As a cross-border immigration lawyer based in Windsor, Ontario, Christina Loebach helps couples who live on opposite sides of the Windsor-Detroit border reunite and live together. This blog post considers the Form I-864, Affidavit of Support.

Form I-864, Affidavit of Support, is a document that the U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident sponsor signs to accept financial responsibility for the applicant who is coming to live in the United States. The purpose of the form is to prove that the intending immigrant has adequate means of financial support and is unlikely to become a public charge.

By signing the form, the sponsor is agreeing to use their resources, if necessary, to financially support the beneficiary and any dependent(s). It is a legally binding contract between the sponsor and the U.S. government. If the beneficiary and/or dependents receive any designated federal, state, or local means-tested public benefits, under U.S. law the agency providing the benefit can request reimbursement from the sponsor.

As a cross-border immigration lawyer based in Windsor, Ontario, Christina Loebach helps couples who live on opposite sides of the Windsor-Detroit border reunite and live together. This blog post considers the two pathways that are available for U.S. citizens and permanent residents seeking to sponsor their spouse for a green card - Adjustment of Status and Consular Processing.

As a cross-border immigration lawyer based in Windsor, Ontario, Christina Loebach helps families and couples who live on opposite sides of the Windsor-Detroit border reunite and live together. This blog post considers the Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative.

As a cross-border immigration lawyer based in Windsor, Ontario, Christina Loebach helps couples who live on opposite sides of the Windsor-Detroit border reunite and live together. This blog post considers a commonly asked question: can you sponsor your partner for Canadian permanent residence if you aren’t married?

As a cross-border immigration lawyer based in Windsor, Ontario, Christina Loebach helps couples who live on opposite sides of the Windsor-Detroit border reunite and live together. This blog post considers the availability of green cards (permanent residence status) for immediate relatives of U.S. citizens.

As a cross-border immigration lawyer based in Windsor, Ontario, Christina Loebach helps couples who live on opposite sides of the Windsor-Detroit border reunite and live together. This post was created as a response to many frequently asked questions related to situations where one (or both) of the parties was previously married.

Whether applying for a marriage-based green card via consular process or adjustment of status, the issue of criminal disclosures will come up. USCIS will do criminal background checks for both the U.S. sponsor and the green card applicant as part of the marriage-based green card process. The government requires you to disclose absolutely every interaction you’ve had with law enforcement, both inside and outside of the U.S., with the sole exception of traffic violations. Even if the charges were dropped or your record was expunged, you must be honest and tell them about it. The consequences of not reporting it are very severe - lying, or misrepresenting, will make you ineligible for a green card. When in doubt, schedule an appointment with an immigration lawyer and ask them.