how to be a sponsor for a visa

Below is a list of documents required from the sponsor in USA.

• Completed and notarized Affidavit of Support form I-134.
• A letter from Bank/Banks stating your account summary. The letter should carry the bank's business letter head. Talk to your bank and ask for your ...
• Copy of your Bank Statement reflecting enough balance to justify your financial position.
• Certificate Letter from your employer (on company's business letter head), stating that you are a permanent employee of the company, and also stating ...
• 1 or 2 recent pay stub copies.
• Copy of few recent income tax returns or last few W2 forms.

Full Answer

Can I sponsor someone for a visa?

While you can’t petition for a friend’s immigrant visa or Green Card (only family members can do that), you can financially sponsor a friend’s immigration petition with Form I-864, Affidavit of Support.

Can I get a work visa without a sponsor?

Since there are so many US visas, it can be confusing to know which ones are for employment. Even within the US work visas, for very short seasonal work you might not need a sponsorship. But you must keep in mind that most employment offers in the US will need a visa sponsorship. The US visas have groups of nonimmigrant and immigrant visas.

Does the sponsor have to be an US citizen?

You must also be at least 18 years old and a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident. You must have a domicile in the United States or a territory or possession of the United States. Usually, this requirement means you must actually live in the United States, or a territory or possession, in order to be a sponsor.

What does visa sponsorship available mean?

What Does Visa Sponsorship Available Mean. Visa sponsorship available means an employer is willing to obtain a work visa for highly-qualified candidates who live outside the United States. To be eligible for visa sponsorship, employers must show that they were unable to fill their vacancies with qualified American workers. The H-1B visa is the ...

How do you sponsor someone for a visa?

Unfortunately, the only way that you can sponsor a person's visa or green card application is if you are the non-citizen's employer, relative, or fiancé(e). The U.S. immigration laws do not allow you to sponsor someone just because they are your friend.

What are the requirements to be a sponsor?

All sponsors must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, be at least 18 years old, and be living in the United States (including territories and possessions) when they file the affidavit of support.

How much does it cost to sponsor a visa?

How Much Will Sponsoring an H1-B Visa Cost an Employer? An H-1B Visa (or H-1B transfer) will cost you around $5000 (including government fees). Immigration lawyer fees should costs $2000 to $3000, while filing fees are around $3000.

What is the minimum income to sponsor an immigrant?

The most common minimum annual income required to sponsor a spouse or family member for a green card is $22,887. This assumes that the sponsor — the U.S. citizen or current green card holder — is not in active military duty and is sponsoring only one relative.

Can a U.S. citizen sponsor a friend for a visa?

While you can't petition for a friend's immigrant visa or Green Card (only family members can do that), you can financially sponsor a friend's immigration petition with Form I-864, Affidavit of Support.

How long can you sponsor someone for a visa?

An affidavit of support is a legally enforceable contract, and the sponsor's responsibility usually lasts until the family member or other individual either becomes a U.S. citizen, or is credited with 40 quarters of work (usually 10 years).

Who can sponsor for US visa?

To be eligible to apply for an IV, a foreign citizen must be sponsored by an immediate relative who is at least 21 years of age and is either a U.S. citizen or U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident (that is, a green-card holder).

Can I sponsor an immigrant that is a non family member?

Can a U.S. citizen sponsor a non-family member for immigration? Unfortunately, no, you can't petition for a foreign national's visa or green card if they aren't a family member.

Who can sponsor me in USA?

Who You Can Help ImmigrateWho Can Sponsor WhoWho You AreImmigrants You Can PetitionU.S. citizen (at least age 18, for financial sponsorship purposes)Minor, unmarried childrenU.S. citizenMarried children or adult childrenU.S. citizen age 21 or olderBrothers and sisters4 more rows

What is the risk in sponsoring an immigrant?

The risks of sponsoring an immigrant is high because there are more obligations on the person who signs an affidavit than on the immigrant. The immigrant may quit a job filing a lawsuit against the sponsor requesting support.

Who can sponsor an immigrant?

There are two ways that you can sponsor an immigrant who is coming to the United States. Generally speaking, anyone can financially sponsor an immigrant, whether the immigrant is a friend, family member, employee, or acquaintance.

How long are you responsible for someone you sponsor in USA?

The sponsor's responsibility lasts until the immigrant becomes a U.S. citizen, has earned 40 work quarters credited toward Social Security (a work quarter is about three months, so this means about ten years of work), dies, or permanently leaves the United States.

Can a U.S. citizen sponsor a non family member?

Can a U.S. citizen sponsor a non-family member for immigration? Unfortunately, no, you can't petition for a foreign national's visa or green card if they aren't a family member.

Who is eligible to sponsor in Canada?

To apply as a sponsor, you must be at least 18 years of age and a: Canadian citizen or. person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act or. permanent resident of Canada.

How much does it cost to sponsor an immigrant?

Mandatory FeesGreen Card CostsFamily Sponsorship Form (I-130)$535$535Green Card Application Form (I-485)$1,140Not requiredFinancial Support Form (I-864)$0$120Work Permit Application Form (I-765) (optional)$0Not required7 more rows

How do I sponsor someone to come to the US?

