You may invite your relative living abroad for a short visit to the United States, whether to join in on wedding celebrations, see other relatives at scheduled family reunions, or simply to witness the life you built for yourself in your new home. Well, on their end, they may apply for a B-2 tourist visa. However, to better their chances of approval, you may want to volunteer to sponsor their visa. Well, you should know that sponsorship for a tourist visa works differently from a green card. Nevertheless, please continue reading to learn whether you can sponsor your relative for a tourist visa and how an experienced family immigration lawyer in Milwaukee, WI, at Sesini Law Group, S.C., can help you prepare for this process adequately.
Can I legally sponsor my relative for a tourist visa?
To reiterate, your relative must fill out and file Form DS-160, Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application, with the Consular Electronic Application Center independently. From here, though, you may write an invitation letter, which provides further clarity on the purpose and duration of your relative’s visit to the United States. Arguably more importantly, though, you may submit Form I-134, Declaration of Financial Support, which demonstrates your financial ability to support your relative throughout their intended stay.
It is worth mentioning, though, that offering your sponsorship does not automatically guarantee your relative’s tourist visa application will be approved. This may be because this volunteer sponsorship is not the same as Form I-864, Affidavit of Support, associated with green cards, which is treated as a binding, enforceable contract. And so, the decision is ultimately up to a United States embassy or consulate officer’s discretion. Also, while you may invite any relative to visit you, closer relatives like parents or children may carry more credibility in the eyes of an officer.
What documents do I need to sponsor my relative?
Now, you may be expected to supply supporting evidence alongside your Form I-134. It is one thing to declare that you are willing to financially support your relative, but it is another thing to confirm that you have the financial means to do so. You may prove this by a combination of the following documents:
- Your most recent year’s tax return and W-2.
- Your recent pay stubs and bank statements from the past three to six months.
- An employment verification letter (i.e., job title, salary, length of employment, etc).
- Your proof of housing (i.e., mortgage statements, lease agreements, utility bills, etc).
- Proof that you meet or exceed 100% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for your household size.
This is not to mention the required financial and non-financial evidence your relative must come forward with, which we may aid them with, as well. To conclude, when it comes to your immigration case, you should not settle for anything less than spectacular legal assistance. So please hire us to help with your immigration application proceedings. A skilled family immigration lawyer in Milwaukee, WI, at Sesini Law Group, S.C., looks forward to working with you.