The Affadavit of Support has already been filled out with him as your sponsor? The purpose of the I-864 is to assure that a sponsored immigrant will not need means tested public benefits such as Food Stamps and "welfare". In order for a sponsor to quality for MTPBs, he/she must in essence meet the poverty guidelines - which at the same time disqualifies him/her from being a sponsor. A joint sponsor would then be needed, if your sponsor can no longer support himself or you. Here's a link to the Support Guidelines and I've pasted a couple of them here.
http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/publicaffairs/factsheets/affaqa.htm
10. What if a sponsor is receiving welfare benefits?
Current use of welfare benefits by a sponsor or one of the sponsor's family members or dependents will be considered as a factor in making a determination of eligibility for sponsoring immigrants. However, receipt of certain non-cash types of benefits will not disqualify a sponsor.
1. What programs are Federal means-tested public benefits?
Federal means-tested public benefits include public benefits funded in whole or in part by the Federal government and that the Federal agency administering these funds has determined to be a means-tested public benefits. To date, Federal agencies have announced the following four programs as means-tested public benefits: Food Stamps, Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF.)
2. What programs are State means-tested public benefits?
State means-tested benefits are any public benefit for which no federal funds are provided that a State, State agency, or political subdivision of a State has determined are State means-tested public benefits. Each State must determine which, if any, of its
public benefits are means-tested. We encourage States to publicly announce which programs they determine are means-tested benefits.
3. How does a potential sponsor find out if a particular program is a Federal or State means-tested public benefit?
We encourage Federal and State agencies to publicly announce which, if any, of their programs are means-tested public benefits. If a person is uncertain about a particular benefit, they should check with the benefit-granting agency to determine if the granting agency considers it to be a means-tested public benefit.
4. What programs does the law exempt from the definition of means-tested public benefit?
The following programs are not included as means-tested public benefits: emergency Medicaid; short-term, non-cash emergency relief; services provided under the National School Lunch and Child Nutrition Acts; immunizations and testing and treatment for communicable diseases; student assistance under the Higher Education Act and the Public Health Service Act; certain forms of foster care or adoption assistance under the Social Security Act; Head Start programs under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act; and Job Training Partnership Act programs.
