scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,175 
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Post by scrapnnana on Jan 26, 2015 13:54:14 GMT
Update: in addition to the food for thought offered by the Peas, a friend pointed out that trying to joint sponsor an immigrant can affect a security clearance. It doesn't matter that the security clearance is a low level (like DH's) or high level one. If there is any change in status, such as a joint sponsorship of a foreign national, the govt. agency would need to be notified within 30 days. The agency would make the decision on whether to revoke the clearance, but even if it did not revoke it, it could at least suspend it during investigation, and DH could literally lose his job if his clearance was revoked or suspended (he is a contractor). We could not take the job loss risk. DH is going to tell the relative that we cannot be joint sponsors, and it's a reason that no one in the family can argue with.
Original post:
A close relative met a woman online, went to her country to get acquainted, and they got married there. He wants to bring her to this country. Understandable, but she's also got kids from a previous marriage, and he needs to bring them, too. Also understandable. Unfortunately, he didn't research the immigration requirements before he got married. He doesn't make enough money to sponsor her and her kids. He asked if we would be joint sponsors. We are probably the only ones in the family who could manage financially to co-sponsor.
If our relative dies unexpectedly, then we either have to take in/provide for the immigrant family for ten (or more) years OR reimburse the government back for any government benefits they get.
I am pretty sure what your answers will be, but would you agree to co-sponsor? Would you take that risk?
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akathy
What's For Dinner?
Still peaing from Podunk!
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Jun 25, 2014 22:56:55 GMT
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Post by akathy on Jan 26, 2015 14:00:38 GMT
No.
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Post by ScrapsontheRocks on Jan 26, 2015 14:02:35 GMT
In a booming economy, I might. At the moment, my answer would have to be no. It is not just about the death of your relative, what about redundancy etc? I am not from the USA, my caveat might be irrelevant. You are in a tough spot- good luck.
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wellway
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,785
Jun 25, 2014 20:50:09 GMT
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Post by wellway on Jan 26, 2015 14:09:18 GMT
No, it's ballsy of him to ask given his lack of research beforehand. You would be opening yourself up to a lot of risk for a situation you have absolutely no control over.
If you are considering helping, I would get some professional advice for the what if moments. What if they divorce, what if he falls ill long term etc. I won't depend on the close relative for factual info.
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Post by penny on Jan 26, 2015 14:10:28 GMT
I would not in that situation... Even though it feels as though you are making the commitment to your relative, your commitment is actually to the woman and her children... It's a huge commitment and unless I personally knew the person(s) I was considering making the commitment to, I wouldn't go forward...
As an example of when I would be more likely to co-sponsor someone would be if my relative and I grew up/lived for a period of time in their country, knew the woman and her family myself, my relative just happened to marry her, and she was someone I would have considered sponsoring even if my relative were not a factor...
That said, I don't know enough about the process to say that there isn't a clause/future option that would alleviate some of my concerns... But I wouldn't think there would be much that would address all my concerns...
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grinningcat
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Jun 26, 2014 13:06:35 GMT
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Post by grinningcat on Jan 26, 2015 14:11:20 GMT
Not in a gazillion years. If they didn't do their homework, there's a good chance that things will not go in their favour and from experience watching 2 spousal sponsor situations go sideways, I don't want to be involved in that. Not even if it was a spouse for me.
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houseofcurls
Junior Member
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Jun 26, 2014 17:21:12 GMT
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Post by houseofcurls on Jan 26, 2015 14:18:32 GMT
Is it possible to just loan him the money and he could sponsor his new family himself?
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Jun 1, 2024 21:25:45 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2015 14:19:05 GMT
In your case, no. He should have looked before taking the marriage leap. Even if you agree to sponsor there are going to be custody issues with the children's father and the costs of international travel for them.
My son is married to a Japanese woman. If he needed help with sponsorship I'd be willing in his case. But it isn't complicated by children from a prior relationship and I know he makes enough to not be taking government benefits. Any other family member, no. They can either get a job that they can cover the cost, go live in her country or get a divorce and move on.
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Post by librarylady on Jan 26, 2015 14:24:57 GMT
Probably not. If he rushed into a marriage, how do you know it is not a situation just to get to the US? How stable will the relationship be if he married in such haste? IMO, several red flags as others have pointed out.
