Asked to help co-sponsor a K-1, but need to fill out I-864

[Jon York 156]

A co-sponsor is responsible up until the time the beneficiary becomes a citizen - which in the case of marriage to a US citizen will take about 3 years. During the first 5 years however, the beneficiary will not be allowed to accept any of the types of government benefits that would trigger any liability for you. So the thing you would have to figure out is will this person go through the process (which includes paying a $1,070 fee), to become a citizen within the first three years. If you believe that will happen, then you should be okay co-sponsoring. But if you have any doubts, then I wouldn't do it. For instance if the USC won't be able to come up with the $1,070 AOS fees, then the time it will take for him to become a citizen could be much longer and you would be responsible for that entire time.

Also, if there's any chance you believe the person may be using marriage just as a way to get to the US, and that they then might leave their spouse and strike out on their own and forego the whole AOS process, then you would be on the hook for the whole 10 years... unless he left the US.