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The immigrant only has to have paid into social security for 10 years to get in on it and Medicare and it can be a fake job -- such as someone in the family "hires" them, maybe to babysit and pays into social security taxes for the required 40 quarters. Then they can "retire" and get a nice check for the rest of their lives.
There is also a misconception that family sponsors actually have to provide their immigrants a health care plan or be wealthy. You only have to be at 125% of the poverty rate, or you find co-sponsors until combined incomes are 125% of the poverty rate. The sponsors' incomes are only used when determining the means tested programs, if you're under the poverty rate and so are the co-sponsors, none of you will really have to pay a dime, your immigrant will qualify for Medicaid and much more.
Can you cite USCIS on these assertions? That would be very helpful as I can't find anything to support them.
You also must meet certain income requirements (whether you are a sponsor, a joint sponsor, or a substitute sponsor). You must show that your household income is equal to or higher than 125% of the U.S. poverty level for your household size. (Your household size includes you, your dependents, any relatives living with you, and the immigrants you are sponsoring.)
If you cannot meet the minimum income requirements using your earned income, you have various options:
•You may add the cash value of your assets. This includes money in savings accounts, stocks, bonds, and property. To determine the amount of assets required to qualify, subtract your household income from the minimum income requirement (125% of the poverty level for your family size). You must prove the cash value of your assets is worth five times this difference (the amount left over).
•You may count the income and assets of members of your household who are related to you by birth, marriage, or adoption. To use their income you must have listed them as dependents on your most recent federal tax return or they must have lived with you for the last 6 months. They must also complete a Form I-864A, Contract between Sponsor and Household Member. If the relative you are sponsoring meets these criteria you may include the value of their income and assets, but the immigrant does not need to complete Form I-864A unless he or she has accompanying family members.
•You may count the assets of the relatives you are sponsoring.
Most “qualified aliens” entering the country on or after enactment are banned from receiving “Federal means-tested public benefits” for a period of 5 years beginning on the date of the alien’s entry with a qualified alien status (Sec 403) (see exceptions below). The HHS interpretation, published in the Federal Register on August 26, 1997 (62 FR 45256), designated TANF and Medicaid (except assistance for an emergency medical condition under Medicaid) as the Federal means-tested public benefits administered by the Department. Subsequently, HHS has communicated that the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is also a “Federal means-tested public benefit.” The Social Security Administration has stated that Supplemental Security Income is a “Federal means-tested public benefit.” The Department of Agriculture has also stated that SNAP benefits (formerly food stamps) are also means-tested. No other program has been determined to be a “Federal means-tested public benefit” program.
Obviously a household at 125% of poverty is not in any shape to be providing much financial support -- and they are not required to provide for the medical costs of their immigrants. The taxpayers will do that.
With some exceptions, sponsors must now have an income of at least 125 percent of federal poverty to sponsor an immigrant (previously 100 percent). All family-based immigrants, and certain employment-based immigrants, must be “sponsored,” meaning that a family member (and an additional co-sponsor, if necessary) must have signed an affidavit stating that they will provide assistance to maintain the immigrant at an annual income of at least 125 percent of the federal poverty line as long as it is enforceable (see Section A. Affidavit).
Obviously a household at 125% of poverty is not in any shape to be providing much financial support -- and they are not required to provide for the medical costs of their immigrants. The taxpayers will do that.
Not quite. If the OP is successful in sponsoring his 65 year old parent, that parent will have to be a US resident for 5 years before becoming eligible to even apply for Medicare part A. They can pay for Medicare B and D without a 5 year residency requirement. You may find the article linked earlier by nightlysparrow helpful for a relatively simple explanation.
If the OP were were only able to fend for himself at 125% above the mandated poverty level it's not likely that his sponsorship application for his 65 year old parent would even be considered. I think you're confusing separate issues here.
Not quite. If the OP is successful in sponsoring his 65 year old parent, that parent will have to be a US resident for 5 years before becoming eligible to even apply for Medicare part A. They can pay for Medicare B and D without a 5 year residency requirement. You may find the article linked earlier by nightlysparrow helpful for a relatively simple explanation.
If the OP were were only able to fend for himself at 125% above the mandated poverty level it's not likely that his sponsorship application for his 65 year old parent would even be considered. I think you're confusing separate issues here.
Here where I live, a very large number of immigrants are on Medicare or Medicaid. I know a physician whose mother was brought here -- she was living in HUD housing and Medicaid, but he wasn't the actual sponsor, they got one of the lowest earning family members to sponsor her so she could get on the welfare programs.
It's better to sponsor the parent at age 60 so that by age 65, they can go right onto Medicare/Medicaid. Otherwise, if the sponsor has an income not so close to poverty level, they might have to actually provide some financial support.
It's pretty common knowledge around here that an immigrant parent or other can be employed as a babysitter or other and they agree to work in exchange for room and board and food but the minimum is paid into social security so that in just 10 years, they will have a comfortable retirement on social security.
^^^ Apples and oranges and intermingling facts. The OP asked a simple question which I do think has been very simply answered. Of course the best thing for him to do (which unfortunately nobody - including myself - yet thought to mention even though certain sections were linked) is to go to the USCIS website which is linked in the first "sticky" on this forum. He'll find many other questions answered there and can also download the application forms to see exactly the questions he'll be asked.
If I sponsor a 65 year old parent to immigrate to the States, how could I qualify him for Medicare, SOcial Security?
You really do want to irritate tax paying Americans don't you? You as sponsor should take care of your parent's needs. Your 65-year old did not pay into the system! Your parent does not deserve SS or Medicare!
This is one of many scenarios that have bankrupted and bloated the rolls of these government programs.
It similar to you paying for years into a savings account and the bank decides to give the proceeds to another person. Would that be fair?
You really do want to irritate tax paying Americans don't you? You as sponsor should take care of your parent's needs. Your 65-year old did not pay into the system! Your parent does not deserve SS or Medicare!
This is one of many scenarios that have bankrupted and bloated the rolls of these government programs.
It similar to you paying for years into a savings account and the bank decides to give the proceeds to another person. Would that be fair?
And they will be the first to demand cuts for American Social Security / Medicare recipients!
I hope we can get our laws strengthened to put an end to this sort of greed. Medical care is expensive and the American tax payer shouldn't be an ATM for people who don't contribute.
I think you're arguing over nothing. An immigrant who has never paid into SS will not get SS. I think there is a way that an older immigrant can buy Medicare but they won't get it cheap or for free. There are many cases where someone might want to bring their aging parents over to this country so they can care for them.
We're talking about LEGAL immigrants who have a right to be here and they will obviously need some form of health insurance. Don't worry that someone might get a few cents of your tax money. Chances are they're bringing a pension with them that they will spend HERE.
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