Maison Law Immigration Lawyer helps families through the immigration process in Bakersfield. When your family members live outside the U.S., there’s certain options you have to bring them to live with you. Whether it’s sponsorship or starting with a Form I-130, our team can guide you through the application and make sure the process works for your family. Contact us today to set up a one-on-one consultation to get started.
Why Would You Need a Lawyer?
Sponsoring the immigration of a family member outside of the U.S. is a pretty stressful process, especially if they’re in a bad situation in their home country. Then, there’s the application process itself, which varies widely depending on the situation. Still, you don’t technically need a lawyer to go through this process.
But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get one. The more complicated the situation is, the more our team can help you by:
- Explaining your family’s best (and quickest) options
- Helping you with any documentation
- Fixing problems with applications as they come up
- Handling appeals and any other requirements from immigration services (USCIS)
No matter what the reason is for sponsorship, our team of immigration lawyers can make the process easier for you and your family. We’ll make sure both you and your beneficiary are in the best position to get a visa or other temporary citizenship status.
How Much Income Do I Need to Sponsor my Family Member?
Beneficiary sponsorship is available to help U.S. citizens or green card holders bring their family members to the U.S. for things like medical care or safety. The U.S. allows this to keep families together, support their well-being, and help them settle in the country. But one of the major requirements involves financial support–meeting certain income thresholds.
As it stands right now, you have to make at least:
- 125% above the poverty level (set by the Federal Poverty Guidelines) for your household size.
So, it all depends on how many people you have living in your home (including a potential sponsor.) For example, if you have a spouse and two children and want to sponsor a relative, the income level for five people would be a minimum of $36,580.
How Does the Sponsorship Process Work?
Meeting income requirements is only one part of the sponsorship process. Once you decide you want to sponsor a loved one, you’re going to have to go through the actual application process. Every situation is different, but here’s how it works generally:
- File the I-134-A – To begin, you’ll submit Form I-134A online through myUSCIS. This kicks off the sponsorship process and makes sure that both you and the person you’re sponsoring are securely vetted.
- Background check and review – USCIS will check both you and the person you’re sponsoring to make sure you can provide the required support and everything is safe.
- Beneficiary’s confirmation – If you’re approved as a sponsor, the person you’re sponsoring will receive instructions to create an online account. They’ll need to complete some tasks, like confirming their personal information and making sure they meet the health requirements, such as vaccinations. They’ll also need to use the CBP One app to enter their details and upload a picture for their records.
- Travel authorization – After everything is processed, the beneficiary will receive a message saying if they’ve been granted permission to travel to the U.S. This permission is valid for 90 days.
- Arrival and parole – When the beneficiary arrives at a U.S. entry point, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will check them. Depending on the situation, they may be allowed temporary entry. They’ll go through more checks, like fingerprinting, before being granted parole.
- Parole and work authorization – If the person you’re sponsoring is granted parole, they can stay in the U.S. for up to two years. They’ll likely also get work authorization to be able to work during that time.
Sponsoring someone is unquestionably a big decision. If you’re considering it, make sure you’re fully prepared and meet the income (and other) requirements. From there, you can turn to our experienced immigration lawyers for advice and support. We can help guide you through the process and make sure everything goes smoothly.
Sponsor Your Family Member With the Help of Maison Law Immigration Lawyers
At Maison Law Immigration Lawyers, we help sponsors and beneficiaries through the immigration process. Our team of experienced immigration lawyers is here to provide quick and efficient services, making sure your loved one reaches the country smoothly. Contact us today for a consultation to get started on bringing your family member to California.
