Even the fiance visa program (K-1), which I went through 19 years ago. is affected by similar requirements. It's set up with a number of safeguards: The USC h

Even the fiance visa program (K-1), which I went through 19 years ago. is affected by similar requirements. It's set up with a number of safeguards: The USC has to apply for it on behalf of the immigrant, while the USC is physically in the country, and the immigrant must not be (to prevent coercion). But the visa is set up to expect the USC to be the primary breadwinner. I get that part of this is to dissuade "buying a visa" (but these days, hah). But my USC fiance was a student while I was an Australian IT professional. The government wanted us to demonstrate that we could support ourselves for months while I found a job, but literally didn't care what finances I contributed to that. Ended up that her mother had to sponsor my visa using her house as surety. For which I am entirely grateful, but bleh. They didn't expect her to pay for our lives, but meant that if I used any government resource such as Medicare/Medicaid, Social Security in my first ten years as a resident, that the IRS (I think) could be asked to effectively bill her for reimbursement of every dollar.