What does it mean to sponsor an immigration case?

Asked by: Ansel Flatley  |  Last update: October 28, 2023
Score: 4.2/5 (8 votes)

What is a sponsor? A sponsor is a person who has helped an immigrant become a lawful permanent resident (a person with a green card) by signing an “affidavit of support.”

What does sponsor mean in immigration case?

1) A person who fills out and submits an immigration visa petition. Another name for sponsor is petitioner, OR 2) a person who completes an affidavit of support (I-864) for an immigrant visa applicant.

How does sponsoring an immigrant affect me?

If an immigrant you sponsored receives any means-tested public benefits, you are responsible for repaying the cost of those benefits to the agency that provided them. If you do not repay the debt, the agency or the immigrant can sue you in court to get the money owed.

How does a sponsor work for immigration?

If an immigrant does not have enough money to stay in the country, they can ask for help from a sponsor. The sponsor guarantees the government that the immigrant will receive financial support during their stay. Sponsors can be family members, friends, companies, or anyone else. Sponsors have certain responsibilities.

How long is a sponsor financially responsible for an immigrant?

The sponsor's financial responsibility usually lasts until the applicant either becomes a U.S. citizen, or can be credited with 40 qualifying quarters of work (usually 10 years) under the Social Security Act.

What Does it Mean to Sponsor an Immigrant? | Immigration Wednesdays

20 related questions found

How much money does a sponsor need to make?

The most common minimum annual income required to sponsor a spouse or family member for a green card is $24,650. 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.

Does it cost money to sponsor an immigrant?

How much does sponsoring an immigrant cost? There are essentially no costs for sponsoring an immigrant to the U.S. Any sponsor would have to file Form I-864 which is free of charge. However, some sponsors choose to pay for the entire immigration process, which can be costly and add up anywhere from $1,000 to $2,000.

What happens after sponsorship approval?

If we approve you as a sponsor

We'll assess if the person you want to sponsor meets the permanent residence requirements. If their permanent residence application is refused, we'll let you know why the application was refused and how to appeal the decision.

Can I withdraw my sponsorship of an immigrant?

Once the visa is issued, it cannot be revoked. Sponsors can cancel their sponsorship by sending a written request to the USCIS, but this rarely happens. To withdraw an application that has not been processed, sponsors must send a letter to the USCIS office and include a copy of their receipt notice.

What documents do you need for sponsorship?

Necessary Documents for a Visa Sponsorship
  • A signed letter by the sponsor.
  • A scanned copy of the sponsor's ID or passport.
  • Documents stating the sponsor's finances.
  • Proof of address.

What are the risks of being a sponsor?

You bear more responsibility on the immigrant as a sponsor. If the unexpected happens, you may be faced with fines and lawsuits. Before you sign an Affidavit of Support, speak with an immigration attorney for free evaluation of your specific situation and how best to prepare for any undesirable outcome.

What are the risks of being a sponsor for immigration?

Risks of sponsoring an immigrant after signing an affidavit of support appear from the contractual relationship between the sponsor and the government. This contract will be enforceable in the court of law and the government may sue the sponsor for failing to provide support to the immigrant.

What are the benefits of sponsoring someone?

Sponsorships can increase brand recognition before, during and after the actual event by giving your company exposure to new audiences. This often happens through mentions in the press or social media and event advertising, like radio spots, signs and featured ads.

Why do I need a sponsor for immigration?

Having a joint sponsor helps to ensure that the spouse seeking a green card will receive enough financial support to cover basic living needs and prevent them from becoming a “public charge” — that is, dependent on government benefits — upon arriving in the United States.

What does being a sponsor to someone mean?

someone who supports a person, organization, or activity by giving money: We encourage our employees to become sponsors of participants in the charity run.

What does it mean when you are a sponsor?

noun. the position or function of a person or group who vouches for, supports, advises, or helps fund another person or an organization or project: The money from your sponsorship will go towards paying the child's school fees and ensuring they get three meals a day.

Can an immigrant sue their sponsor?

Hence, most sponsors (joint) are always financially superior to the main sponsor, explaining why they are often the main target for collection. Under federal law, the beneficiary of the sponsor can choose to sue only the primary sponsor, only the joint sponsor, or both.

Can you stop being someone's sponsor?

If you have not yet filed the I-130 form with USCIS, you can simply withdraw your sponsorship by informing USCIS that you have changed your mind and no longer wish to sponsor the immigrant. You do not need to give a reason for withdrawing your sponsorship.

Is a sponsor responsible for medical bills?

The sponsor is not responsible for any debts that the immigrant might incur. This includes all types of debt (credit card, medical, student loan, etc). Even if the immigrant is sued by a creditor or files bankruptcy, the sponsor will not be affected.

How long should a sponsorship last?

Sponsoring for the full five years can give you some certainty that the worker will stay with you for that five-year period. Of course it can never be guaranteed, because five years is a long time, but at least you can set your intentions out early.

How long does it take to get a green card after sponsorship?

You can possibly get your Green Card within a year. But it could easily just as well take between 4 and 6 years if you apply in a popular category that receives many applications. There are many different types of employment-based visas.

How long does it take to be approved as a sponsor?

Assuming that USCIS has all of the information that it needs, they will usually approve or deny this sponsorship petition within 13.75–32.5 months, depending on your situation. When approved, USCIS will forward your paperwork to the National Visa Center.

How much do you ask a sponsor for?

Don't sell yourself short.

Ask for $10,000 to $100,000 from each sponsor. "I see people asking for $1,000," she said. "That's not going to cut it. You're dealing with a well-paid person in a corporation.

Can a U.S. citizen sponsor a friend?

Many clients have asked me about sponsoring their friends. 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.

How do sponsors work?

What is a Sponsorship? A sponsorship is when a company commits money or resources to a nonprofit event or program in exchange for specific promotional benefits. In exchange for supporting the nonprofit, the company gets their name and logo on things like: Banners.