Visa sponsorship: how to get a US visa with the help of a guarantor

Visa sponsorship is when a family member or organization sponsors a visa for a foreign national. This means that the alien entering the US has a person or organization that supports their entry into the United States for the purposes specified on the visa. There are many ways to get sponsored. As a rule, sponsorship also has a financial component. CitizenPath.

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Businesses may sponsor an individual to obtain a temporary work visa (eg H-1B), or organizations may assist an applicant with a visitor visa (eg J-1).

Visa sponsorship is usually associated with a petition. An individual or entity located in the United States submits a petition on behalf of a foreign citizen. Once approved, the foreign national can generally apply for the desired visa.

Family visa sponsorship

There are many family visas for non-immigrant (temporary) and immigrant (permanent) purposes.

Green Card Sponsorship

Family immigration is the most common way to get a green card. In fact, over 600 people receive a green card every year through relatives. Visa sponsorship comes from the relative making the petition, but can also come from other sponsors.

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An applicant may become a relative's sponsor by filing Form I-864, Affidavit of Support, and various supporting documents. If the petitioning relative does not have the financial means to sponsor the family member, someone else must support the visa sponsorship.

Some eligible family members may also contribute their income, and/or the joint sponsor may file another Form I-864.

K-1 visa sponsorship

US citizens can also petition for a foreign citizen to obtain a fiancé/fiance visa for the purpose of coming to the United States for marriage. The process begins with the U.S. citizen filing Form I-129F Petition for Foreign Relative with USCIS. Once approved by USCIS, the foreign national applies for a K-1 visa through a U.S. embassy or consulate. A K-1 visa application may include financial sponsorship from a US citizen applicant.

The sponsor files Form I-134, Declaration of Financial Support, to assist the applicant in obtaining a visa. Visa sponsorship helps ensure that a K-1 member does not become dependent on the government if they do not have sufficient funds during their trip.

Tourist visa sponsorship

Each type of tourist visa has a specific purpose. And once this activity is completed or the visa expires, the foreign national is expected to leave.

F-1 students may travel to the US for the purpose of attending an educational institution. On the other hand, B-2 recipients may come for tourism, visiting friends and family, and other purposes. The US government wants to ensure that foreign nationals can feed themselves while they are here and leave when the time is right. Visa sponsorship for tourist visas can help ease the approval process.

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Generally, the US government does not require visa sponsorship for B-2 visas. A foreign national who is in good financial standing and meets other visa requirements can usually obtain a B-2 visitor visa without a sponsor. If a family member or friend wishes to sponsor it, this means that the sponsor has agreed to cover the cost if the guest no longer has the funds to pay.

To sponsor a tourist visa recipient, the sponsor prepares Form I-134, Declaration of Financial Support. The sponsor must submit an I-134 return, letter of invitation, and supporting documents as proof of their financial ability to bear the costs.

Work visa sponsorship

When US employers cannot find qualified workers in the United States, various programs allow them to hire workers from abroad. This is a great opportunity for foreign citizens to enter the US for the purpose of employment. These jobs may be short-term or may provide visa sponsorship for a green card.

While there are various types of US work visas for foreign workers with special skills, the focus is on the popular H-1B visa.

These visas are temporary and must be renewed regularly. Visa sponsorship means that an employer is willing to sponsor a work visa for highly qualified candidates living outside the United States. This is not an easy process for employers. They must prove that they were unable to fill their vacancies with qualified American workers before sponsoring a foreign national's visa.

When an organization sponsors a work visa for a new employee, they help complete the application, prepare paperwork for labor certification, and act as the visa applicant.

How to find a sponsor for a work visa

To get a work green card and a work visa, you need to establish contact with potential visa sponsors. But how to find it.

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There are several databases available to assist candidates in their job search. These websites may contain an extensive history of past sponsors, contacts, jobs, qualifications, and other valuable information. You can look at these sites: VisaJobs, H1BData, VisaDoor.

self-sponsorship

Some people can apply for a green card themselves. This is an extremely limited group of foreign citizens. To self-petition, individuals file Form I-360 based on inclusion in one of the following categories:

• Widows and widowers of U.S. citizens may petition if they were not divorced from the citizen at the time of his or her death, remarried, and filed the petition within two years of the citizen's death.
• Affected spouses/children/parents may apply if they have been the victim of violence or extreme cruelty by a US citizen or lawful permanent resident, spouse or parent, son or daughter of a US citizen.
• Special immigrants may apply if they qualify for one of the various groups, such as religious workers or special immigrant minors.

Some highly qualified professionals can also self-apply for a work visa. As a rule, self-applicants do not need a financial sponsor.

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