If I'm on Medicaid temporarily will that affect my ability to sponsor?

[K_Schreibz 0]

Hello, 

 

I hope my title is clear enough, but there are some complicating details. Basically I am applying for my Indonesian fiancé's k1 visa, and I sent in our I-129f form in November 2021 and have not received any further communication after the NOA1. So far, I have not had any updates on the case besides receiving my case number, but still my case status only says that it has been received. I anticipate that hopefully soon the USCIS will be moving the case forward shortly since they said the processing time was 9 months, but I have a few questions about being her sponsor/co-sponsorship in terms of my personal health insurance now that I will be submitting financial eligibility shortly.

 

For the past year I was making well above the financial requirements when I applied and had private health insurance, but I ended up getting laid off from my job which ended up with me on Medicaid. Right now, I am still on Medicaid, because in NYS state they just leave you on it for a full 12 months even if your life situation changes. My life situation has now changed as I've decided to go to graduate school to get my master's degree in a fully funded program. I am currently enrolled in the program now and its going okay, but for the autumn semester they would like me to opt in/out for the university health insurance, which is quite expensive at about $3,000 per semester. I contacted NYS Medicaid to see if I would be kicked off now due to my new situation, but instead they said that I am staying on because even though the school funding is what I am living off of, it does not count as "income" so I can't apply to the public insurance program in the state, and I won't be able to get subsidies for open market insurance. So basically my options for my personal healthcare are to either opt in to the university health insurance, or stay on Medicaid for another 12 months which while nice for me I am worried will affect my eligibility to sponsor my fiancé.

 

I've been looking up, down, and sideways for any information about this but most forum responses I find are concerning an immigrant already in the country applying for Medicaid, which is not my plan when she gets here. I just want to know if I am on Medicaid how much that will effect the likelihood of her being approved for the visa, because if it does I should really opt-in to my University's health insurance even though it is expensive. 

 

Some other information just in case your curious: This visa will be joint sponsored, I do have saving/assets/money to support my fiancé besides the co-sponsorship, and I will be getting a guaranteed job next year with health insurance for both me and my fiancé once I'm done with this program. 

[JeanneAdil 6,637]

if u had assets enough to support someone,  NYS would not let u have medicaid as its based on income and ALL ASSETS -even the car u own

[Mike E 11,742]

Doesn’t sound like you have the assets or qualified income to file I-134 and you will need a joint sponsor. And the same will be even more so when it comes time to file I-485 and I-864.  

[SalishSea 18,126]

1 hour ago, K_Schreibz said:

Hello, 

 

I hope my title is clear enough, but there are some complicating details. Basically I am applying for my Indonesian fiancé's k1 visa, and I sent in our I-129f form in November 2021 and have not received any further communication after the NOA1. So far, I have not had any updates on the case besides receiving my case number, but still my case status only says that it has been received. I anticipate that hopefully soon the USCIS will be moving the case forward shortly since they said the processing time was 9 months, but I have a few questions about being her sponsor/co-sponsorship in terms of my personal health insurance now that I will be submitting financial eligibility shortly.

 

For the past year I was making well above the financial requirements when I applied and had private health insurance, but I ended up getting laid off from my job which ended up with me on Medicaid. Right now, I am still on Medicaid, because in NYS state they just leave you on it for a full 12 months even if your life situation changes. My life situation has now changed as I've decided to go to graduate school to get my master's degree in a fully funded program. I am currently enrolled in the program now and its going okay, but for the autumn semester they would like me to opt in/out for the university health insurance, which is quite expensive at about $3,000 per semester. I contacted NYS Medicaid to see if I would be kicked off now due to my new situation, but instead they said that I am staying on because even though the school funding is what I am living off of, it does not count as "income" so I can't apply to the public insurance program in the state, and I won't be able to get subsidies for open market insurance. So basically my options for my personal healthcare are to either opt in to the university health insurance, or stay on Medicaid for another 12 months which while nice for me I am worried will affect my eligibility to sponsor my fiancé.

 

I've been looking up, down, and sideways for any information about this but most forum responses I find are concerning an immigrant already in the country applying for Medicaid, which is not my plan when she gets here. I just want to know if I am on Medicaid how much that will effect the likelihood of her being approved for the visa, because if it does I should really opt-in to my University's health insurance even though it is expensive. 

 

Some other information just in case your curious: This visa will be joint sponsored, I do have saving/assets/money to support my fiancé besides the co-sponsorship, and I will be getting a guaranteed job next year with health insurance for both me and my fiancé once I'm done with this program. 

Hopefully by the time the interview rolls around, you’ll be in a better position to sponsor an immigrant.    Each consulate is different when it comes to accepting joint sponsors, evaluating the totality of circumstances, etc.

 

The negative about being on public assistance yourself, is that any immigrant you sponsor will not be eligible for that, so your ability to provide for her will be in question.