People who live in the United States (U.S.) may want to have their loved ones from other countries come here. If they want those relatives to live here instead of just coming for visits, they may need to sponsor them.
Sponsorship is an important part of the immigration process. The sponsor must be either a citizen or a lawful permanent resident. They must file a petition and provide financial support so the immigrant doesn’t become dependent on public assistance.
Status in the country affects sponsorship abilities“
Citizens can sponsor more people to come into the U.S. than permanent residents can. Both citizens and Green Card holders can sponsor their spouse and their sons or daughters of any age as long as they’re unmarried. U.S. citizens can also sponsor their parents and their siblings.
Visas for spouses, unmarried children and parents of U.S. citizens are always available. Those don’t have any annual caps on the number that can be issued. Other family-based immigration visas are set in preference categories that have limited numbers of visas that are issued each year. These are set based on the sponsor’s status in the U.S. and the relationship to the immigrant they’re sponsoring.
The process of sponsoring a family member to come into the country can be complex. The petition and other information must be fully accurate and comprehensive. Because of the constant shifts in immigration policy, it’s best to work with someone familiar with these changes so they can offer guidance through the process.