In some cases, a family member can sponsor you to get a green card. A citizen of the United States over 21 years can make a request for his spouse, children, parents or siblings. … Your U.S. sponsor completes the I-130 form, Immigrant Petition for Alien Relative, and gathers all the required documents.
Who can sponsor me for a green card?
You may sponsor a relative, an employee, or a prospective or currently adopted child wishing to immigrate to the United States. If you filed an immigrant visa petition for your relative, you must be the sponsor. Anyone applying to be a permanent resident through a family member must have a financial sponsor.
Can a U.S. citizen sponsor a friend for green card?
Can a U.S. citizen sponsor a non-family member for immigration? Unfortunately, no, you can’t petition for a foreign national’s visa or green card if they aren’t a family member. … You can sponsor your friend financially by providing a Form I-864, Affidavit of Support.
How much do you need to make to sponsor someone for a green card?
The most common minimum annual income required to sponsor a spouse or family member for a green card is $21,775. This assumes that the sponsor — the U.S. citizen or current green card holder — is not in active military duty and is sponsoring only one relative.
How long does it take to get a green card through sponsorship?
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.
Can I sponsor a friend to the US?
U.S. law requires a financial sponsor so that non-citizens in the U.S. won’t become public charges, dependent on government assistance for financial support. … So, a friend can become a financial sponsor. To become a financial sponsor, you must file an I-864, or an Affidavit of Support.
What is the fastest way to get a US green card?
If you’re a close relative to a U.S. citizen or a green card holder, they can petition for you to obtain legal permanent residency. This option is the fastest and most popular path to getting a green card. U.S. citizens are permitted to petition for immediate relatives, including: Spouses.
Does sponsoring an immigrant affect credit?
The affidavit of support goes into effect when the sponsored immigrant becomes a lawful permanent resident (LPR, or someone who has a “green card”) and remains in effect until the sponsored immigrant becomes a U.S. citizen, obtains credit for 40 quarters of work in the U.S., dies, or leaves the U.S. permanently.
Can I sponsor my girlfriend to USA?
You cannot sponsor your significant other to live with you, only visit. At the moment there isn’t an unmarried partner visa available. Your partner should be your legal spouse or your fiancé. As a general rule, you will have to complete an I-130 Form (Petition for Alien Relative).
Can my aunt sponsor me for green card?
Many extended family members — cousins, aunts and uncles, and grandparents — do not qualify. They may apply for a green card only if they, too, have a closer relative who is a U.S. citizen or current green card holder (or qualify for one of the other types of green cards below).
Can a US citizen sponsor an immigrant?
If you filed an immigrant visa petition for your relative, you must be the sponsor. 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.
What are the risks 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.
Can a US citizen sponsor a friend for a tourist visa?
If you are a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, and you have a friend or relative who seeks to come to the U.S. as a tourist (on a B-2 visitor visa), you might be able to help the person by providing a letter of invitation.
Why is it so hard to get a green card?
As of May 2020, completing the green card process is impossible for most people, regardless of whether they are living in the U.S. or coming from overseas, owing to U.S. government office closures to in-person visits.
How long is a sponsor responsible for an immigrant?
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.
How much money do you need to sponsor someone in USA?
For example, in 2021, a sponsor in the U.S. mainland would need to have income (or assets) of at least $33,125 to cover a petitioner who lives alone and is sponsoring one immigrant and two children (that is, a total of four people).