What would be the implications of paying someone to be a joint sponsor

[AlecT12 0]

My wife and I have been married for 1.5 years and I have been in the US living with her for about 11 months (I overstay my tourist visa). She had two kids and we recently had a baby together. She has struggled for so many years (mostly because her family is not the best), so she has been unable to work consistenly, to the point she has only filed a tax return this year. As a mom of three, it is almost impossible for her to reach the income neccesary to be my sponsor, or it would take so many years to achieve. However, due to the recent administration changes, waiting is something we cannot afford anymore.

 

She already submitted the form I-130 with all the evidence of our relationship, just to get things started and to show good morale and our intention to "follow the rules" in case the worst happens. We are aware that filling this form won't really help to get the AOS to happen by itself, but we decided it is better to do something than nothing. I also got my I693 completed and I got the sealed envelope already.

 

As I mentioned previously, her family is not an option as she is virtually alone. She has basically no friends, and I don't have a support group in this country either. We have been trying to look for a sponsor but it has been impossible. We are also aware that a strange is not going to help us just because, and for that reason we have been considering trying to get some money somewhere to offer someone to help us, because again, no one would like to take the risk just for a "thank you" message.

 

We want to do this process the right way, so before doing something that may not be allowed we would like to know what could be the cons of finding someone that is willing to be the sponsor in exchange of money. I couldn't find anything specific forbidding this, but personally we feel is not 100% ethical. Again, our options are extremely limited.

 

Thank you so much for taking the time to read and we appreciate your answers in advance!

Edited July 4 by AlecT12

[Lemonslice 5,234]

1 hour ago, AlecT12 said:

My wife and I have been married for 1.5 years and I have been in the US living with her for about 11 months (I overstay my tourist visa). She had two kids and we recently had a baby together. She has struggled for so many years (mostly because her family is not the best), so she has been unable to work consistenly, to the point she has only filed a tax return this year. As a mom of three, it is almost impossible for her to reach the income neccesary to be my sponsor, or it would take so many years to achieve. However, due to the recent administration changes, waiting is something we cannot afford anymore.

 

She already submitted the form I-130 with all the evidence of our relationship, just to get things started and to show good morale and our intention to "follow the rules" in case the worst happens. We are aware that filling this form won't really help to get the AOS to happen by itself, but we decided it is better to do something than nothing. I also got my I693 completed and I got the sealed envelope already.

 

As I mentioned previously, her family is not an option as she is virtually alone. She has basically no friends, and I don't have a support group in this country either. We have been trying to look for a sponsor but it has been impossible. We are also aware that a strange is not going to help us just because, and for that reason we have been considering trying to get some money somewhere to offer someone to help us, because again, no one would like to take the risk just for a "thank you" message.

 

We want to do this process the right way, so before doing something that may not be allowed we would like to know what could be the cons of finding someone that is willing to be the sponsor in exchange of money. I couldn't find anything specific forbidding this, but personally we feel is not 100% ethical. Again, our options are extremely limited.

 

Thank you so much for taking the time to read and we appreciate your answers in advance!

Since you are not currently allowed to work, could she work more while you take care of the house/kids?  Does not need to be forever, but would satisfy the sponsor requirements.  Also, you might want to look at https://www.onepercentforamerica.org/ to help pay the fees.  Does she have any assets? Do you have assets?  

 

Not to be pessimistic, but sponsoring someone is a great responsibility, with unknown future costs.  The amount you would have to pay me would exceed the assets required to qualify.  If you are unable to find someone, she will have to increase her income.  Look at local colleges and trade schools for quick training/higher income opportunities.  Google your state+"career center" to find assistance with that.  

