drwoogroups

Hi,

A close friend of mine has recently asked me to help him sponsor / co
sponsor his parents. He is a recent college graduate and an American
citizen. The forms in question here are I-864 and I-864A.

He does not meet the income requirement and has asked for my help. I
myself am also an American citizen.

My question is in regards to any potential problems that I might face
down the road. What exactly will I be opening myself upto in terms of
things going wrong.

Is this simply a matter of filing paperwork, or are there other things
involved?

Would I have to endure a tax audit, and if so how common are they?

I would really be interested in hearing from people who have had
problems in this area. I don't mind helping this friend out, but not
if there is a potential for it to backfire.

Also as a side note, his parents are from Iran, will that make a
difference.

As well, in the event that I decide to not follow through and help him,
what exactly becomes of his situation assuming that no one else is
willng to help as well.

He is well qualified and can work on his own very soon, and should
easily meet the poverty level requirements. Is there a stipulation
that states that he needs 3 years of good tax standing?

Thanks in advance to anyone who has more information

Regards
Dr Woo

Joe Feise

[email protected] wrote on 02/13/05 23:21:
    > Hi,
    >
    > A close friend of mine has recently asked me to help him sponsor / co
    > sponsor his parents. He is a recent college graduate and an American
    > citizen. The forms in question here are I-864 and I-864A.
    >
    > He does not meet the income requirement and has asked for my help. I
    > myself am also an American citizen.
    >
    > My question is in regards to any potential problems that I might face
    > down the road. What exactly will I be opening myself upto in terms of
    > things going wrong.
    >
    > Is this simply a matter of filing paperwork, or are there other things
    > involved?
    >
    > Would I have to endure a tax audit, and if so how common are they?
    >
    > I would really be interested in hearing from people who have had
    > problems in this area. I don't mind helping this friend out, but not
    > if there is a potential for it to backfire.

As a sponsor you'd be responsible for quite some time that they don't
become a public charge. The timeframe is until they have accumulated 40
quarters of Social Security payments (that usually means having worked
for 10 years) or until they become US citizens.
The affidavit of support can't be canceled.
It can be enforced and is enforced by the US government. One situation,
for example, would be if don't have health insurance and become ill and
can't pay the hospital bill. Such bills can get quite substantial;
cancer treatment for example can cost several $100K.

In essence, it is like co-signing for a bank loan: if the person who got
the loan doesn't pay it back, you are on the hook.

-Joe

Jusferkicks.

"Joe Feise" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > [email protected] wrote on 02/13/05 23:21:
    >> Hi,
    >> A close friend of mine has recently asked me to help him sponsor / co
    >> sponsor his parents. He is a recent college graduate and an American
    >> citizen. The forms in question here are I-864 and I-864A.
    >> He does not meet the income requirement and has asked for my help. I
    >> myself am also an American citizen.
    >> My question is in regards to any potential problems that I might face
    >> down the road. What exactly will I be opening myself upto in terms of
    >> things going wrong.
    >> Is this simply a matter of filing paperwork, or are there other things
    >> involved?
    >> Would I have to endure a tax audit, and if so how common are they?
    >> I would really be interested in hearing from people who have had
    >> problems in this area. I don't mind helping this friend out, but not
    >> if there is a potential for it to backfire.
    > As a sponsor you'd be responsible for quite some time that they don't
    > become a public charge. The timeframe is until they have accumulated 40
    > quarters of Social Security payments (that usually means having worked for
    > 10 years) or until they become US citizens.
    > The affidavit of support can't be canceled.
    > It can be enforced and is enforced by the US government. One situation,
    > for example, would be if don't have health insurance and become ill and
    > can't pay the hospital bill. Such bills can get quite substantial; cancer
    > treatment for example can cost several $100K.

I am sorry, may be i misread something. But, i thought it was just about
means-tested benefits reimbursement not about health insurance. Things, like
cancer treatment is between him (her) and hospital, right? not between him
and public?

    > In essence, it is like co-signing for a bank loan: if the person who got
    > the loan doesn't pay it back, you are on the hook.
    > -Joe

Joe Feise

jusferkicks. wrote on 02/14/05 07:43:
    > "Joe Feise" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]...
    >
    >>[email protected] wrote on 02/13/05 23:21:
    >>>Hi,
    >>>A close friend of mine has recently asked me to help him sponsor / co
    >>>sponsor his parents. He is a recent college graduate and an American
    >>>citizen. The forms in question here are I-864 and I-864A.
    >>>He does not meet the income requirement and has asked for my help. I
    >>>myself am also an American citizen.
    >>>My question is in regards to any potential problems that I might face
    >>>down the road. What exactly will I be opening myself upto in terms of
    >>>things going wrong.
    >>>Is this simply a matter of filing paperwork, or are there other things
    >>>involved?
    >>>Would I have to endure a tax audit, and if so how common are they?
    >>>I would really be interested in hearing from people who have had
    >>>problems in this area. I don't mind helping this friend out, but not
    >>>if there is a potential for it to backfire.
    >>As a sponsor you'd be responsible for quite some time that they don't
    >>become a public charge. The timeframe is until they have accumulated 40
    >>quarters of Social Security payments (that usually means having worked for
    >>10 years) or until they become US citizens.
    >>The affidavit of support can't be canceled.
    >>It can be enforced and is enforced by the US government. One situation,
    >>for example, would be if don't have health insurance and become ill and
    >>can't pay the hospital bill. Such bills can get quite substantial; cancer
    >>treatment for example can cost several $100K.
    >
    >
    > I am sorry, may be i misread something. But, i thought it was just about
    > means-tested benefits reimbursement not about health insurance. Things, like
    > cancer treatment is between him (her) and hospital, right? not between him
    > and public?

Well, if hospitals don't get paid, they try to get the money from the
government, which is supposed to get it back from the sponsor.
At least, that is my understanding.

-Joe

Rete

It is for mean tested benefits as well as for financially supporting them at 125% of the poverty guidelines if they cannot provide the support themselves. In some cases divorce attorneys have been able to obtain alimony for their clients at that amount because of the I-864. If the parents are sick and get medicaid there is a very good chance the US government will come after the sponsor for the reimbursement of medical expenses.

Sponsorship can be a lifelong commitment. It ends only if one of the following is met:

1. Sponsor dies and the estate is settled;

2. Beneficiary dies;

3. Beneficiary abandons residency and leaves the country voluntarily;

4. Beneficiary is deported and green card rescinded.

5. Beneficiary becomes a US Citizen; or

6. Beneficiary works 40 qualifying work quarters under the Social Security Administration requirements.

For those in a marriage-based affidavit of support situation, note the sponsorship continues even through divorce and remarriage of the foreign spouse to another resident, US citizen, etc.

So my feelings are that financial sponsorship is a high risk endeavor and should not be taken lightly. If your friend dies and his parents live on, you could be on the hook for their care for the rest of yours or their natural lives.