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Archiver > BANAT > 2001-03 > 0983598106
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Subject: Re: [BANAT-L] Sponsors
Date: Sat, 3 Mar 2001 00:41:46 EST
We just sponsored a young lady from Germany. I remember my Grandparents who
arrived in 1905 and 1907 talking about their sponsors and my father who
arrived in 1934 needed one too. In his case his father was already here but
before his father could sponsor him he had to prove financial stability.
Just like it is now. My husband arrived from Germany in 1953 with his mother
and father and his brother and an aunt and uncle sponsored them. It is still
the same sort of thing to be a sponsor. In the old days you just had to
promise that you would be financially responsible if the immigrant wasn't
able to take care of himself and usually had to provide a place to live for a
start. You also had to swear to provide continuing support if it was needed.
When we sponsored "our immigrant" a year ago we had to show three years worth
of tax records and they were required to show us in a financially stable
category. We had to swear to see to it that she had a good place to lived to
start. We also had to agree that we would take care of any debt she might
incur that she couldn't pay off. If she winds up in jail we're expected to
do whatever to represent her. It was a very time consuming and lengthy
process. The person at the immigration department informed us that they are
now tightening up because there are so many immigrants who can't support
themselves and get into one kind of trouble or another. I would have to add
here that the rules are not uniform and there are exceptions except for those
coming from European locations.
I believe from talking to the relatives years ago that a sponsor need only
agree to accept responsiblity for the immigrant and no proof was required of
financial stability. Thank God for that or many of our grandparents wouldn't
be here.
Barb M
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