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Ice on Immigration: The
responsibilities of financial support to immigrants
By L. Patricia Ice, Featured
Columnist
Question: I have been asked by my best friend, who
is a United States citizen, to be a joint financial sponsor for his
immigrant wife. His yearly income does not meet the federally mandated
Poverty Guidelines required to sponsor an immigrant family member. My
friend has asked me to fill out and sign form I-864 Affidavit of
Support. If I sign the form, what legal obligations will I have to my
friend's wife?
Answer: You will be required,
jointly with your friend, to support his wife at 125% of the income
requirements listed in the Poverty Guidelines. If your friend's wife is
the beneficiary of any means tested public benefit such as Medicaid or
Food Stamps before she is eligible to receive it, you may be required to
pay back the value of the benefit. You may also be requested to pay for
any private debt the immigrant beneficiary may incur.
Your obligation to your friend's
wife will last until she becomes a United States citizen, works 40
qualifying quarters pursuant to Social Security Administration
guidelines, dies, or permanently leaves the United States. If she gets
divorced from your friend before one of the above events occurs, you
will still be obligated to support her jointly with your friend.
If you have questions or concerns
about your obligations to the immigrant pursuant to the I-864 agreement,
I suggest you consult an immigration attorney or a Board of Immigration
Appeals accredited representative (a non-attorney authorized to assist
immigrants with certain immigration cases) before you sign.
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