Joint Sponsor

[steadygaze]

Hi all,

I'm an intending immigrant and am filling for AOS with a joint sponsor.

Is the joint sponsor going to be financially responsible for my wife as well since I am married to her?
Is the joint sponsor going to be financially responsible for any credit card debt/collection/unemployment benefits/government funded health insurance, if any, in my name?
What exactly are the public benefits the joint sponsor will be charged with covering if I try to collect any?
Does joint sponsor become financially responsible for me only after the date I-864 is signed or joint sponsor becomes also responsible for what I did in the past?

Thanks!

[NettieL]

The joint sponsor will be responsible for you, the person who is being sponsored.

https://https://www.immihelp.comhttp...it-of-support/:

"To date, Federal agencies administering benefit programs have determined that Federal means-tested public benefits include Food Stamps, Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and the State Child Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)."

[newacct]

Your wife and the joint sponsor are both sponsors who will both sign Affidavits of Support and will both be under the same obligations. The obligations have nothing to do with being "financially responsible" for you. You can rack up millions in debt and neither of them would be responsible for one cent. There are only two situations in which a sponsor can be affected:
1. If you sue them, if you are not getting the poverty level of income and they are not supplementing you to that level. Obviously, it is a very dick thing for you to sue someone who helped you; and even if you wanted to do such a thing, it needs to be done in federal court which is very expensive and complicated and not worth it anyway.
2. If you use a government need-based benefit, and that local government sues them for reimbursement. No state government currently sues for this.

And the obligations for the Affidavit of Support only begin when you become a permanent resident (i.e. when your AOS is approved); only things after that point are relevant.

[azblk]

2. No state government currently sues for this.

Trump and company want to or are trying to change that

[steadygaze]

Thank you!
Would you mind identifying the government based benefits? Are they the ones NettieL had described below?

Again thanks for your help!

Your wife and the joint sponsor are both sponsors who will both sign Affidavits of Support and will both be under the same obligations. The obligations have nothing to do with being "financially responsible" for you. You can rack up millions in debt and neither of them would be responsible for one cent. There are only two situations in which a sponsor can be affected:
1. If you sue them, if you are not getting the poverty level of income and they are not supplementing you to that level. Obviously, it is a very dick thing for you to sue someone who helped you; and even if you wanted to do such a thing, it needs to be done in federal court which is very expensive and complicated and not worth it anyway.
2. If you use a government need-based benefit, and that local government sues them for reimbursement. No state government currently sues for this.

And the obligations for the Affidavit of Support only begin when you become a permanent resident (i.e. when your AOS is approved); only things after that point are relevant.

[azblk]

Thank you!
Would you mind identifying the government based benefits? Are they the ones NettieL had described below?

Again thanks for your help!

yes pretty much any means tested benefits

[steadygaze]

Thanks!

yes pretty much any means tested benefits

[inadmissible]

Thank you!
Would you mind identifying the government based benefits?

2. If you use a government need-based benefit, and that local government sues them for reimbursement. No state government currently sues for this.

Medicaid Long Term Care

[steadygaze]

Is the sponsor going to be responsible for any means tested benefit received in the past, say, state health insurance, or is the sponsor only responsible for what ever means tested benefit I receive, hopefully none, after he signs I-864?

[azblk]

Is the sponsor going to be responsible for any means tested benefit received in the past, say, state health insurance, or is the sponsor only responsible for what ever means tested benefit I receive, hopefully none, after he signs I-864?

They can not be retroactively responsible for what you have used in the past.

[newacct]

Is the sponsor going to be responsible for any means tested benefit received in the past, say, state health insurance, or is the sponsor only responsible for what ever means tested benefit I receive, hopefully none, after he signs I-864?

the obligations only apply to the time after you become a permanent resident

[steadygaze]

So why do my lawyers keep saying otherwise??? FacePalm

the obligations only apply to the time after you become a permanent resident

[inadmissible]

So why do my lawyers keep saying otherwise??? FacePalm

Because your attorneys are idiots

There are many lucrative specialized fields within immigration law. Filing adjustment of status is easily done by a layperson of average Intelligence

When you hire an attorney willing to stoop to adjustment applications, you risk hiring an idiot who lacks the knowledge & passion to handle more complex Immigration filings

[steadygaze]

They keep saying that sponsor will be responsible for any means tested-benefits I ever received, if any, even though sponsor will only sign I-864 now. When I tell them, with a smug on my face, that that doesn't make any sense legally, they say they'll double check and will get back to me....

I'm just going to dump these guys and do it on my own.

I consider myself, at least, a layperson with average intelligence!

Because your attorneys are idiots

There are many lucrative specialized fields within immigration law. Filing adjustment of status is easily done by a layperson of average Intelligence

When you hire an attorney willing to stoop to adjustment applications, you risk hiring an idiot who lacks the knowledge & passion to handle more complex Immigration filings

[steadygaze]

Hi there,

I currently receive state funded health care due to a medical condition. Will they go after the sponsor if I continue receiving state funded health insurance? If so, what do you suggest I otherwise? Get private insurance? I don't think I'd be eligible since I current have no legal immigration status.

Let me know, please!