As a U.S. citizen, you must file a separate petition for each one of your direct relatives, including your own children. For example: To sponsor your mother and father, file a separate petition for each. If they have other children—your brothers and sisters—file a separate petition for each of them.

How do I sponsor an employee for a work visa in the U.S.?

Prepare to file a Labor Condition Application. File a Labor Condition Application. Obtain a visa.

Can I sponsor an immigrant for work?

Yes. Employers are allowed to sponsor immigrants for work in the United States by submitting Form I-129.

How do you sponsor an employee?

Prepare to file a Labor Condition Application. File a Labor Condition Application. Obtain a visa.

How much does it cost to sponsor an employee in the U.S.?

It can cost between $1,000.00 and $4,500.00 to sponsor an employee in the U.S., excluding legal fees.

Are you eligible to work in the US without sponsorship?

No. Without a sponsorship from an employee, you will not be granted a work visa.

Is there an employer guide to the H-1B visa?

You can follow our detailed steps to apply for an H-1B visa for a foreign employee.

How much does it cost to sponsor somebody?

The cost of sponsoring someone depends on the type of licence you’re applying for and the size or status of your organisation, in addition to a fee...

How do you sponsor someone?

The process on how to sponsor someone can be complex, requiring a Home Office approved sponsor licence that will enable you to issue a valid Certif...

Can I sponsor someone to come to the UK?

You can sponsor a migrant worker if you have a valid licence and the job they’re going to be doing has a suitable rate of pay and skill level, or m...

How much money do you need to sponsor someone in UK?

Sponsoring someone to work for you in the UK can be costly. This can include a licence application fee of at least £1476, together with the cost of...

Who Can Sponsor a Visa?

Ideally, getting a Visa sponsorship is possible only when you have a working job offer in your name from a US company. In other terms, the employer would sponsor the Visa and submit related documents on your behalf. But they can make the sponsorship only in certain situations.

What is visa sponsoring?

Visa Sponsorship is a set of documents which states and guarantees working status and job profile within the United States. Ideally, if you are looking to relocate to the US, you would need to find a job, and the employer, in turn, has to be willing to hire a non-resident employee for the particular job profile.

What happens if a visa is approved?

At this point in time, the employee can start the actual Visa application process in their home country, with the US Embassy.

How long does a sponsor visa last?

For instance, if you opt for an Immigrant Visa, it is a permanent solution. This effectively means you are a Green Card holder with a validity of 10 years, followed by unlimited extensions. You can also apply for permanent citizenship after five years of your stay in the United States.

How long does it take for a visa to be approved?

This takes some time, depending upon the total number of pending cases with the USCIS. Sometimes, it takes months for the application to be processed.

How much does a visa sponsorship cost?

In general, a visa sponsorship costs approximately $4000 but may cost $8-9,000 if a company has more than fifty employees and 50% of those employees are foreign nationals.

Can a non-immigrant sponsor a green card?

This is valid for individuals who are only temporarily moving to the country. This means Non-immigrant visa holders are not eligible for Green Cards, indicating that the Visa does not qualify for US citizenship later.

Prepare to file a Labor Condition Application

Ensure that the job description for your vacancy stipulates the need for the candidate to have (at minimum) a bachelor's degree in a specialized field such as engineering, medicine, or law. The position must be one that requires an individual with a specific degree, experience, or training.

File a Labor Condition Application

Employers must fill in and submit Form I-129 to apply for permission to hire a Nonimmigrant worker.

Obtain a visa

If your application is approved, you will receive a Form I-797 Notice of Action. The foreign employee must take Form I-797 to a U.S. embassy or consulate in their country. This will allow them to apply for permission to enter the U.S.

What is a US Visa Sponsorship?

The company you plan to work for must know that you are not a US citizen or Legal Permanent Resident (LPR). If the employer is aware and still wants to hire you, then they agree to sponsor you.

How Do I Get a Sponsor Letter for US Visa?

As explained, getting a sponsorship employment visa requires you to have an offer from a US employer. The US employer must send you a contract to sign, which will then be part of the sponsorship documents.

How Long is the Sponsor visa USA valid?

Once you go to the US, you can start working. But if you have a nonimmigrant work visa, then its validity is temporary. This means that after some time, it will expire.

How much does the sponsor visa cost?

Especially to the US employer who has to pay most of the fees. Depending on the visa, it might cost up to a few thousand dollars to sponsor a foreign employee. Because it is so expensive, employers are reluctant to do it.

What is a nonimmigrant visa?

Nonimmigrant Visas Employment Sponsorship. US nonimmigrant visas are for temporary stays in the country. They are not Green Cards and do not give the right to their holders to become US citizens. There are many types of US nonimmigrant visas, but some of the most popular are the employment ones.

What does it mean to sponsor an employer?

If the employer is aware and still wants to hire you, then they agree to sponsor you. A US visa or employment sponsorship means that the employer in the US is hiring you. They are guaranteeing to the US visa authorities that you will be a legal working resident. The employer will state that you will work the job position they hired you for.

