immigrant does not become a US citizen or fails to get 40 work quarters.  The amount owed could be high.  Trump is putting procedures in place to sue sponsors for reimbursement when immigrants gets these benefits.

Personally, I would never sign an I-864 for a friend.  

[CrisBR 30]

9 hours ago, 6BQ5 said:

My wife’s friend came to the US on a tourist visa in November 2019. She met a fellow and married him in May 2020. The couple submitted their paperwork a month or two ago. Unfortunately, their finances have fallen apart and the fellow will probably be filing for bankruptcy. My wife and I are thinking the couple may ask us to be their financial sponsors.

 

I am unsure if this is possible since my wife and I are not blood related to the couple. 
 

My wife and I got married on a K-1 visa. I don’t want my sponsorship of the couple to impact our own visa journey.

 

Can anyone offer any insights on how a sponsorship like this could affect me and my wife?

 

Thanks!

Sponsoring someone is a big deal! 

Unless you know the people’s habits towards money, I would not commit to such an agreement. 

The USCIS makes it VERY clear that once the beneficiary of that sponsorship uses any government benefits, the burden falls on the sponsor and they may face penalties like having to repay the government and so on. 

Think twice before getting involved in such a decision! 

All the best, pal! 

[Ontarkie 14,226]

~~Moved to General Immigration Discussion, from K1 P&P - the OP is asking about sponsoring another individual~~