who in their right mind would sign the I-864????

[GringoD 33]

Is this I-864 form REQUIRED with your financial information and reports, and with the I-134?

I don't remember sending or using it the first time I did this about 4 years ago.

[Penguin_ie 5,984]

Is this I-864 form REQUIRED with your financial information and reports, and with the I-134?

In most cases, it is not required for the K1 visa at interview (you'll be using the I-134 there), but it always is required after you get married for Adjustment of Status in the USA.

I must say, I can understand the OP's concern; maybe not for a fiance/ spouse, but I don;t think I would ever co-sponsor someone.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

In most cases, it is not required for the K1 visa at interview (you'll be using the I-134 there), but it always is required after you get married for Adjustment of Status in the USA.

I must say, I can understand the OP's concern; maybe not for a fiance/ spouse, but I don;t think I would ever co-sponsor someone.

Ditto. I would never co-sponsor someone unless it was my own family (such as my husband was sponsoring my mother/sister/brother and I co-sponsored them) or spouse/fiance.

[az110965 252]

This issue has been covered so many times onthis forum before. USC's who want the positive aspects of a relationship to a non USC but who aren't willing to accept the ramifications if their situation doesn't work out.

The bottom line is that marriage is a serious decision. It takes 2 mature and consenting adults to make the comittment to sacrifice for each other and each makes sacrificies in their own way.

The non USC gives up their lives as they knew it, their jobs, families and their support system to go to a strange land where they TOTALLY rely on a person that they are still geting to know.

The USC agrees to support the other person on the off-chance that their relationship will fail, the non USC will not have a desire to pull their own weight and might receive a benefit from the US government.

I believe the sacrifice of the NON USC is higher than the sacrifice of the USC in these cases, especially if you enter a marriage in good faith, have love and communication with each other and an uinderstanding between each person of what life here in the USA is really like.

If the OP has these doubts now, I would recommend he take a long hard look at the process before filling out the I-129F or any other document. I think he owes it to himself and to his fiance to think this one through.

Personally, my I-134 is completed, signed and ready to go and I'd gladly sign any other document if it meant geting my loved one here with me - where she belongs.

Edited October 16, 2011 by az110965

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I'm just baffled by this I-864 Affidavit of Support. This is insane. The govt must be astounded that there are any legal immigrants into America! Who are the financial suicide volunteers who are signing these papers? Would you marry someone and sign a pre-nupt that says: "If you are ever divorced that you will pay ex-spouse $13,000 MINIMUM for the rest of their lives, and have additional liabilities with the govt? No one would get married. I mean the sponsor is putting himself / herself at a complete disadvantage. It's giving your spouse a loaded gun and saying, okay honey, when we have an argument, let's try to forget that you are holding a loaded gun. And yet people sign this form.

I am baffled. Am I missing something here?

I was going to try to bring a fiance here to the USA, but after reading this form....I'm utterly floored. This can't be right.

It isn't right. You read it wrong.

The obligation is for no more than 10 years, most likely much less. The obligation ends when she becomes a citizen and that can occur about 4 years or less after she arrives.

As written the I-864 ONLY requires you to repay the government IF she becomes a public charge. If you allow an attorney to get over on you for it, that would be your error

Most of us have no such concerns about the persons we love and NO I would not sign a pre-nuop of any kind.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

You haven't done enough research to understand the realities of the I-864. Not quite as ominous as you portray in your post.

That being said, we petitioning citizens do need to take responsibility for our actions when facilitating our loved one's immigration. The family law implications of a divorce (immigrant or not) are likely far more dire than the I-864 obligations.

Life ain't for skeerdy-cats.

[Andie 147]

Ditto. I would never co-sponsor someone unless it was my own family (such as my husband was sponsoring my mother/sister/brother and I co-sponsored them) or spouse/fiance.

Agree... not a good position to be in when you are not involved in the process or outcome but have ultimate financial responsibility should it fail.

