Source: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/8/1183a?qt-us_code_tabs=1
Timestamp: 2016-02-08 22:12:51
Document Index: 238785494

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1183', '§\u202f1183', '§\u202f213', '§\u202f423', '§\u202f551', '§\u202f2', '§\u202f568', '§\u202f401', '§\u202f2', '§\u202f2', '§\u202f551', '§\u202f423', '§\u202f551', '§\u202f1000', '§\u202f232', '§\u202f211', '§\u202f564', '§\u202f423', '§\u202f101', '§\u202f405', '§\u202f752']

8 U.S. Code § 1183a - Requirements for sponsor’s affidavit of support | US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute
§ 1183a.
Requirements for sponsor’s affidavit of support
(1) Terms of affidavitNo affidavit of support may be accepted by the Attorney General or by any consular officer to establish that an alien is not excludable as a public charge under section 1182(a)(4) of this title unless such affidavit is executed by a sponsor of the alien as a contract—
that is legally enforceable against the sponsor by the sponsored alien, the Federal Government, any State (or any political subdivision of such State), or by any other entity that provides any means-tested public benefit (as defined in subsection (e) [1] of this section), consistent with the provisions of this section; and
(2) Period of enforceability
(3) Termination of period of enforceability upon completion of required period of employment, etc.
An affidavit of support is not enforceable after such time as the alien (i) has worked 40 qualifying quarters of coverage as defined under title II of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.] or can be credited with such qualifying quarters as provided under subparagraph (B), and (ii) in the case of any such qualifying quarter creditable for any period beginning after December 31, 1996, did not receive any Federal means-tested public benefit (as provided under section 1613 of this title) during any such period.
(B) Qualifying quartersFor purposes of this section, in determining the number of qualifying quarters of coverage under title II of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.] an alien shall be credited with—
(C) Provision of information to save system
(b) Reimbursement of government expenses
(1) Request for reimbursement
(2) Actions to compel reimbursement
(A) In case of nonresponse
(B) In case of failure to pay
(3) Use of collection agencies
(d) Notification of change of address
(2) PenaltyAny person subject to the requirement of paragraph (1) who fails to satisfy such requirement shall, after notice and opportunity to be heard, be subject to a civil penalty of—
if such failure occurs with knowledge that the sponsored alien has received any means-tested public benefits (other than benefits described in section 1611(b), 1613(c)(2), or 1621(b) of this title) not less than $2,000 or more than $5,000.
(e) JurisdictionAn action to enforce an affidavit of support executed under subsection (a) of this section may be brought against the sponsor in any appropriate court—
(f) “Sponsor” defined
(1) In generalFor purposes of this section the term “sponsor” in relation to a sponsored alien means an individual who executes an affidavit of support with respect to the sponsored alien and who—
(2) Income requirement case
(3) Active duty armed services case
Such term also includes an individual who does not meet the requirement of paragraph (1)(E) but is on active duty (other than active duty for training) in the Armed Forces of the United States, is petitioning for the admission of the alien under section 1154 of this title as the spouse or child of the individual, and demonstrates (as provided in paragraph (6)) the means to maintain an annual income equal to at least 100 percent of the Federal poverty line.
(4) Certain employment-based immigrants caseSuch term also includes an individual—
who does not meet the requirement of paragraph (1)(D), but is the relative of the sponsored alien who filed a classification petition for the sponsored alien as an employment-based immigrant under section 1153(b) of this title or who has a significant ownership interest in the entity that filed such a petition; and
(5) Non-petitioning casesSuch term also includes an individual who does not meet the requirement of paragraph (1)(D) but who—
(B) is a spouse, parent, mother-in-law, father-in-law, sibling, child (if at least 18 years of age), son, daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, brother-in-law, grandparent, or grandchild of a sponsored alien or a legal guardian of a sponsored alien, meets the requirements of paragraph (1) (other than subparagraph (D)), and executes an affidavit of support with respect to such alien in a case in which—
the alien’s petition is being adjudicated pursuant to section 1154(l) of this title (surviving relative consideration).
(6) Demonstration of means to maintain income
(i) Method of demonstration
(iii) Percent of poverty
(h) [2] “Federal poverty line” defined
For purposes of this section, the term “Federal poverty line” means the level of income equal to the official poverty line (as defined by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, as revised annually by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in accordance with section 9902(2) of title 42) that is applicable to a family of the size involved.
