Q: We signed an affidavit of support for my brother-in-law. He has a temporary green card. He has medical and food stamps.
He applied without letting us know, and he is also scheduled to have surgery. The surgery is not an emergency. Will we be held responsible for the surgery and the food stamps? We live in California.
A:
This is unclear, but he can ask that the hospital collect from you. The U.S. Government has the right to seek reimbursement from you upon discovery that he lacks medical insurance. However, the government, through the Department of Justice, must decide whether to take action on the affidavit of support if it provides funds to the hospital or your brother in law.
As a result, I strongly recommend an appointment with a competent and experienced immigration attorney to discuss all of the issues and options before there are any other complications.
The above is general information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney client relationship.
A: Read the affidavit of support that you signed. If you do not understand the contents in the document that you signed, take it to a lawyer and have said lawyer explain it to you.
A: It is hard to say. Some states provide access to certain benefits for some citizens. It could be that he was eligible for these in CA. You should discuss this with a state social worker or an immigration attorney in CA familiar with benefit eligibility for non-citizens.
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