HELP: first-time homebuyer as an immigrant w/ a sponsor can we apply for a USDA loan.

[winsse 2]

I am aware were not allowed to ask help from the government, to be a freeloader, otherwise my aunt who sponsored me (signed an affidavit of support) would have to pay back the amount used by me. 

 

but hubby and i each have a credit score of 749+, ive worked in the same job for 2 years. were already pre-approved for a conventional loan.

 

is applying for a USDA loan a major No-no? or is this something we could actually try to avail? what does being a liability mean? would i be a liability if we applied for the USDA loan? 

 

every realtor, agent/lender have encouraged us to apply for USDA but they couldnt for sure say if having an affidavit of support will hurt us. they just know if youre a legal immigrant, its never an issue.

 

help?

 

 

Edited December 1, 2021 by winsse

[SalishSea 17,980]

1 hour ago, winsse said:

I am aware were not allowed to ask help from the government, to be a freeloader, otherwise my aunt who sponsored me (signed an affidavit of support) would have to pay back the amount used by me. 

 

but hubby and i each have a credit score of 749+, ive worked in the same job for 2 years. were already pre-approved for a conventional loan.

 

is applying for a USDA loan a major No-no? or is this something we could actually try to avail? what does being a liability mean? would i be a liability if we applied for the USDA loan? 

 

every realtor, agent/lender have encouraged us to apply for USDA but they couldnt for sure say if having an affidavit of support will hurt us. they just know if youre a legal immigrant, its never an issue.

 

help?

 

 

A mortgage loan is not a government handout.   You will be just fine.

[winsse 2]

Thank you for responding!!

 

my concern is, they do pay for the downpayment (8k maximum) and it's forgivable in 15 years.

 

another is the CPLP.. where theres a possibility of being given 30k but its zero interest.. here's a summary:

 

The Community Partners Loan Pool (CPLP) provides qualified home buyers with down payment assistance: Up to 20% of the sales price, not to exceed $30,000 (effective May 1, 2018), when combined with a NC Home Advantage Mortgage™. Up to 10% of the purchase price when combined with a USDA's Section 502 loan.

 

i wont be a liability right? just clarifying before we apply. cause i am so afraid that my sponsoring aunt would get in trouble when she risked filing an affidavit of support for me then i end up abusing it.. 

 

also, it wont be a problem when i apply for citizenship in 5 months right? this wont be a hindrance if we get approved for these loans? 

 

really appreciate the time and wisdom.. thank you!

 

ps. attached is from the USCIS website edited sept 2019.

Edited December 1, 2021 by winsse

[SalishSea 17,980]

I can't see how having that loan, (even if part of it is a grant vs a repayable loan) could be considered a means-tested benefit, and thereby a consideration for the public charge.

 

I think you're fine!  Hopefully others here will weigh in, like @HRQX.

[millefleur 5,047]

TANF, Medicaid and SSI are all basically "free money" from the government or state that you never have to pay back. While the loan might be "means tested" because it involved income qualifications, I'm not sure it would be considered a "benefit." I'm pretty sure it is extremely hard for non-citizens to even get approved for such benefits in the first place, for example Medicaid will often outright rejects GC holders, the whole "sponsorship" thing seems to be a worst case scenario if for some reason an immigrant ends up disabled and on SSI or something.

 

If you are the one entering into the agreement with the loan company, seems more like an agreement between you and the loan company and your sponsor would not be involved. Only way I can see your aunt being responsible for the loan is if she also signs her name on the agreement.

 

5 hours ago, winsse said:

also, it wont be a problem when i apply for citizenship in 5 months right? this wont be a hindrance if we get approved for these loans? 

Also, when you become a citizen, your aunt will be finally off the hook from her sponsorship. So that's good news! I don't think taking out a loan will affect citizenship. Lots of GC holders take out government student loans and I've never heard of that affecting citizenship. Would imagine it's similar with home loans.

[HRQX 4,145]

5 hours ago, winsse said:

my concern is, they do pay for the downpayment (8k maximum) and it's forgivable in 15 years.

 

another is the CPLP.. where theres a possibility of being given 30k but its zero interest.

That shouldn't be an issue. Even in the short period when the previous Administration's public charge rule was in place there were many things that were not considered "public benefits" https://web.archive.org/web/20210303222548/https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-8-part-g-chapter-10

Other benefits not considered public benefits in the public charge inadmissibility determination include, but are not limited to:

• Any services provided under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act);^[21] 

• Benefits under the Emergency Food Assistance Act (TEFAP);^[22]

• Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP);

• Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR);

• Short-term, non-cash, in-kind emergency disaster relief;

• Programs, services, or assistance (such as soup kitchens, crisis counseling and intervention, and short-term shelter) provided by local communities or through public or private nonprofit organizations;

• Public health assistance for immunizations with respect to immunizable diseases and for testing and treatment of symptoms of communicable diseases whether or not such symptoms are caused by a communicable disease;

• Attending public school;

• Benefits though school lunch or other supplemental nutrition programs including:

  • Benefits through the Child Nutrition Act;^[23]

  • Benefits from the National School Lunch Act;^[24]

• Summer Food Service program;

• Child care related services including the Child Care and Development Block Grant Program (CCDBGP);^[25]

• Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC);^[26]

• Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP);^[27]

• Health Insurance through the Affordable Care Act;

• Tax Credits;

• Transportation vouchers or other non-cash transportation services;

• Housing assistance under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act;^[28]

• Energy benefits such as the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP);^[29]

• Educational benefits, including, but not limited to, benefits under the Head Start Act;^[30]

• Student loans and home mortgage loan programs; and

• Foster care and adoption benefits.

As there are multiple federal and state public benefits programs, USCIS is unable to list all programs not included within the public charge inadmissibility determination.

[winsse 2]

i should have come here a month earlier i knew the people of visajourney is just a wellspring of invaluable, reliable information. im calling our lender and asking about what were qualified to apply for.

 

THANK YOU HRQX, MILLEFLEUR and JORGEDIG 🙌 if we get approved for any of these loans that could potentially help us with the downpayment? im buying each of you pizza!! (or whatever food youd want delivered lol youd be saving us thousands!)

 

you guys are awesome jumping in to help out when theres really not much youre getting out of this. i was hesitant and outright refused our lender to even educate us about applying because of the fear of becoming a liability and causing stress to someone who took the biggest leap of faith for me to migrate here.

 

and youve each afforded me the confidence and peace of mind to move forward better equipped with my newfound knowledge. ♥️🙌

[millefleur 5,047]

On 12/2/2021 at 7:07 AM, winsse said:

and youve each afforded me the confidence and peace of mind to move forward better equipped with my newfound knowledge. ♥️🙌

I'm really glad you were able to get the help you needed! Best of luck with buying a home.