What is a Sponsored Green Card

A sponsored Green Card is almost any Green Card, as most categories require the applicant to have a sponsor. However, employment-based Green Cards follow a slightly different process, so here we’re just referring to a family-sponsored Green Card.

To understand the topic in more detail, we’ll go over eligibility requirements and how to get a sponsored Green Card.

What is a Family Green Card?

A family-based Green Card is exactly what it sounds like. The applicant must be petitioned (sponsored) by a family member who is a US citizen or Green Cardholder. The category applies to both naturalized and native-born US citizens.

If you are a lawful permanent resident of the US or US citizen you may sponsor your spouse, children in your family under the age of 21, a sibling, or your parents if you are over 21 years of age.  You may also sponsor your children that are either unmarried or married.

Providing the application is successful, a family-based Green Card comes with all the usual benefits. These include the right to live, work, and study in the USA, and the potential for citizenship after 10 years of permanent residence.

Eligibility for a Sponsored Green Card

In order for you to be eligible for a sponsored Green Card, you must have a family member who has achieved green card status in the United States as a lawful permanent resident or US citizenship status. The family member must be able to prove their status and be willing to sponsor you for lawful permanent resident status in the US.

A popular category that deserves a bit more attention is marriage Green Cards. These involve becoming engaged to a US citizen and then proceeding to marry them at a later time. The category also provides an option for the children of the immigrant, who can enter under a marriage Green Card, too.

The family member who is sponsoring you must fill out a Petition for Alien Relative, formally called Form I-130. The relative must also be able to prove they can support you so you do not become a public charge. The proof must demonstrate income must be 125 percent higher than the poverty limits for your family. If there is more than one sponsored family member, the proof must be provided for all family members.

Proof of income can be a challenge for some sponsors, as the bar is set relatively high. This is to reduce the chances of the applicant becoming dependent on society, such as through unemployment benefit or similar.

In situations where a single sponsor can’t meet the financial requirements, applicants can ask for joint sponsorship. Joint sponsors don’t have to be related to either the main sponsor or Green Card applicant, meaning they can be friends, colleagues, or employers.

A joint sponsor is basically an insurance policy for the US government. A joint sponsor has fewer responsibilities than the main sponsor, but their obligations only end after 10 years or when the Green Card holder becomes a US citizen.

Obtaining a Sponsored Green Card

Once your family member files the Petition for Alien Relative (Form I-130), it must be approved by USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services). You must also prove that you are related to the family member who is sponsoring you.

If you are already in the US with your sponsoring family member, you must apply for an immigrant visa number as soon as one becomes available. This will adjust your status to lawful permanent resident. Adjustment of status is a technical term that refers to a slightly different application process. The bottom line is that you follow almost all the same steps for a sponsored Green Card, except you’re already living in the US.

You must also get an immigrant visa number if you are still residing in your country of origin. If this is the case, the Department of State will notify your sponsor when a number becomes available. Once a visa number is available, you must go to the Consulate in your country to complete the process of lawful permanent resident status in the US.

Sponsored Green Card Preference

It is also important to mention that sponsored green cards are categorized based on a preference system. If you are a spouse, unmarried child under the age of 21, or the parent of a lawful permanent resident of the US, it is not necessary to wait for an immigrant visa number. Once your petition is approved there will be a visa number made available to you immediately.

For family members that are married or are siblings of the sponsoring family member, it is necessary to wait for an immigrant visa number after Form I-130 has been approved.

If you are a lawful permanent resident of the US or US citizen your spouse may stay with you in the US while Form I-130 is being processed. Your spouse will need to apply for a nonimmigrant visa, which will lawfully allow your spouse to live and work in the US while they wait for approval of their sponsored Green Card petition. 

The nonimmigrant visa form is known as Form I-129F or Petition for Alien Fiance. If your spouse wishes to expedite the process of joining you in the US they can file for a K-3 visa for nonimmigrant status until Form I-130 is approved.

What Next After Obtaining a Sponsored Green Card?

As mentioned, obtaining a family-based Green Card results in all the same benefits as other types of Green Card. The holder can then live and work as normal, although financial responsibility still remains with the holder’s sponsor.

If you obtained a Green Card through marriage, and your marriage is less than 2 years old at the time, you’ll be given conditional residence. In short, this gives you 2 years of residence before your case is reviewed. The second review usually goes smoothly, unless something like a divorce happens.

If it does, you might face difficulty during the second review. USCIS appreciates that marriages do end, but it’s acutely aware of fraudulent Green Card marriages. USCIS will likely ask for evidence that the marriage was genuine, and getting this together can be complicated.

But, providing everything goes smoothly for you after obtaining your sponsored Green Card, the next 10 years will be easy. After this time, you can start the naturalization process to become a full US citizen. It’s the end goal for most Green Card holders, even if the process can be a bit stressful.

What if you don’t Have a Sponsor?

Most Green Card categories require a sponsor. However, applying for a sponsored green card can take time. Instead, consider applying for the Green Card Lottery because it results in all the same benefits but means you don’t need existing connections in the US. Apply today through US Green Card Office for the best chance of success.

Below you will find some frequently asked questions we get about Sponsored Green Card.