Financial Responsibility as a sponsor

[DaveAndAnastasia 2,092]

57 minutes ago, JeffAtl said:

Well, I will try that.  I think my attorney isn't charging all that much, but the filing fees (as he tells me) are high.

Really depends what you're comparing to; I didn't think they were all that much in context (and many countries have much higher fees for relationship-based visas leading to permanent residence than the US has).

 

The expensive part of a K-1 isn't really the nominal government fees, IMO.

It's that you're in an international relationship (to start with) which necessarily involves international travel (usually expensive), and then there's a more or less extended period where your new spouse can't work legally once they get here.

[Unlockable 7,314]

*** Several noncontributing and personal attacking comments removed. Keep to remaining civil in here and helping the OP or administrative action will be taken.

 

VJ Moderation

[JeffAtl 16]

Now that we're back on track, evidently Trump raised the cost of applying for a green card to over $1k per person.  Thats kind of what I was referring to.  If its $1200 (approximately) per person (was $700?) and my lawyer wants to charge me $3k for both, kind of makes sense to me.  Work permit is included in that paperwork (not extra) unless done separately, which is $410, but it takes 4 or so months and we might as well wait until the 90 days is up or we get married, whichever comes first.

Edited May 4, 2021 by JeffAtl

[DaveAndAnastasia 2,092]

1 minute ago, JeffAtl said:

Now that we're back on track, evidently Trump raised the cost of applying for a green card to over $1k per person.  Thats kind of what I was referring to.  If its $1200 (approximately) per person (was $700?) and my lawyer wants to charge me $3k for both, kind of makes sense to me.  Work permit is included in that paperwork (not extra) unless done separately, which is $410, but it takes 4 or so months and we might as well wait until the 90 days is up or we get married, whichever comes first.

The Trump administration proposed some fee increases for AOS (the base cost would have gone down slightly, but EAD/work permit and AP/travel permit and fees would no longer be waived with a pending I-485/Adjustment of Status application), but they never went into effect.

 

AOS from a K1 currently costs $1225 (though any K2 children adjusting cost extra). The current fee schedule dates from the Obama administration.

[payxibka 10,045]

44 minutes ago, JeffAtl said:

Now that we're back on track, evidently Trump raised the cost of applying for a green card to over $1k per person.  Thats kind of what I was referring to.  If its $1200 (approximately) per person (was $700?) and my lawyer wants to charge me $3k for both, kind of makes sense to me.  Work permit is included in that paperwork (not extra) unless done separately, which is $410, but it takes 4 or so months and we might as well wait until the 90 days is up or we get married, whichever comes first.

Trump administration didn't raise fees.  AOS had been $1225 for the k1 applicant for many many years.   Doing the work permit separately (before the i485) hasn't made much sense for more than a decade. 

[Crazy Cat 41,857]

1 hour ago, JeffAtl said:

Now that we're back on track, evidently Trump raised the cost of applying for a green card to over $1k per person.

Not true.....fake news...From where did you get this misinformation?

Edited May 4, 2021 by Lucky Cat

[JeffAtl 16]

3 minutes ago, Lucky Cat said:

Not true........From where did you get this misinformation?

An inaccurate article, evidently.  I don't have it pulled up anymore, so can't site the source.  Ah the old fake news.  I kind of miss hearing that, lol.

Edited May 4, 2021 by JeffAtl

[AKF2015 10]

On 5/3/2021 at 10:23 AM, JeffAtl said:

How have I invested that much money??? Gifts to her and her son, attorney's fees and more attorney's fees to come.  I covered all trips for both of us, engagement ring, lawyer in Ukraine as well.  It never ends.  So yeah, I will be $20k into this plus my increased expenses for whatever they need when they get here, which is hard to fully calculate.  Car for her, cost of wedding, day trips to show them around, English lessons (expensive), etc.  I mean, its a lot if you do it properly.

Well we did it properly, but my neither my now-husband nor me had to spend close to $10k even. Granted, I was never married so there was no divorce nor children from previous relationships. He spent around $3k all in (including my plane ticket) until I got to the U.S. He visited me once but it was a planned trip before we even met (I travelled around Asia so I offered to go with him if he decides to visit the South East) so I wouldn't count that as part of our expenses. We filed the paperwork ourselves, I think that saved a lot of expenses and I arrived almost exactly a year since he left the Philippines. Then I got my green card 6 months later. All subsequent expenses we treated as "home expenses" so I just included it in our annual budget, I also did all the paperwork from the Adjustment of Status through my citizenship.

