Hi there. I'm wondering if INS form I-864, the affidavit of support for an immigrant, will obligate one to reimburse the government for social programs' use even if it was given, in good faith, to someone who turned out to be a con artist.
Specifically, a "friend" of the family got my relatives to sign for her, under the pretense that she was going to go live with her husband until naturalization occured, and not be a bother otherwise. We've since discovered that it was a sham of a marriage obtained for immigration purposes (she doesn't even know the man's physical address--they exchanged emails instead), and furthermore, she's addicted to several controlled substances. Additionally, she shows no intention of going to work or school, or even applying for naturalization, now that she's here, contra her earlier promises, and seems content to loaf around an apartment my relatives generously provided. Is there any way of revoking the Affidavit of Support form, given that it was solicited under false pretenses, or are they basically screwed--and obligated to pay the bill--if she, say, winds up on Medicaid and needs treatment for those hefty addictions? She's already obtained a Green Card; would reporting this sorry affair to the INS (which I believe they've done) fix the problem, or are they stuck?
I did some lightweight digging through the Citizenship and Naturalization Service and State Department websites looking for a loophole they could use, but didn't find anything. I also advised them, very strongly, to consult a good lawyer. From what they told me, they asked one already, but he said there was no way of getting out of the obligations that form commits you to. However, it would seem somewhat absurd if they're held accountable for a person who turned out to be a liar (although I've heard worse horror stories about government agencies), so I'm wondering if there's something we all missed.
Respectfully,
--Allan