How long is a non-immigrant visa valid?

How long the nonimmigrant work visa is valid depends on the type of visa you have. Some like the H-1B visa are valid for 3 years, while others could only be valid for 1 year. So you must check the details of your visa to not overstay. When the time comes for your visa to expire, some can get extensions.

How do you sponsor someone?

The process on how to sponsor someone can be complex, requiring a Home Office approved sponsor licence that will enable you to issue a valid Certificate of Sponsorship to a migrant worker who must then apply for a visa.

How much money do you need to sponsor someone in UK?

Sponsoring someone to work for you in the UK can be costly. This can include a licence application fee of at least £1476, together with the cost of issuing a Certificate of Sponsorship for each migrant worker, typically £199.

What is a sponsor licence?

A sponsor license is essentially the permission needed for UK-based employers to recruit foreign migrants to work for them in the UK.

What are the sponsor licence eligibility requirements?

To be eligible for a sponsor licence, the Home Office must be satisfied that you are a genuine organisation operating lawfully in the UK. To prove this, you must provide certain mandatory documentation to demonstrate that your business is genuine, and that you have an operating or trading presence in the UK. You will also need to provide any additional documents as may be requested by the Home Office to help them decide your application.

What is the sponsor licence application process?

To apply for a sponsor licence, you will need to register your details with UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and complete an online application form.

What are the ongoing obligations for sponsors?

Your sponsor licence will be valid for a period of 4 years, although you’ll be at risk of losing your licence if you do not meet your ongoing obligations as a sponsor, including:

What happens if you fail to submit documents to UKVI?

If you fail to submit the required documentation for the applicable route (s), or these documents are incorrect, your application will be rejected. If there are any documents missing from your application, other than mandatory documents, or if UKVI require any more documents or information, you will be contacted by email. It’s therefore important that your authorising officer and key contact are available while your application is being considered.

Interested in Becoming a Sponsor?

BridgeUSA is an educational and cultural exchange that provides study and work-type experiences in the United States for foreign nationals in an effort to further the State Department’s public diplomacy goals. The Department welcomes and encourages new organizations to become sponsors of exchange visitor programs.

The Second Step is Application Submission

Submit an application in SEVIS and remit the application fee (identified at §62.17).

The Third Step is Department Review

The Department review is a thorough and complete review of the application and all supporting material. During the review process, the Department may contact the applicant organization requesting additional information or clarification.

What does an agency need to demonstrate to sponsor a visitor program?

The agency should demonstrate that they’re legally capable of satisfying the obligations demanded by a visitor program. Each program varies, and you need to look into the specific program for the exact numbers. After an agency successfully becomes a sponsor, they will administer an exchange program.

Who Can be a J1 Visa Sponsor?

Sponsor organizations are appointed by the Secretary of State. They can be any of the following entities:

What are the Requirements to be a J1 Visa Sponsor?

But they must meet certain requirements before they can become one. They have to meet two main requirements. Those are:

What is the requirement to sponsor a J1 visa?

To be eligible as a J1 visa sponsor, an agency must demonstrate its capability to comply and remain compliant with the Exchange Visitor Program regulations , as mentioned in 22 CFR Part 62.

What is a J1 sponsor?

J1 Visa sponsor is an independent organization which sponsors the above group of people for the J1 Visa. Then, they can work for a specific company or organization. Today, they handle over 500,000 J1 visa holders who come in from over 200 countries.

How many exchange visitors do you need to sponsor a J1 visa?

To remain eligible as a J1 Visa sponsor, you must successfully administer at least five exchange visitors annually. Federal agencies are an exception to this.

Can you sponsor exchange visitors on DS 3606?

Now you need to wait to hear back from them. You’ll be asked to attend a few rounds of interviews if needed. Once successfully approved, you can initiate your operation by sponsoring exchange visitors. Please refer to the DS-3606 user manual for complete instructions.

Who can use H1-B visas?

Nonimmigrants who are slated to work under a “specialty occupation” are eligible to be sponsored by their future employer for an H1-B visa. They must hold a minimum of a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from an accredited university. Those with higher education can also receive this visa.

How are H-1B visas different from other nonimmigrant visa programs?

However, an H1-B visa provides the most streamlined process to gain permanent resident status for a foreign employee through a concept known as “dual intent.”

What is an H-1B visa?

Obtaining an H1-B visa will allow a United States company or employer to sponsor a nonimmigrant to come to the United States and work in what’s known as a “specialty occupation.”

Who files the petition for the worker?

The employer files all of the petition documentation for the worker and pays for all the fees associated with the petition process.

Can an employer hire highly educated non-immigrant workers?

Employers sometimes have the option of hiring highly educated nonimmigrant workers if they are unable to find workers domestically. Nonimmigrant workers can typically be sponsored for a limited time by an employer through the H-1B visa program, issued under the Immigration and Nationality Act. Though the program provides benefits for both parties, employers should review and consider the program’s terms and conditions before beginning the application process.