(i) Sponsor’s social security account number required to be provided
(3) The Attorney General shall submit an annual report to the Committees on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives and the Senate setting forth—
(June 27, 1952, ch. 477, title II, ch. 2, § 213A, as added Pub. L. 104–193, title IV, § 423(a), Aug. 22, 1996, 110 Stat. 2271; amended Pub. L. 104–208, div. C, title V, § 551(a), Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009–675; Pub. L. 107–150, § 2(a)(1), (3), Mar. 13, 2002, 116 Stat. 74, 75; Pub. L. 111–83, title V, § 568(e), Oct. 28, 2009, 123 Stat. 2187.)
[1]  See References in Text note below.[2]  So in original. Section enacted without a subsec. (g).
The Social Security Act, referred to in subsec. (a)(3)(A), (B), is act Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, 49 Stat. 620, as amended. Title II of the Act is classified generally to subchapter II (§ 401 et seq.) of chapter 7 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 1305 of Title 42 and Tables.
2002—Subsec. (f)(2), (4)(B)(ii). Pub. L. 107–150, § 2(a)(3), substituted “paragraph (5)(A)” for “paragraph (5)”.
Subsec. (f)(5). Pub. L. 107–150, § 2(a)(1), amended heading and text of par. (5) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “Such term also includes an individual who does not meet the requirement of paragraph (1)(D) but who accepts joint and several liability with a petitioning sponsor under paragraph (2) or relative of an employment-based immigrant under paragraph (4) and who demonstrates (as provided under paragraph (6)) the means to maintain an annual income equal to at least 125 percent of the Federal poverty line.”
1996—Pub. L. 104–208 amended section generally, substituting subsecs. (a) to (i) for former subsecs. (a) to (f) relating to requirements for sponsor’s affidavits of support.
Amendment by Pub. L. 107–150 applicable with respect to deaths occurring before, on, or after Mar. 13, 2002, except that, in case of death occurring before such date, such amendments shall apply only if (1) the sponsored alien requests Attorney General to reinstate the classification petition that was filed with respect to the alien by deceased and approved under section 1154 of this title before such death and demonstrates that he or she is able to satisfy requirement of section 1182(a)(4)(C)(ii) of this title by reason of such amendments; and (2) Attorney General reinstates such petition after making the determination described in subsec. (f)(5)(B)(ii) of this section, see section 2(b) of Pub. L. 107–150, set out as a note under section 1182 of this title.
Pub. L. 104–208, div. C, title V, § 551(c), Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009–679, provided that:
The amendments made by this section [enacting this section, amending sections 1631 and 1632 of this title, and repealing provisions set out as a note under this section] shall apply to affidavits of support executed on or after a date specified by the Attorney General, which date shall be not earlier than 60 days (and not later than 90 days) after the date the Attorney General formulates the form for such affidavits under paragraph (2).
“(2)Promulgation of form.—
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Sept. 30, 1996], the Attorney General, in consultation with the heads of other appropriate agencies, shall promulgate a standard form for an affidavit of support consistent with the provisions of section 213A of the Immigration and Nationality Act [this section], as amended by subsection (a).”
Pub. L. 104–193, title IV, § 423(c), Aug. 22, 1996, 110 Stat. 2273, provided that subsec. (a) of this section was applicable to affidavits of support executed on or after a date specified by Attorney General, which date was to be not earlier than 60 days (and not later than 90 days) after date Attorney General formulated form for such affidavits under subsec. (b) of this section, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 104–208, div. C, title V, § 551(b)(2), Sept. 30, 1996, 104 Stat. 3009–679.
Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(7) [div. A, title II, § 232], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–425, as amended by Pub. L. 107–228, div. A, title II, § 211(b), Sept. 30, 2002, 116 Stat. 1365, provided that:
“(a)Authority To Charge Fee.—
The Secretary of State may charge and retain a fee or surcharge for services provided by the Department of State to any sponsor who provides an affidavit of support under section 213A of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1183a) to ensure that such affidavit is properly completed before it is forwarded to a consular post for adjudication by a consular officer in connection with the adjudication of an immigrant visa. Such fee or surcharge shall be in addition to and separate from any fee imposed for immigrant visa application processing and issuance, and shall recover only the costs of such services not recovered by such fee.