 

You can also reach out to immigration help in your area, you do not want to be out of status right now.  
https://www.immigrationadvocates.org/legaldirectory/

 

 

Finally, for the benefit of all here, and to help answer your future questions, please fill you timeline.  

https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=490280

 

 

Edited July 4 by Lemonslice

[WeekendPizzaiolo 96]

3 hours ago, AlecT12 said:

My wife and I have been married for 1.5 years and I have been in the US living with her for about 11 months (I overstay my tourist visa). She had two kids and we recently had a baby together. She has struggled for so many years (mostly because her family is not the best), so she has been unable to work consistenly, to the point she has only filed a tax return this year. As a mom of three, it is almost impossible for her to reach the income neccesary to be my sponsor, or it would take so many years to achieve. However, due to the recent administration changes, waiting is something we cannot afford anymore.

 

Sorry that your wife's family is not very good. Some people get a raw deal when it comes to family. Without a joint sponsor, your wife really needs to increase her income so that your case meets the minimum requirements. Can you take some of the child rearing responsibilities while she works until the adjustment of status is approved? Without knowing where you live, it is really hard to assess what short and medium term employment opportunities might be. In Oakland CA, where I live, a hotel housekeeper makes on average $48K/year without overtime, and likely a bit more with overtime. To compute her income, simply multiply her pay check by the number of pay periods per year (e.g. x52 for weekly pay checks, x26 for biweekly, x12 for monthly).

 

It's not ideal but I only saw my mother one day per week (if I was lucky) because she was working all the time, but there was always food to eat and a roof over our heads. Of course, I would have loved to have seen my mom much more during my childhood, but then we wouldn't have had anything to eat nor would we have had an apartment to live in. In your case, you either need to find a suitable joint sponsor or your wife needs to find a source of income that meets the minimum requirements.

 

3 hours ago, AlecT12 said:

 

She already submitted the form I-130 with all the evidence of our relationship, just to get things started and to show good morale and our intention to "follow the rules" in case the worst happens. We are aware that filling this form won't really help to get the AOS to happen by itself, but we decided it is better to do something than nothing. I also got my I693 completed and I got the sealed envelope already.

It's good to get this ready, however, it is not sufficient on its own to have an approvable case. From the government's perspective, without a suitable sponsor that meets requirements, the government cannot eliminate the doubt that a person would need public assistance, so the case is denied.

 

3 hours ago, AlecT12 said:

 

As I mentioned previously, her family is not an option as she is virtually alone. She has basically no friends, and I don't have a support group in this country either. We have been trying to look for a sponsor but it has been impossible. We are also aware that a strange is not going to help us just because, and for that reason we have been considering trying to get some money somewhere to offer someone to help us, because again, no one would like to take the risk just for a "thank you" message.

 

As @Lemonslice wrote, joint sponsorship is a huge responsibility. It is possible for a sponsor to be liable for reimbursing the government for public charges incurred by the beneficiary for life. This would happen if the beneficiary never becomes a US citizen nor does the beneficiary work at least 40 quarters (10 years) as defined by the SSA. Sponsorship is not a pro forma act. This is why the most appropriate sponsor usually has a strong relationship with the US citizen spouse.

 

3 hours ago, AlecT12 said:

We want to do this process the right way, so before doing something that may not be allowed we would like to know what could be the cons of finding someone that is willing to be the sponsor in exchange of money. I couldn't find anything specific forbidding this, but personally we feel is not 100% ethical. Again, our options are extremely limited.

 

A hypothetical sponsor would need to understand the severity of what they are agreeing to. If neither spouse has job prospects, joint sponsorship would be an act of extreme generosity. It's on the level of leaving a significant sum to someone in their will & testament IMHO, ie not something to take lightly.

 

 

 

 

 

[Cw1977 143]

6 hours ago, AlecT12 said:

My wife and I have been married for 1.5 years and I have been in the US living with her for about 11 months (I overstay my tourist visa). She had two kids and we recently had a baby together. She has struggled for so many years (mostly because her family is not the best), so she has been unable to work consistenly, to the point she has only filed a tax return this year. As a mom of three, it is almost impossible for her to reach the income neccesary to be my sponsor, or it would take so many years to achieve. However, due to the recent administration changes, waiting is something we cannot afford anymore.

