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Advanced I-864 Issues
The document discusses complex issues related to the I-864 Affidavit of Support in U.S. immigration law, highlighting the sponsor's duties and legal obligations. It addresses potential legal consequences of not fulfilling these responsibilities, including the enforceability of the contract and jurisdictional considerations. The text also emphasizes the ethical implications for attorneys involved in drafting I-864 forms for joint sponsors.
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Advanced I-864 Issues
- 1. Advanced I-864 issues August31, 2016 Greg McLawsen Managing Attorney
- 2. w w w. s o u n d i m i g r a t i o n . c o m www.soundimmigration.com America’s web-based immigration law firm page 2
- 3. w w w. s o u n d i m i g r a t i o n . c o m www.soundimmigration.com Do you do removal? page 3
- 4. Greg McLawsen Managing Attorney SoundImmigration @mclawsen greg@soundimmigration.com www.soundimmigration.com
- 5. w w w. s o u n d i m i g r a t i o n . c o m www.soundimmigration.com/events page 5
- 6. Have an ideafor an event? Want to speak?
- 7. w w w. s o u n d i m i g r a t i o n . c o m www.soundimmigration.com/lawyers page 7
- 8. w w w. s o u n d i m i g r a t i o n . c o m Outline Suing sponsors It’s a very real thing 01 Joint sponsor ethics The rules have changed 02 Complex filing issues Common complexities 03 page 8
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- 12. w w w. s o u n d i m i g r a t i o n . c o m I-134 distinguished page 12
- 13. w w w. s o u n d i m i g r a t i o n . c o m The sponsor’s *two* duties • Maintain immigrant at 125% FPG page 13
- 14. w w w. s o u n d i m i g r a t i o n . c o m The sponsor’s *two* duties • Repay gov’t agency for means-tested benefits: • Primarily: Food Stamps, Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI). • Not emergency disaster aid, for example. • Also, no duty to repay “medical bills” (though creditors do occasionally try). page 14
- 15. w w w. s o u n d i m i g r a t i o n . c o m What terminates the sponsor’s duty? • What terminates the Sponsor’s duty? • Beneficiary… 1. Becomes citizen. 2. Credited w/ 40-quarters of work. 3. Abandons residency and departs U.S. 4. Deported and gets new sponsor. 5. Dies. • Not dissolution/separation. • Not departure to (residence?) foreign country. page 15
- 16. w w w. s o u n d i m i g r a t i o n . c o m Established legal propositions • The I-864 is an enforceable. • Period… not up for discussion any longer • The contract is between the Sponsor and U.S. Gov’t • Beneficiary is… a 3rd-party beneficiary • Consideration? • Used to be: overcoming inadmissibility • Now: becoming a permanent resident page 16
- 17. w w w. s o u n d i m i g r a t i o n . c o m Jurisdiction • Personal jurisdiction. • Sponsor expressly submits to any competent court • One (silly) exception in D. Utah. • Subject matter jurisdiction. • Federal • Typically close enough to a federal question • But not close enough for M.D. Florida (Winters, etc.) • State. • Unanimous: yes • But as an alimony/maintenance order, authority split page 17
- 18. w w w. s o u n d i m i g r a t i o n . c o m Damage$ • Measure. • Difference between actual income and 125% FPG • FPG changes annually; use Guidelines per year • “Income”? • Courts unclear about what rule govern • C.F.R. looks to federal income rules • Duty to mitigate? • Sixth Circuit: no, b/c no federal common law duty to mitigate • Mainly looked to policy • Different result in states (?) • (Eroding?) Majority rule: is duty to mitigate, generally page 18
- 19. w w w. s o u n d i m i g r a t i o n . c o m Attorney fee$ page 19
- 20. w w w. s o u n d i m i g r a t i o n . c o m Affirmative defenses almost always fail • Lack of consideration. • Prior iteration: “overcome inadmissibility” • A thing of value… at least after gloss • Current version: “becoming permanent resident” • i.e., you don’t get LPR status without this form • Unconscionability • So far a loser… similar to prenuptial agreements • Not a contract of adhesion • Fraud • Possible; always fails at summary judgment stage page 20
- 21. w w w. s o u n d i m i g r a t i o n . c o m How about a pre/post-nuptial waiver? page 21
- 22. w w w. s o u n d i m i g r a t i o n . c o m Take away: approach cases as if your sponsor will be sued page 22
- 23. Joint sponsor ethics Don’t do I-864sfor joint sponsors!
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- 25. w w w. s o u n d i m i g r a t i o n . c o m News flash! You are a joint sponsor’s attorney (if you draft the I-864) Period. page 25
- 26. w w w. s o u n d i m i g r a t i o n . c o m Only two options Not clientClient page 26
- 27. w w w. s o u n d i m i g r a t i o n . c o m Your certification as preparer page 27
- 28. w w w. s o u n d i m i g r a t i o n . c o m Plus this page 28
- 29. w w w. s o u n d i m i g r a t i o n . c o m Conflict rule ABA Model Rule 1.7(a): Except as provided in paragraph (b), a lawyer shall not represent a client if the representation involves a concurrent conflict of interest. A concurrent conflict of interest exists if: (1) the representation of one client will be directly adverse to another client; or (2) there is a significant risk that the representation of one or more clients will be materially limited by the lawyer's responsibilities to another client, a former client or a third person or by a personal interest of the lawyer. page 29
- 30. w w w. s o u n d i m i g r a t i o n . c o m Directly adverse? Presumably there’s a shared goal. Otherwise why sponsor? page 30
- 31. w w w. s o u n d i m i g r a t i o n . c o m Significant risk of material limitation? How do you advise your joint sponsor client? page 31
- 32. w w w. s o u n d i m i g r a t i o n . c o m Not “what’s good enough” – what’s best page 32
- 33. w w w. s o u n d i m i g r a t i o n . c o m Don’t fool yourself – someone is paying page 33
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- 35. w w w. s o u n d i m i g r a t i o n . c o m Good news from the National Visa Center! page 35
- 36. w w w. s o u n d i m i g r a t i o n . c o m Are you sure that you need an I-864? page 36
- 37. Screen for 40 quarters DACAkids are coming!
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- 39. w w w. s o u n d i m i g r a t i o n . c o m New jobs page 39
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- 41. • Federal returns– personal and business • P&L statement • Checks/payments (6 months min) from business • Or, 6 months bank statements. • Frankly optional: business license, article of incorporation. Proving up income for the self-employed
- 42. • Social Securityearnings • Non-taxable investments • Legal settlement • Gifts, inheritance • Life insurance • Child support • Scholarships, grants • Disability insurance Using non-taxable income to meet 125% FPG
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Editor's Notes
- #13 Days of yore: Ad hoc determinations I-134 Affidavit of Support… unenforceable 1996: Major clampdown on immigration law Congress: make the Affidavit enforceable Enter the I-864 (1997)
- #40 6 months of pay stubs for new employment Caution client that transition could create a hiccup – but not denial – if close to application, interview Don’t encounter problems when “trading up”