I applied I-485 (green card) and it is still pending. My son is my sponsor.
I recently had a medical emergency and went to the hospital for examination and treatment. The hospital checked my passport and asked me to sign a few forms. One form says that I will be responsible for the payment.
I am 66 years old and don't have a job right now.
My questions are: 1. Is there a way that I can waive the payment? 2. If I don't pay, is my son responsible for this payment? 3. Does it affect my green card application if I don't pay the bill? 4. Can I have a job later if I don't pay the bill?
Dakine442009-01-30T03:00:58Z
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1. It is unlikely that you can waive payment, but you may get a reduced bill if you show them you are unable to pay. Sometimes, especially if the hospital is a non profit, they may write off a large part of your bill if you make payment arrangements.
2. Your son is PROBABLY not responsible unless he signed one of the hospital's forms. Form I-134 (affidavit of support for visitors) is not legally binding. Form I-864 (affidavit of support for immigrants) does not go into effect until your green card is approved.
3. If you don't make arrangements to pay the bill, it will likely lead to a court case, which could result in a denial of your green card.
4. Your ability to get a job is not affected by payment or non-payment of the bill.
You should make arrangements to pay a minimal amount each month. Most hospitals will do this if you are unable to pay.
Also if your son signed any of the hospital forms, he would be responsible. I am surprised the hospital didn't require his co-signature; they usually do if a patient is not a US resident.
I don't think that you can just waive the payment. If anything, you should talk to the billing department of the hospital and see if you can work out some sort of payment arrangement after explaining your current situation. I have no idea if not paying the bill will affect your application, but ignoring the charges and letting the bill go into collections will not look good on your part.
Technically there is no grace period. An H-1B worker is considered out of status immediately after the employer-employee relationship is terminated. However, USCIS officers often overlook a brief gap between status. This is solely at the discretion of the adjudication officer and is not at all guaranteed. The length of a "grace period" is therefore highly subjective. According to various unofficial reports, one month, maybe two, is reasonable depending on the circumstances. USCIS often, but not always, makes favorable decisions on change/extension of status petitions filed during such grace period. But as an immigrant, you should not rely on it.
2. YES as your sponsor he will be, that's what all the bits of paper that he has signed for you to be here means.
3. It could do.
4. you are 66 years old now, what job plan did you have in mind, basically your son has already signed to say he will be liable for each and every debt you incur.