Many immigrants to the U.S. are dependent on a parent, spouse or sibling to sponsor them for a family-based visa. Sponsorship is a bigger responsibility than many people realize. The sponsor must file an affidavit of support for the immigrant, which is a legally enforceable contract that commits the sponsor to financially support the immigrant until they have either become a U.S. citizen or have been credited by the Social Security Administration with 40 quarters of paid work (10 years). If an immigrant you sponsored accepts means-tested public aid, you can be sued and ordered to repay the cost of those benefits. Means-tested public aid programs include: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), which provides financial assistance to help pay for food, shelter, and utilities for families with dependent children; Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps; and Medicaid, which provides health care coverage to low-income…
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