[raymondreason 0]

I'm inclined to agree with the above comment - I think there are a lot of people that probably don't think this through and while it may sound like a negative outlook, it is realistic to at least consider it. The worst scenario is pretty extreme and its important to know what the financial obligations are should this happen. It doesn't necessarily mean it is the OPs only consideration.

Yes, thanks for all the comments. I didn't mean to start a firestorm. I was/am simply in a state of shock. I haven't filled out any papers yet. I haven't even asked her to marry me, but i've known her for six years and love her and we've finally decided to do this (i still have to formally propose). I'm just doing a little research before i get started.

Look, i understand the negative reactions of many posters. I myself have always been against a prenuptial agreement. Not because i want to throw caution to the wind, but because the state has fair community property laws to protect both parties should the worst happen, and a prenuptial brings conflict....between trust and prudence...between love and wisdom. I've been through a divorce with assets and children, we had no prenuptial, and i felt the state laws really made the whole miserable process fair, at least.

But this I-864 is certainly not fair. If the spouse doesn't receive alimony equal to 125% of poverty (which changes every year UP), he/she has a license to sue. I mean child support is fair, community property is fair, even alimony is basically fair when it is applied. BUT THIS IS WAY UNFAIR.

I am Greek Orthodox and am around a lot of foreign immigrants...mainly Greeks, Serbs, Romanians, and Russians. I've always heard the big sticking point for them bringing family is "whose going to be the sponsor". Sponsors are hard to come by. Now i know why.

And it's all quite ironic, because most of the foreigners i know came here under "refugee" or "asylum" status, and are entitled to major govt support. I mean illegals get support, for crying out loud. Govt giving support justifies it's own existence. WHEN HAS THE GOVT EVER BEEN AGAINST SPENDING MONEY ON PEOPLE WHO CAN VOTE? (Маybe that's the answer...they can't vote yet???)

I can see people in love doing this. I'll probably end up doing it myself. But i am really infuriated that the govt would require this. Why would they discourage bringing a foreigner here legally?????

I mean people make mistakes. I know...i made a big one in the past and paid my dues honorable. But this kind of a law, well it encourages abuse.

[az110965 252]

"But this I-864 is certainly not fair. If the spouse doesn't receive alimony equal to 125% of poverty (which changes every year UP), he/she has a license to sue. I mean child support is fair, community property is fair, even alimony is basically fair when it is applied. BUT THIS IS WAY UNFAIR."

How do you construe this as being way unfair? If you bring a foreign person here and things don't work out then why should the US taxpayers have to foot the bill if your wife would happen to receive benefits? I wouldn't expect you to pay for my misfortune, so please don't ask me to pay for yours if it should happen down the road.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Yes, thanks for all the comments. I didn't mean to start a firestorm. I was/am simply in a state of shock. I haven't filled out any papers yet. I haven't even asked her to marry me, but i've known her for six years and love her and we've finally decided to do this (i still have to formally propose). I'm just doing a little research before i get started.

Look, i understand the negative reactions of many posters. I myself have always been against a prenuptial agreement. Not because i want to throw caution to the wind, but because the state has fair community property laws to protect both parties should the worst happen, and a prenuptial brings conflict....between trust and prudence...between love and wisdom. I've been through a divorce with assets and children, we had no prenuptial, and i felt the state laws really made the whole miserable process fair, at least.

But this I-864 is certainly not fair. If the spouse doesn't receive alimony equal to 125% of poverty (which changes every year UP), he/she has a license to sue. I mean child support is fair, community property is fair, even alimony is basically fair when it is applied. BUT THIS IS WAY UNFAIR.

I am Greek Orthodox and am around a lot of foreign immigrants...mainly Greeks, Serbs, Romanians, and Russians. I've always heard the big sticking point for them bringing family is "whose going to be the sponsor". Sponsors are hard to come by. Now i know why.

