Sure JobsThe US, UK, and Canada are among the most developed countries in the world and they offer endless opportunities to immigrants. Because of the thriving economies and economic stability in these countries, people from different parts of the world, especially developing countries, always want to relocate to these countries.
Ordinarily, relocating to the US, UK or Canada is not easy because of the stringent visa conditions. Because of that, most visa applicants who want to travel to these countries often apply for sponsored visas since it is one of the easiest ways to relocate to those countries. However, the application process for sponsored visas in the US is entirely different from that of Canada and the UK. This means that if you want to apply for a sponsored visa in the United States, the process you will follow will be entirely different from another person who is applying for visa sponsorship in the UK and Canada.
Now, the challenge here is that if you are applying for UK visa sponsorship and you don’t follow the process strictly, you won’t get the opportunity. The same thing is applicable to those applying for US or Canada-sponsored visas. Because of these issues, we have designed this article on understanding the visa sponsorship process for the US, UK, and Canada to help and guide those who are applying for sponsored visas in these countries to know the processes involved in each country to avoid mix-ups during the visa application process.
Who Offer Sponsored Visas in the UK, US and Canada
In the US, UK and Canada, there are many sponsored visa routes. In these countries, foreigners can get sponsored visas from family members who live in any of these countries. It didn’t stop there; foreign nationals from warring countries can also get humanitarian-based sponsored visas. In addition, if you get an employment opportunity in any of these countries, you can as well get a sponsored visa designated for foreigners through an employment-based sponsored visa.
Application Process for Visa Sponsorship in the US
In the United States, there are different types of sponsored visas and their application process differs. If you have a family member in the US and they want to sponsor your visa, the process they will follow to apply for it will not be the same with those whose US employer is sponsoring their visa.
Currently, there are three common sponsored visa routes that are available in the US. They are sponsored visas from your family member, which is called family-based visa sponsorship; sponsored visas from your employer, termed employment-based sponsored visas; and humanitarian-based sponsored visas, which are designated for foreigners that are having conflict in their home countries or seeking refuge in the US, UK or Canada due to persecution. However, it is important to note that the US has the most organized and well-detailed visa sponsorship application process for foreigners when compared to the UK and Canada. Since the application process for each of these sponsored visa types varies, we are going to take them one after the other to enable you to understand it better. Let’s continue with our discussion.
Application Process for Family-based Visa Sponsorship in the US
A family-based sponsored visa is one of the visa sponsorship opportunities in the US. This type of visa sponsorship allows US citizens or residents to sponsor visas for their family members to enable them to relocate to the US. In the US immigration law, there are sponsored visas for immediate relatives like a spouse of a United States citizen, US citizen parents, etc. There is also another sponsored visa under family-based sponsorship that is called a family preference visa. Under the family preference category of family-based visa sponsorship, you also have F1, F2A, F2B, F3, and F4. Now that you have known the different sub-categories of family-based sponsored visas, let’s look at the application process proper.
Application Process
If a US citizen or permanent resident wants to sponsor a family member, they will need to file a visa petition first using Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) or/and Form I-864 (Affidavit of Support) . However, the type of form they will use for the petition is not fixed; it depends on the relationship the applicant has with the beneficiary. It didn’t stop there; the person offering the visa sponsorship must also meet certain requirements as stipulated by the US immigration law. If the sponsor meets the criteria, the petition will then be approved. After the approval, the sponsored family member can then start applying for the immigrant visa through the US embassy or consular in their home country. In all, you need a family member who is either a US citizen or lawful permanent resident to file a petition on your behalf, and once it is approved, you can then start your immigrant visa application in your country of residence or origin, depending on individual cases. In addition, the application process for a family-based sponsored visa is always rigorous because there are thousands of applicants.
Application Process for Employment-based Visa Sponsorship in the US
An employment-based sponsored visa is a kind of visa where a U.S.-based employer offers a visa sponsorship opportunity to a foreign worker to enable them to live or work in the US. In this type of US-sponsored visa, the employer will need to prove to the U.S. immigration office that there is no US citizen or resident who is qualified to take up the job role and show their willingness to assist the international worker to access the immigration benefit and work with such a company in the US. Although there are different kinds of employment-based visa sponsorship in the US, they follow a similar application process.
Application Process
The US-based employer who wants to sponsor the visa for the foreigner will submit all the important forms and necessary documents to the U.S. government. The employer will also pay all the applicable fees on behalf of the foreign worker. In the same vein, the employer will also fill out and submit Form I-140 (Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker), indicating that there is no qualified person in the US to take the job, provide employee certification, and meet other recruitment criteria. At this point, the application will be reviewed; if it is approved, the international worker will then proceed with the visa application through the consulate or US Embassy in their home country.
Application Process for Humanitarian-based Visa Sponsorship in the US
The humanitarian-based visa sponsorship, which is also called financial sponsorship, is a kind of sponsored visa that allows organisations or interested individuals in the U.S. to sponsor individuals from worn-torn countries or people facing persecution in their home country to relocate to the US. This kind of sponsored visa is available for Ukrainian refugees and citizens of Venezuela, Cuba, Haiti, and Nicaragua.
The application process for humanitarian-based visa sponsorship in the US is not difficult; the sponsor only needs to demonstrate financial strength that they can finance the individual during their dependent period. On the other hand, the sponsored person will also meet certain requirements before they can get this type of US-sponsored visa.
Application Process for Visa Sponsorship in the Canada
In Canada, there are different kinds of sponsored visas, like employment and family-based, but the application process follows a similar pattern, unlike the US sponsored visa application process that follows different processes. The application process starts with filling out different forms depending on the type of sponsored visa you are applying for. The application process for Canada visa sponsorship is listed below:
- The applicant will file a petition using form I-130 Â or I-140 in addition with USCIS
- The visa application will be reviewed, and if it meet the necessary requirements, it will be approved
- After petition approval, the Canadian embassy, immigration department, or consulate will fix an interview appointment with the visa applicant.
- The next thing will be medical examination to ensure that the applicant is medically fit to live or work in Canada
- Once the medical examination is concluded, the date for the interview will be fixed
- After interview, the next step is visa approval or denial
- If the visa is approved, you will receive it; if denied, you will also be notified.
N/B;
When applying for a Canadian visa, ensure that you are real and say only the truth because if the immigration find out that you lied during your application process, that may lead to automatic disqualification.
Application Process for Visa Sponsorship in the UK
The application process for visa sponsorship in the UK is not difficult; however, the application process varies slightly depending on the type of sponsored visa one is applying for. Some of the UK-sponsored visas require the sponsor to file a petition, while other sponsored visa types, like employment-based visa sponsorship, may require going through the UK embassy, high commission, etc., depending on the applicant’s country of origin. If you want to apply for a visa-sponsored opportunity in the UK, kindly visit gov.uk/uk-visa-sponsorship to get started.
Sure Jobs