# Sponsoring a friend's wife -- Need answer fast **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 16, 2012, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sponsoring-a-friends-wife-need-answer-fast/613067 "2012-02-16T21:36:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/848f3c/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_Dunlop)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2012, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sponsoring-a-friends-wife-need-answer-fast/613067/21 "2012-02-18T00:07:04Z")
> [@md2000](#): > > It occurs to me you would be better off even if you took a loan for, let’s say, $10,000 or so, and paid your buddy to design a web site for you; so he could declare it as income if that puts him over the $28,000 threshhold. Then he could sort of pay you back - I mean, give you some gifts as expression of gratitude as time goes on, since we do not want to be fooling the IRS or INS - these were legit business transactions. Even ignoring how expensive that would be (paying interest on the loan, paying income and self-employment tax on the “income” etc.), it wouldn’t help until he was able to file his 2012 taxes in 2013. His friend would be better off getting a job and making actual money if he’s going to wait a minimum of 10 months. ---
**Author:** ![fubbleskag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fubbleskag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fubbleskag)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2012, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sponsoring-a-friends-wife-need-answer-fast/613067/22 "2012-02-18T00:21:40Z")
so far, **Eva Luna** ’s response most closely matches my own interpretation of the sponsor/co-sponsor affidavit, based on my own relatively recent immigration to the US. it’s essentially a 10-year commitment to be financially liable for the immigrant in case of them receiving certain government funds. > [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > My friend is doing pretty well building websites. the company I work for is always looking for good PHP developers, particularly with strong WordPress and/or Magento skills; if he’s one of these people, feel free to PM me with contact info and/or a link to an online portfolio, etc. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2012, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sponsoring-a-friends-wife-need-answer-fast/613067/23 "2012-02-18T04:05:48Z")
> [@md2000](#): > > No disrespect or slur…congrats on being Born In The USA. (I’m tempted to joke, it’s almost as good as being born in Kenya, but this is GQ and I have a low opinion of _that_ stupid argument…) > > Just asking: > > - if an immigrant mother with a US born baby is reduced to collecting welfare, can the welfare authorities come after the sponsor, even though the child is a natural-born citizen? > -is medical cost covered? For example is Medicare (obviously a means-test benefit) for childbirth covered, or is it considered a cost to the mother (not the child) and again passed on to the sponsor? > -I assume if the child requires serious hospitalization (i.e. preemie) that would be the child’s benefit and covered. But the mother’s medical costs (i.e. cesarian) would be the sponsor’s? > > The moral of the story is - you are potentially putting yourself on the hook for enough cost to wipe yourself out. You are relying on good fortune and good intentions, and only one is in everyone’s control. > > My POV, $28,000 is not a lot of money. There’s a reason why the INS would like to be sure someone makes enough money to support 2 people before they bring another person into the country. I didn’t interpret it as a slur, just kind of overreaching is all. I always assumed anchor baby was a child whose parents had no tie to the country it is born in. So say two US citizen parents conspire to have a child in another country, the child would be their only tie there. In the case the OP presents even if the child was born in Peru it would be a US citizen via its father(yes there are rules most US citizens meet) so there is no possible way it is a anchor baby. Anyway… It is my understanding that pregnancy and birth costs would be under the mother’s name and yes the sponsor would be on the hook. On welfare it depends who the recipient is the mother or child. How common is it for them to go after a sponsor? I remember a immigration lawyer claiming it was rare, but I wonder. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2012, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sponsoring-a-friends-wife-need-answer-fast/613067/24 "2012-02-18T17:49:52Z")
Thanks for the replies. As I said on Thursday, I spoke with my friend and he is looking into the avenue with his mom. **fubblescag** : Thanks for the offer. I think my friend would rather stick to his own business though. ---
**Author:** ![fubbleskag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fubbleskag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fubbleskag)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2012, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sponsoring-a-friends-wife-need-answer-fast/613067/25 "2012-02-18T20:24:12Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Thanks for the replies. As I said on Thursday, I spoke with my friend and he is looking into the avenue with his mom. > > **fubblescag** : Thanks for the offer. I think my friend would rather stick to his own business though. ah sorry, I somehow misread that he was doing freelance work. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sponsoring-a-friends-wife-need-answer-fast/613067.md?page=1)