And it's all quite ironic, because most of the foreigners i know came here under "refugee" or "asylum" status, and are entitled to major govt support. I mean illegals get support, for crying out loud. Govt giving support justifies it's own existence. WHEN HAS THE GOVT EVER BEEN AGAINST SPENDING MONEY ON PEOPLE WHO CAN VOTE? (Маybe that's the answer...they can't vote yet???)

I can see people in love doing this. I'll probably end up doing it myself. But i am really infuriated that the govt would require this. Why would they discourage bringing a foreigner here legally?????

I mean people make mistakes. I know...i made a big one in the past and paid my dues honorable. But this kind of a law, well it encourages abuse.

I agree in one way. The government should simply make it illegal for legal immigrants on family visas to receive ANY means tested benefits ever, until they are citizens.

Job done.

They don't and we have this instead. A good Ukrainian woman can make you forget about all this anyway.

[Justine+David 218]

Permanent Residents (green card holders) cannot vote, actually.

Here's the worst that could happen: she leaves you and ends up trying to get means tested benefits. The federal government turns around and sue you for that amount. It's not the 125% of the poverty line that you would be providing her with yearly.

[Dan & Jenni 457]

A good Ukrainian woman can make you forget about all this anyway.

you know any??

[A & K 42 34]

I'm just baffled by this I-864 Affidavit of Support. This is insane. The govt must be astounded that there are any legal immigrants into America! Who are the financial suicide volunteers who are signing these papers? Would you marry someone and sign a pre-nupt that says: "If you are ever divorced that you will pay ex-spouse $13,000 MINIMUM for the rest of their lives, and have additional liabilities with the govt? No one would get married. I mean the sponsor is putting himself / herself at a complete disadvantage. It's giving your spouse a loaded gun and saying, okay honey, when we have an argument, let's try to forget that you are holding a loaded gun. And yet people sign this form.

I am baffled. Am I missing something here?

I was going to try to bring a fiance here to the USA, but after reading this form....I'm utterly floored. This can't be right.

If really love and trust your Fiance/ spouse... You will sign it.

[raymondreason 0]

"But this I-864 is certainly not fair. If the spouse doesn't receive alimony equal to 125% of poverty (which changes every year UP), he/she has a license to sue. I mean child support is fair, community property is fair, even alimony is basically fair when it is applied. BUT THIS IS WAY UNFAIR."

How do you construe this as being way unfair? If you bring a foreign person here and things don't work out then why should the US taxpayers have to foot the bill if your wife would happen to receive benefits? I wouldn't expect you to pay for my misfortune, so please don't ask me to pay for yours if it should happen down the road.

I have no problem with reimbursing the govt for benefits. It's the part about suing the former spouse for lifetime support. You didn't read the contract. Remember, there is a huge incentive NOT to work 40 quarters. This is a terrible law.

[sachinky 464]

Meh, Mr. Sachinky barely looked at it. I just told him where to sign the dotted line.

I had three co-sponsors lined up (my cousin, my FIL, a friend of ours) with signed I-864s on the day of the interview.

All of these people have known me for a considerable period of time, they know I would never take any form of government support, that I am hard-working and am gainfully employed. They also know that my parents are well off enough to pay back any amount should things ever come to that, God forbid. (Only LPRs and USCs can be joint sponsors, otherwise, if it were allowed, my parents would have easily signed the I864 as joint sponsors. They also offered to move the requisite money in my bank account but as that is not recommended we didn't go down that route.)

These people also know that I am not the type to turn around and sue someone who was kind enough to help me out. I mean, what kind of a pathetic person does that, any way? Furthermore, chances are, if my marriage were to hit rock bottom, I'd be on the first flight out to India.

As long as I knew the person well enough (close friend, cousin, family) etc and trusted them not to eff me over, I'd probably agree to sign as a joint sponsor in the future.

Edited October 16, 2011 by sachinky