Most people think of sponsoring an immigrant to the United States as hiring someone or helping them get a green card. However, family members can sponsor other family members and help them immigrate to the U.S. if they meet certain requirements and petition the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS).
If you’re interested in sponsoring an immigrant in Berwyn, you may want legal assistance from an immigration attorney, such as those at Godoy Law Office. Our attorneys can provide legal advice on filing your petition and assist your family members in joining you in the United States.
Family visas are either limited (the State Department issues a set number per year) or unlimited. Unlimited visas are available immediately upon approval, while limited visas are capped, and once approved, applicants still have to wait for an opening before they may immigrate to the U.S.
These categories are for close relatives of current U.S. citizens. They are not subject to any numerical caps.
These preferences, in order, are for those in specific relationships with U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents (LPRs). There are annual quotas and waiting periods for these categories.
Other family-based visas allow foreign-born fiancées of U.S. citizens to enter the U.S. to marry, provided the wedding is within 90 days of entry. Spouses of Berwyn citizens may obtain a visa while waiting for approval of their immigration petition.
U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents can sponsor family members wishing to immigrate to Berwyn. They must file a petition with the State Department and an Affidavit of Support to prove they can support their family member. Applicants require an income of 125 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. This Affidavit of Support is a binding contract on the sponsor until the immigrant becomes a citizen or has worked in the U.S for ten years.
For those interested in humanitarian sponsorship, such as refugees or children from war zones or famine areas, individuals should contact sponsorship agencies that work directly with those areas. Your attorney may be able to help you locate such groups.
If you have an immediate family member who needs help immigrating to the U.S., you may be able to sponsor them and improve their chances of a speedy visa application. You can learn more about sponsoring an immigrant in Berwyn by contacting an immigration attorney, such as those at the Godoy Law Office. Our immigration lawyers know the right forms to file with your petition and how to complete the Affidavit of Support.
Call our office today to schedule an appointment and begin the sponsorship process, getting your family member on their way to a U.S. visa.