OTOH, our church has sponsored several immigrants and I have personally helped with things. Our immigrants came from through an agency and were investigated prior to arrival. Each became self supporting within 6 months.
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Post by moveablefeast on Jan 26, 2015 14:27:21 GMT
To me this is too much like cosigning a loan and my answer would be no. Sorry, wish you all the best, but no - I can't get involved in this on that level.
Pay a fee for them, be a point of contact, sure. But once you get into those financial entanglements - too much for me.
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Post by eebud on Jan 26, 2015 14:39:43 GMT
No, I would not put my financial future at risk because a relative jumped into a marriage with someone he barely knows and wants to bring to this country.
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Post by epeanymous on Jan 26, 2015 14:49:33 GMT
It would depend on my relationship with the relative, his new family, and my own finances.
I think it would be difficult for me to agree to financial responsibility for a group of people I did not know, even if they were important too someone close to me. Can he buy life insurance that would ensure their financial future if something were to happen to him?
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Post by myshelly on Jan 26, 2015 14:53:29 GMT
No.
I would be very concerned and bothered by the fact that he didn't consult an immigration attorney before getting into this situation. I would wonder what new circumstances/obligations would pop up and be my responsibility since he clearly doesn't handle responsibility well.
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kelly8875
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Location: Lost in my supplies...
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Post by kelly8875 on Jan 26, 2015 14:59:40 GMT
Absolutely not.
Why is this even a consideration? If he didn't take the time to research this beforehand, then it's ALL on him!
Of course no one expects to die. But if he does, then you'll be in a heck of a mess. What if this is some sort of a scam marriage? No one thinks that either, but if it all happened so fast, maybe it is, and it's her (or her family's) way of getting them into the country.
Just back away from this one...
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Post by Darcy Collins on Jan 26, 2015 15:06:01 GMT
Is the income requirement still just above the poverty line? I frankly would be worried about his ability to support his new family even if he's alive. I personally think the guideline makes sense, so in your scenario no I would not.
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Post by maryland on Jan 26, 2015 15:17:06 GMT
How does her children's father feel about them moving out of the country? Would it be easier for your relative to move to her country?
No, I would not fund this. He should have done his research first and it's up to him and his wife to figure it out and pay for it. If I had extra money siting around, I would donate it to a charity that I love. To me, that would help more people.
But that's just my opinion.
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Anita
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Post by Anita on Jan 26, 2015 15:21:59 GMT
No. I couldn't put my family into that position, and I'd be miffed at being asked.
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Post by Darcy Collins on Jan 26, 2015 15:23:26 GMT
I'm not sure some of the responders realize how sponsorship works. It's not about having or giving a lump sum of money. You need to make over the federal poverty line for you family size in order to be a sponsor. You're legally committing to provide financial support for the immigrant, IF they need it, until they are a citizen or die. If the immigrant accepts any means tested government benefits, you agree to reimburse the government for those benefits. It's a very open ended responsibility, and one you really shouldn't embark on casually. And FYI, your responsibility doesn't end with divorce.
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likescarrots
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Post by likescarrots on Jan 26, 2015 15:37:33 GMT
No.i don't really care about the immigration implications, but I wouldn't be comfortable with the possible responsibility or giving over the money.
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eastcoastpea
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Jun 27, 2014 13:05:28 GMT
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Post by eastcoastpea on Jan 26, 2015 15:39:30 GMT
I used to work at an agency that helped resettle immigrants. I would not do it.
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Post by eebud on Jan 26, 2015 15:40:31 GMT
I'm not sure some of the responders realize how sponsorship works. It's not about having or giving a lump sum of money. You need to make over the federal poverty line for you family size in order to be a sponsor. You're legally committing to provide financial support for the immigrant, IF they need it, until they are a citizen or die. If the immigrant accepts any means tested government benefits, you agree to reimburse the government for those benefits. It's a very open ended responsibility, and one you really shouldn't embark on casually. And FYI, your responsibility doesn't end with divorce. This has always been my understanding too. You can't just buy a life insurance policy in case you die or give the relative some money. Heck, we refused to cosign a new vehicle loan for my DSS (DH's DS) because we wouldn't put ourselves on the line to pay for that. He wanted a $40k vehicle. We told him that he could afford to buy a $40k vehicle when he could get the loan on his own. Until then, he needed to find something much more reasonable. There is no way that I would cosign the loan to support a relatives wife and kids and that is pretty much what OP would be doing. |
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SweetieBsMom
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Post by SweetieBsMom on Jan 26, 2015 15:45:08 GMT
No. He was irresponsible to not do his research before he married. I would not joint-sponsor in this situation.
