Sponsoring an immigrant means taking on the legal and financial responsibilities necessary to help foreign nationals obtain their green cards. Once they receive Lawful Permanent Residence (LPR), the immigrants may live permanently within the United States.
Sponsors must have U.S. citizenship or their LPR status and the means to support immigrants before they are eligible to vouch for them. Contact our qualified immigration lawyers, familiar with the process of sponsoring an immigrant in Cicero, for more information.
Individuals, companies, and groups may be eligible to sponsor immigrants to enter the country. This requires navigating the process and completing all the required steps for approval.
The first step is filing the petition with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Those seeking family-based sponsorship must meet the minimum requirements and file a Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative. The individual submitting the sponsorship application must:
The person seeking sponsorship approval must complete and file an affidavit of support, which is a legal contract between the sponsor and the federal government, along with supporting documents. An attorney experienced in immigrant sponsorship in Cicero could help complete and file the application and follow up with the agency for status updates.
An immigration sponsor’s liability mainly concerns the legally binding contractual commitment to support the immigrant financially. The sponsor and federal government agency formalize the financial obligation through the Form I-864, Affidavit of Support. Upon signing the form, the sponsor enters a legally binding and enforceable contract with the U.S. government.
The document promises that the sponsor will maintain an income of at least 125 percent or more of the federal poverty level for their household size. The obligation stands whether or not the immigrant finds employment. Should the immigrant seek help through the federal or state government, including Medicaid or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the government agencies may seek reimbursement from the sponsor.
There is also a right to sue immigrants if the sponsor fails to meet the minimum financial support requirements. Most family-based and employment-based immigrant sponsorship programs must establish that they have adequate means to support the immigrant upon approval.
There is no specific expiration date for the length of time a sponsor is financially responsible for immigrants. They are economically liable until the immigrant applies and becomes a U.S. citizen or earns approximately 10 years of credited work toward Social Security.
The contract would also end if the immigrant leaves the country or dies. A lawyer experienced with immigration sponsoring in Cicero could answer specific questions about the eligibility, requirements, and process.
Sponsoring an immigrant involves meeting the financial guidelines and making legal commitments to support the immigrant financially until they obtain gainful employment. It is vital to understand the requirements and responsibilities before applying for sponsorship. Immigration sponsorship allows American citizens and green card holders to sign an affidavit and pledge to provide adequate financial support to immigrants during their stay in the U.S.
Those eligible include individuals, business entities, or groups of people. Call our compassionate lawyers at Godoy Law Office for help sponsoring an immigrant in Cicero.
