Post on 12-Jan-2017
Advanced I-864 issues
August 31, 2016
Greg McLawsenManaging Attorney
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www.soundimmigration.com
America’s web-based immigration law firm
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Do you do removal?
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Greg McLawsenManaging AttorneySound Immigration
@mclawsen greg@soundimmigration.com www.soundimmigration.com
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Outline
Suing sponsors It’s a very real thing
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Joint sponsor ethics The rules have changed
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Complex filing issues Common complexities
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Suing sponsors
A contract Capital ‘C”
Who are the plaintiffs?
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I-134 distinguished
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The sponsor’s *two* duties • Maintain immigrant at 125% FPG
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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).
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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.
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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
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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
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Damage$• Measure.
• Difference between actual income and 125% FPG• FPG changes annually; use Guidelines per year
• “Income”?• Courts unclear about what rule govern• C.F.R. looks to federal income rules
• Duty to mitigate?• Sixth Circuit: no, b/c no federal common law duty to mitigate
• Mainly looked to policy• Different result in states (?)
• (Eroding?) Majority rule: is duty to mitigate, generally
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Attorney fee$
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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
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How about a pre/post-nuptial waiver?
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Take away: approach cases as if your sponsor will be sued
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Joint sponsor ethicsDon’t do I-864s for joint sponsors!
The familiar pickle
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News flash!
You are a joint sponsor’s
attorney (if you draft the I-864)
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Only two options
Not client Client
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Your certification as preparer
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Plus this
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Conflict ruleABA 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.
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Directly adverse?
Presumably there’s a shared goal.
Otherwise why sponsor?
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Significant risk of material limitation?
How do you advise your
joint sponsor client?
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Not “what’s good enough” – what’s best
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Don’t fool yourself – someone is paying
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Complex filing issues
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Good news from the National Visa Center!
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Are you sure that you need an I-864?
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Screen for 40 quarters
DACA kids are coming!
9 FAM 302.8-2(B)(3)
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New jobs
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Self-employed
• 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
• Social Security earnings • Non-taxable investments • Legal settlement• Gifts, inheritance • Life insurance• Child support • Scholarships, grants• Disability insurance
Using non-taxable income to meet 125%
FPG
Foreign assets
www.soundimmigration.com/eventsGreg McLawsenManaging Attorney
@mclawsen253-203-3170greg@soundimmigration.comwww.soundimmigration.com