The citizen spouse must sign a contract (I-864) with the Federal government promising to support the non-citizen spouse financially. In most cases, even if the couple divorces, the citizen spouse must continue to support the non-citizen spouse.
Countries including Australia, Canada, Germany, Mexico, and the U.K. regularly work with U.S. courts to enforce alimony orders across international borders. However, enforcing an international alimony order may take more time than enforcing a domestic one.
§ 3701 (2022).) Usually, a judge will award alimony when one spouse isn't able to support themselves through employment and the paying spouse is able to make the payments.
The 17 Alimony Factors in Pennsylvania Relative earning capacity of each spouse. Age, physical and mental health of each spouse. Sources of income of each spouse. Inheritances of each spouse. Marriage length. Contribution to spouse's education. Children: whether earning capacity of the custodial parent is affected.
The determination of spousal support is made by taking the difference in the net incomes of the parties, and multiplying that figure by a certain percentage (40% in cases where there is no concurrent child support, and 30% where there is child support in place).
Courts only award post-divorce alimony if necessary, i.e., the recipient spouse cannot financially support themselves. Alimony is referred to as a “secondary remedy” by the court, in that it is not automatic in every divorce.
In Pennsylvania, it is possible to avoid alimony through negotiation of terms in the divorce settlement, proof of marital misconduct and establishing financial independence.
Even if a spouse immigrant is denied alimony in divorce proceeding, she or he can seek support as set out under form I-864. Further, the spouse immigrant has no obligation to find a job (which is a requirement for alimony in California) to obtain support under form I-864.