FAQ: What Does Visa Sponsorship Mean?

• What is Visa Sponsorship? 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.

In simple terms, visa sponsorship is when a family member or organization advocates for an individual’s visa. As the applicant for a visa, it means you have an advocate that supports your entry to the United States for the purposes stated in the visa. There are a variety of visa types and ways to get sponsored.

How does Visa sponsorship work?

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.

What does it mean to sponsor someone for a visa?

Sponsoring an immigrant means you are their financial sponsor. Think of it as hosting an au pair or an international student in your home. You are responsible for that person’s living expenses. You are responsible for that person’s medical expenses.

Do you require visa sponsorship?

A visa sponsorship for visitors can help facilitate the approval process. Generally, the U.S. government does not require a visa sponsorship for B-2 visas. A foreign visitor who has a healthy financial background and who meets the other requirements for visa, can typically obtain a B-2 visitor visa without a sponsor.

How can I get sponsorship for Visa?

How to get a sponsor licence

1. Check your business is eligible.
2. Choose the type of licence you want to apply for – this will depend on what type of worker you want to sponsor.
3. Decide who will manage sponsorship within your business.
4. Apply online and pay the fee.

How long does visa sponsorship take?

This can take anywhere from six months to several years to complete. Obtaining approval of the I-140 petition on behalf of the foreign worker. This step takes an average of approximately four months to complete, but an expediting procedure is available that reduces this to 15 business days.

How much does sponsorship cost?

Visa Sponsorship Cost Form I-129 costs around $460. Form I-140 costs around $700. The American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act of 1998 charges anything between $750 to $1,500.

How do you sponsor someone?

If you are sponsoring someone for a family based green card (U.S. lawful permanent residence) you will, in most cases, need to fill out an Affidavit of Support for that person. This is ordinarily done using Form I-864, published (and available for free download) by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

What do I need to sponsor someone?

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.

How many immigrants can you sponsor?

While there are no numerical limits for sponsors, U.S. citizens and legal residents can only sponsor limited classes of close relatives. Permanent legal residents can sponsor spouses and unmarried children, including adult unmarried children, those defined as over 21.

How do I ask my employer for visa sponsorship?

If you have regular one-on-one meetings, ask something like “Hey boss. I’ve really enjoyed working in this company. I’d like to work in the US, rather than remotely. Do you think the company would sponsor my work visa so that I could work on site?”

Why do companies not sponsor Visa?

The short explanation for why companies don’t sponsor H1b – or employment – visas is that they don’t feel like they need to. Sponsoring an H1B visa requires extra effort on the company’s part to collect data, work with lawyers and the government, and manage timing.

How do you answer do you need sponsorship?

How (and when) should you disclose your sponsorship status to an employer? If a question is asked about sponsorship as part of an online application for a full-time position or an internship that could potentially lead to full-time employment, we recommend that you answer “Yes” that you will need sponsorship.

Can any company sponsor a visa?

For the most part, certain physicians, executives, managers, researchers, professors and scientists are all considered eligible for you to sponsor. These highly educated professionals are sought after and considered acceptable by employment-based immigrant visa categories mandated by the U.S. Congress.