An Affidavit of Support is a document signed by a petitioner for a U.S. immigrant visa. A U.S. citizen might file an Affidavit of Support petitioning for their spouse to join them in the United States, for example.
One of the most important parts of the Affidavit of Support is the financial support portion: the individual must prove that he or she has enough funds to support the spouse in the United States until he or she finds a job. The goal is to avoid bringing immigrants to the United States who may become dependent on U.S. welfare programs.
Signing an Affidavit of Support is a big deal and should not be taken lightly. The person who signs the document is financially responsible for the other person for the duration of the other person’s visa (or until they get U.S. citizenship). In fact, if the other person draws funds from U.S. welfare programs at any point, then the person who signed the Affidavit of Support is required to reimburse the U.S. government for this support.