 

I do know someone who went through an agency and they keep paying and paying - 3 years later his fiance's petition is still pending. Best of luck! I hope the process goes smoothly for everything! 

[JeffAtl 16]

13 hours ago, alexkimifrank said:

Well we did it properly, but my neither my now-husband nor me had to spend close to $10k even. Granted, I was never married so there was no divorce nor children from previous relationships. He spent around $3k all in (including my plane ticket) until I got to the U.S. He visited me once but it was a planned trip before we even met (I travelled around Asia so I offered to go with him if he decides to visit the South East) so I wouldn't count that as part of our expenses. We filed the paperwork ourselves, I think that saved a lot of expenses and I arrived almost exactly a year since he left the Philippines. Then I got my green card 6 months later. All subsequent expenses we treated as "home expenses" so I just included it in our annual budget, I also did all the paperwork from the Adjustment of Status through my citizenship.

 

I do know someone who went through an agency and they keep paying and paying - 3 years later his fiance's petition is still pending. Best of luck! I hope the process goes smoothly for everything! 

Good Lord! I don't think my lawyer is dishonest, but I don't think he's very competent either.  I will look at the paperwork and see if I can do it myself.  Will still be $2500 + a prenup.  I was quoted $1500 on a prenup.  I wonder if I can save on that also.

[ElenaAtty 2]

 

Quote

I hate to even bring this up, but its a concern.  I've read a lot on other boards and just research in general that the person in the U.S. who is sponsoring their future spouse is potentially liable for 125% of any government assistance that immigrant may go on in the event the relationship fails for a period of 10 years or until that person is a U.S. citizen which I believe takes around 5 years minimum.  Anyone have horror stories to share on this? What are the realistic chances of financial ruin for the sponsor if it doesn't work out? I just want to know the potential downside scenarios as we are getting close to the Embassy interview and then there's really no turning back as it's the final step to her approval.  I believe I've been misinformed by my attorney, which is why I bring this up.  The whole process has put a strain on our relationship and I'm taking a huge risk.

Attorney responding here. Every known case in which an I-864 beneficiary has sued a sponsor in state court has arisen in family law proceedings. There is no way for a US citizen spouse to get around it, prenup won't help, although it would limit the amount at risk to 125%. I have been on both sides of this issue as an attorney, and have drafted strong prenups with maximum protections to the US spouse. Wife just needs to get a good divorce attorney to sue on the Affidavit of Support. I have done a lot of research on this issue, and know divorce attorneys who use this argument successfully. It is now settled law that the I-864 provides the noncitizen-beneficiary a private cause of action against the sponsor, should he fail to maintain support. The I-864 statute, at 8 U.S.C. § 1183a(e)(I), provides that “[a]n action to enforce an affidavit of support… may be brought against the sponsor in any appropriate court… by a sponsored alien, with respect to financial support."

Edited May 11, 2021 by ElenaAtty

[jeanieCZ 228]

On 5/3/2021 at 2:46 PM, JeffAtl said:

Doing my best.  She has said things like "our budget", and I've said things like "My home is no longer just my home, its your's and your son's".  I think she gets it.  You could take my comment 2 different ways, and that is how I meant it.  Meaning, its your home also, and you need to contribute.  I've beaten the dead horse and I'm done because I know its not something she wants to hear over and over again.  But I will ask her for money towards the house payment and groceries at the very least, as well as her car/car insurance.  She'll end up better off financially from this, as I'd expect her to be able to save much more, but some of her savings may go into a joint investment account.  I think it will even out enough in the end.  If not, we will be divorced, simple as that.  I won't be used as I was in my first marriage and she knows it.  I see us having a joint account for bills and our own separate accounts where we don't need to tell each other what we're spending on, and of course an investment account.

Have you talked to her about this? The cost of life in the USA? Considering you want her to contribute to groceries and car etc, I would suggest telling her what your expectations are. Make it concrete and show her your budget, make a joint budget. It's important she's aware of the cost of things and what's expected of her.