There are many reasons for wanting to assist a person’s immigration journey to the United States. You may be a friend or family member looking to make the immigrant’s journey easier, or you may be an employer who is trying to bring the person into your organization. Sponsorship is a way of documenting your support in a way that is meaningful to the agencies that make decisions about people coming into the United States, so it is important that you follow all of the appropriate steps and complete the paperwork correctly. At Erik B. Jensen & Associates, we have a long history of successfully assisting people in their immigration journey. We are proud to provide you with this helpful information on the steps in applying for a sponsorship visa.
Family Sponsorship
If you are a friend or family member who is interested in sponsoring a foreign citizen for a visit to the United States, it means that you are taking responsibility for their expenses. A sponsorship is not a guarantee that a visa will be granted, but it does increase the chances that their visa application will be approved, as it not only eliminates concerns about the person becoming a financial burden, but also provides the government with a point of contact in case of any problems or issues that may arise during their stay. Sponsors should submit the following documents:
- Affidavit of support form I-134
- Letter of invitation
- Letter to U.S. consulate
- Financial documents to prove your financial ability
- Their own residency status
Employer Sponsorship
If you are an employer or prospective employer who wants to sponsor a foreign citizen to become a permanent resident to work for you, the process begins with filling out an Application for Permanent Labor Certification from the U.S. Department of Labor. Only once this has been obtained are you able to move on to the immigration aspect of the process, which entails filling out Form I-140, the Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker. You should be aware that there are several different categories of immigrant visa, as well as different occupational priorities that determine whether a potential employee is eligible for sponsorship. These occupational categories include:
- Priority workers who have extraordinary abilities in a number of fields
- Professionals with advanced degrees or exceptional ability
- Professional or skilled workers
- Special immigrants such as religious workers and certain physicians
Both the success of your sponsorship application and the amount of time that it takes for it to be approved can vary depending upon a number of elements, one of which is whether the paperwork is in order and filled out appropriately. If you need assistance or guidance in the immigration sponsorship process, the professionals at Erik B. Jensen & Associates can help. Contact us today for more information.
