Numerous people from all over the world seek employment and permanent residence in the United States or other nations. This creates a slew of new job opportunities. A special permit is required to work in the country via Visa Sponsorship.
Visa sponsorship occurs when one family member or a group advocates for a visa. On the other hand, sponsoring a visa may refer to a business assisting a person in obtaining a temporary work visa (H-1B) or a visiting visa (like J-1).
Let’s take a look at the hidden intricacies of Visa Sponsorship.
Visa Sponsorship
Visa sponsorship is a collection of documents that demonstrates an individual’s eligibility to work abroad. To work overseas, one must have a visa sponsorship. The employer must be willing to hire a non-resident before you can travel to any country. That is, the employer knows you are not a citizen or lawful permanent resident. And it is their guarantee to the Visa office that you will be a legal resident earning a particular sum. They sponsor you and send all required paperwork to the concerned department.
Who Sponsors Visas?
If you have been offered a job in the United States or any other nation, a Visa sponsorship is a great choice. In other words, your company would sponsor your Visa application and supply the required paperwork. They may, however, go for employment sponsorship under certain situations. This explains why employing and funding a foreign national is justified. As a result, a company may sponsor a Visa only if it has a relevant job vacancy and can show the need of employing a foreign person.
- Sponsorship of Non-Immigrants
Non-immigrant sponsorship is only used temporarily if the person cannot obtain US citizenship. This is especially true for foreign visitors. Because of this, holders of non-immigrant visas are ineligible for Green Cards and thus for citizenship. This type of employment sponsorship visa may be appropriate if your job requires frequent travel. To work abroad, you will need an Employment Authorization Document (EAD).
Note the non-immigrant visas requiring employer sponsorship –
- H-1B
- H-2A
- H-2B
- L1 Visas
- O-1A Visa
- O-1B
- I-130
- Immigrant Sponsorship
Employment sponsorship is also beneficial for Green Card applications. Those sponsored for an immigrant visa do not need an EAD to work in the country. This Visa allows you to work and live in the said nation, like the USA. This Visa will enable you to enrol in school, buy property, and even get a license. These visas are categorised by purpose.
These visas are categorised as under –
- EB-1 Visa
- EB-2 Visa
- EB-3 Visa
- EB-4 Visa
What is a Visa Sponsorship Letter?
Obtaining a sponsorship letter is time-consuming. Ordinarily, the employer hires a lawyer, as extensive verification and documentation is a comprehensive process. They are as follows –
- First, a job offer from a company abroad is required, for instance, the USA. This section contains the sponsorship agreement.
- If the company cannot find a suitable prospective employee in the country, a Labor Certification must be obtained.
- USCIS receives your petition and any supporting documents. Contracts, itineraries, and certificates fall under this group.
- When the USCIS receives all required documents, it processes the Visa Sponsorship Request. The number of pending USCIS cases determines the time. Applications can take months to process.
- Employers and employees will be notified if the application is approved. They can now apply for a visa at the US Embassy in their country or the relevant Embassy of the other countries.
- Employers and employees are notified if an application is denied. For example, insufficient staff credentials or documentation may be the reason for the rejection.
What is the Validity of a Sponsored Visa?
The length of the Visa Sponsorship period varies. For instance, a long-term solution is an Immigrant Visa, which is a ten-year renewable Green Card. After five years of working abroad, you can apply for citizenship.
Non-immigrant visas are valid for one to three years. When an employer’s Visa sponsorship expires, they can ask the USCIS for an extension. In this case, you can only renew sponsorship twice or three times.
Wrap-up
It’s more probable that your visa sponsorship application will be accepted if your papers are in order and if your company is willing to help you out financially. So, make a mental note of all of this information to ensure a smooth sailing procedure!