 

She already submitted the form I-130 with all the evidence of our relationship, just to get things started and to show good morale and our intention to "follow the rules" in case the worst happens. We are aware that filling this form won't really help to get the AOS to happen by itself, but we decided it is better to do something than nothing. I also got my I693 completed and I got the sealed envelope already.

 

As I mentioned previously, her family is not an option as she is virtually alone. She has basically no friends, and I don't have a support group in this country either. We have been trying to look for a sponsor but it has been impossible. We are also aware that a strange is not going to help us just because, and for that reason we have been considering trying to get some money somewhere to offer someone to help us, because again, no one would like to take the risk just for a "thank you" message.

 

We want to do this process the right way, so before doing something that may not be allowed we would like to know what could be the cons of finding someone that is willing to be the sponsor in exchange of money. I couldn't find anything specific forbidding this, but personally we feel is not 100% ethical. Again, our options are extremely limited.

 

Thank you so much for taking the time to read and we appreciate your answers in advance!

As has been previously mentioned, why would a stranger sign up to that? How much would you consider a ‘fair’ payment?

 

in simple terms, you are asking a stranger to agree to potentially pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for you at an unknown date in the future. Surely you can see there is no amount of money that would make a sensible person agree to that?

 

Not trying to be mean. Just realistic. A stranger who agreed to that would either be crazy or not understand the obligation. 
 

Good luck with other options though. 

[Boiler 47,432]

This has been discussed before, just looking at it from a financially perspective the amount I would want to be a Joint Sponsor would be more than you need to show in assets, just look at the potential downside.

 

I watch well now often listen to Hackings shows, he had a case on recently where there seemed to be an issue involving a Joint Sponsor and Fraud, now it did not make much sense to me, implied it arose out of a non traditional relationship with the Joint Sponsor but where is that a requirement?

[OldUser 9,809]

The biggest problems with paid joint sponsor are:

1) Transactional relationship which is a fraud indicator

2) More importantly, the paid joint sponsor could sponsor several immigrants for reward over the course of time, and not even count them correctly on I-864. This is the biggest problem. E.g. they'd put they have household size of 4 (3 family + 1 immigrant), but in reality their household size is 20 now (because of prior I-864 liabilities).

 

IMHO no sane person would be sponsoring a stranger.

If they do it for money, they's super high risk they're fraudsters and make money sponsoring many people.

 

Don't do it.

Edited July 4 by OldUser

[JeanneAdil 7,075]

Let me suggest you call NVC and ask them

Remembering that to talk to someone u must give case #, both names and Both DOB's

 

You would then have your answer

[Calicolom 269]

22 hours ago, AlecT12 said:

My wife and I have been married for 1.5 years and I have been in the US living with her for about 11 months (I overstay my tourist visa). She had two kids and we recently had a baby together. She has struggled for so many years (mostly because her family is not the best), so she has been unable to work consistenly, to the point she has only filed a tax return this year. As a mom of three, it is almost impossible for her to reach the income neccesary to be my sponsor, or it would take so many years to achieve. However, due to the recent administration changes, waiting is something we cannot afford anymore.

 

She already submitted the form I-130 with all the evidence of our relationship, just to get things started and to show good morale and our intention to "follow the rules" in case the worst happens. We are aware that filling this form won't really help to get the AOS to happen by itself, but we decided it is better to do something than nothing. I also got my I693 completed and I got the sealed envelope already.

 

As I mentioned previously, her family is not an option as she is virtually alone. She has basically no friends, and I don't have a support group in this country either. We have been trying to look for a sponsor but it has been impossible. We are also aware that a strange is not going to help us just because, and for that reason we have been considering trying to get some money somewhere to offer someone to help us, because again, no one would like to take the risk just for a "thank you" message.

 

We want to do this process the right way, so before doing something that may not be allowed we would like to know what could be the cons of finding someone that is willing to be the sponsor in exchange of money. I couldn't find anything specific forbidding this, but personally we feel is not 100% ethical. Again, our options are extremely limited.

 

Thank you so much for taking the time to read and we appreciate your answers in advance!

Sponsoring someone, puts there life in financial risk, if it goes sideways.