Any fee established under subsection (a) shall be charged only once to a sponsor or joint sponsors who file essentially duplicative affidavits of support in connection with separate immigrant visa applications from the spouse and children of any petitioner required by the Immigration and Nationality Act [8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.] to petition separately for such persons.
“(c)Treatment of Fees.—
Fees collected under the authority of subsection (a) shall be deposited as an offsetting collection to any Department of State appropriation to recover the cost of providing consular services. Such fees shall remain available for obligation until expended.”
Pub. L. 104–208, div. C, title V, § 564, Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009–683, provided that:
The Attorney General of the United States shall establish a pilot program in 5 district offices of the Immigration and Naturalization Service to require aliens to post a bond in addition to the affidavit requirements under section 213A of the Immigration and Nationality Act [8 U.S.C. 1183a] and the deeming requirements under section 421 of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1631). Any pilot program established pursuant to this subsection shall require an alien to post a bond in an amount sufficient to cover the cost of benefits described in section 213A(d)(2)(B) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (as amended by section 551(a) of this division) for the alien and the alien’s dependents and shall remain in effect until the departure, naturalization, or death of the alien.
Suit on any such bonds may be brought under the terms and conditions set forth in section 213A of the Immigration and Nationality Act [8 U.S.C. 1183a].
“(b)Regulations.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Sept. 30, 1996], the Attorney General shall issue regulations for establishing the pilot programs, including—
certifying bonding companies for participation in the program, and
debarment of any such company that fails to pay a bond, and
criteria for setting the amount of the bond to assure that the bond is in an amount that is not less than the cost of providing benefits under the programs described in subsection (a)(1) for the alien and the alien’s dependents for 6 months.
“(d)Annual Reporting Requirement.—
Beginning 9 months after the date of implementation of the pilot program, the Attorney General shall submit annually to the Committees on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report on the effectiveness of the program. The Attorney General shall submit a final evaluation of the program not later than 1 year after termination.
“(e)Sunset.—
The pilot program under this section shall terminate after 3 years of operation.
“(f)Bonds in Addition to Sponsorship and Deeming Requirements.—
[Amended section 1183 of this title.]”
Pub. L. 104–193, title IV, § 423(d), Aug. 22, 1996, 110 Stat. 2273, as amended by Pub. L. 105–277, div. A, § 101(f) [title VIII, § 405(d)(3)(B), (f)(3)(B)], Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681–337, 2681–419, 2681–430; Pub. L. 106–78, title VII, § 752(b)(6), Oct. 22, 1999, 113 Stat. 1169, provided that: “Requirements for reimbursement by a sponsor for benefits provided to a sponsored alien pursuant to an affidavit of support under section 213A of the Immigration and Nationality Act [8 U.S.C. 1183a] shall not apply with respect to the following:
Medical assistance described in section 401(b)(1)(A) [8 U.S.C. 1611(b)(1)(A)] or assistance described in section 411(b)(1) [8 U.S.C. 1621(b)(1)].
Public health assistance for immunizations (not including any assistance under title XIX of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.]) with respect to immunizable diseases and for testing and treatment of symptoms of communicable diseases whether or not such symptoms are caused by a communicable disease.
Payments for foster care and adoption assistance under parts B and E of title IV of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 620 et seq., 670 et seq.] for a parent or a child, but only if the foster or adoptive parent (or parents) of such child is a qualified alien (as defined in section 431 [8 U.S.C. 1641]).
Programs, services, or assistance (such as soup kitchens, crisis counseling and intervention, and short-term shelter) specified by the Attorney General, in the Attorney General’s sole and unreviewable discretion after consultation with appropriate Federal agencies and departments, which (A) deliver in-kind services at the community level, including through public or private nonprofit agencies; (B) do not condition the provision of assistance, the amount of assistance provided, or the cost of assistance provided on the individual recipient’s income or resources; and (C) are necessary for the protection of life or safety.
Programs of student assistance under titles IV, V, IX, and X of the Higher Education Act of 1965 [20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq., 1101 et seq., 1134 et seq., 1135 et seq., 42 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.], and titles III, VII, and VIII of the Public Health Service Act [42 U.S.C. 241 et seq., 292 et seq., 296 et seq.].
Benefits under the [sic] title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 [former 29 U.S.C. 2801 et seq.].”