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Nink
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Post by Nink on Jan 26, 2015 15:57:16 GMT
Not even if I won the lottery. I've know someone who did and the whole thing went south and cost them a TON of money.
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,175
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Post by scrapnnana on Jan 26, 2015 16:44:41 GMT
I'm not sure some of the responders realize how sponsorship works. It's not about having or giving a lump sum of money. You need to make over the federal poverty line for you family size in order to be a sponsor. You're legally committing to provide financial support for the immigrant, IF they need it, until they are a citizen or die. If the immigrant accepts any means tested government benefits, you agree to reimburse the government for those benefits. It's a very open ended responsibility, and one you really shouldn't embark on casually. And FYI, your responsibility doesn't end with divorce. Yes, it is stated clearly in the affadavit that divorce does NOT end the responsibilities should that happen. It IS a very open ended responsibility, but even if it were only for a couple of years, I would be very uneasy. If the relative were to unexpectedly die or become disabled, the responsibility would fall to us and be absolutely devastating to us financially. There is just no way we want to make that kind of commitment. Life is far too uncertain. DH had a co-worker suddenly killed in the prime of life by a drunk driver. DH is going to tell the relative "no" as gently as he can, but we both know that our answer may ruin the relationship. Worse, it might even affect additional family relationships, but we have to think of our own immediate family's needs first. |
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Deleted
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Jun 1, 2024 21:25:45 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2015 17:01:41 GMT
Absolutely not. Jumping into an international marriage without bothering to investigate the immigration issues tells me he's prone to impulsive decisions. That, combined with his apparent lack of financial sense, would tell me that the chance of being on the hook for this in the future would be far, far too great. No way.
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Post by bc2ca on Jan 26, 2015 17:22:38 GMT
I'm sorry your relative didn't research this fully before getting married, but I would not be willing to take on this responsibility for him.
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Post by gorgeouskid on Jan 26, 2015 17:36:45 GMT
In my current financial situation, not a chance. If I had money to burn, I don't even think I would do this. Just too many variables. I would not feel comfortable taking financial responsibility for a whole family of immigrants (or any other family than mine, when it comes down to it.)
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craftykitten
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Jun 26, 2014 7:39:32 GMT
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Post by craftykitten on Jan 26, 2015 18:10:39 GMT
I'm not sure some of the responders realize how sponsorship works. It's not about having or giving a lump sum of money. You need to make over the federal poverty line for you family size in order to be a sponsor. You're legally committing to provide financial support for the immigrant, IF they need it, until they are a citizen or die. If the immigrant accepts any means tested government benefits, you agree to reimburse the government for those benefits. It's a very open ended responsibility, and one you really shouldn't embark on casually. And FYI, your responsibility doesn't end with divorce. Yes, it is stated clearly in the affadavit that divorce does NOT end the responsibilities should that happen. It IS a very open ended responsibility, but even if it were only for a couple of years, I would be very uneasy. If the relative were to unexpectedly die or become disabled, the responsibility would fall to us and be absolutely devastating to us financially. There is just no way we want to make that kind of commitment. Life is far too uncertain. DH had a co-worker suddenly killed in the prime of life by a drunk driver. DH is going to tell the relative "no" as gently as he can, but we both know that our answer may ruin the relationship. Worse, it might even affect additional family relationships, but we have to think of our own immediate family's needs first. I can't even believe that your family member would have the nerve to ask you for this! And that it might affect additional relationships? Really? I'm sorry your family are so demanding of you, because I'd be really annoyed if someone asked me to do this. |
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georgiapea
Drama Llama
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Post by georgiapea on Jan 26, 2015 18:16:22 GMT
I might sponsor or joint sponsor an immigrant but not under those circumstances. I'd tell my relative that he needs to move to her country, not bring her and the children here.
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Post by anonrefugee on Jan 26, 2015 18:17:09 GMT
I re-read your OP to be sure I understood. I couldn't support someone after the fact like this.
He had some expectation of marriage before traveling to get to know her better. IHe could have delayed the union until better arrangements were made.
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