“sponsor”

In immigration, “sponsor” often means to bring to the United States or “petition for.” To sponsor a relative, see the Family webpage. To sponsor an overseas orphan, please see our adoption brochure.

We also use “sponsor” to refer to someone who completes Form I-864, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the Act. However, this type of sponsorship is not the first step in any immigration process. To be a sponsor and file Form I-864, the following conditions must already be met:

• You have already petitioned for your relative;
• We already notified you that we approved the petition;
• The visa for your relative is currently available; and
• Your relative is scheduled to appear overseas at a U.S. consulate to submit their application for an immigrant visa, or is preparing to file to adjust their status to lawful permanent resident (on Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status) in the United States. If your relative is overseas, we will notify you as to where and when to submit Form I-864. If your relative is in the United States, you must complete Form I-864 and give it to your relative to file along with their Form I-485.