What does sponsoring an immigrant mean?

What does sponsoring an immigrant mean?

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 is meant by immigration petition?

Immigrant Petitions. If you would like to become a permanent resident of the US and obtain your Green Card, an Immigrant Petition needs to be filed on your behalf by either your relative, your employer, or in some cases by yourself. Immigrant visa Petitions are Family-based Petitions and Employment-based petitions.

What happens when you sponsor immigration?

When you sign the affidavit of support, you accept legal responsibility for financially supporting the sponsored immigrant(s), generally until they become U.S. citizens or are credited with 40 quarters of work. If you do not repay the debt, the agency or the immigrant can sue you in court to get the money owed.

How does sponsoring an immigrant work?

Immigration sponsorship can be provided by family members or companies, depending on the type of visa being received. In these cases, the sponsor acts as a guarantor that the individual being sponsored has good intentions and plans on holding down a job, supporting a family and integrating into U.S. society.

Can I withdraw my sponsorship of an immigrant?

If the application for sponsorship has not been filed or is still pending, petition to have it withdrawn. This can be done by either visiting the nearest U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office or by notifying the agency in writing of your wish to withdraw your sponsorship.

What are the risk of sponsoring an immigrant?

The risks of sponsoring an immigrant is high because there are more obligations on the person who signs an affidavit than on the immigrant. The immigrant may quit a job filing a lawsuit against the sponsor requesting support.

How long is a sponsor responsible for an immigrant 2021?

The sponsor’s responsibility lasts until the immigrant becomes a U.S. citizen, has earned 40 work quarters credited toward Social Security (a work quarter is about three months, so this means about ten years of work), dies, or permanently leaves the United States.

What happens if I withdraw my sponsorship?

If the sponsorship application is still in progress, you can withdraw before your spouse/partner’s permanent residence is final. This means that if your spouse/partner goes on social assistance, you will likely have to repay the government even if you leave the relationship, move or get divorced.

Who is the sponsor of an immigration petition?

The sponsor is usually the petitioner who filed an immigrant petition on behalf of the intending immigrant.

Can a petitioning sponsor be a household member?

The petitioning sponsor is also known as the main sponsor. If the main sponsor does not have sufficient income to support the intending immigrant, he or she may need the help of an additional sponsor. The additional sponsor can be a joint sponsor or householder member.

How to become a joint sponsor of an immigrant?

Be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or U.S. national who is at least 18 years of age; Have income of at least 125% of the federal poverty guidelines; and Be domiciled in the United States, or its territories or possessions. The joint sponsor is held jointly liable with the petitioner for the support of the intending immigrant.

Can a joint sponsor file an i-864 affidavit?

If your household income is insufficient to sponsor an intending immigrant on Form I-864, Affidavit of Support, you may enlist the additional support of a joint sponsor.