What is visa sponsorship?

Visa sponsorship is when someone, a company, or an organization in the United States helps a foreign national get a visa or Green Card to live and work in the country.

The sponsor supports the visa application by providing the necessary paperwork to the U.S. government and takes on responsibilities to ensure the individual follows U.S. immigration laws.

For employers, sponsoring a visa means committing to hire a foreign national and assisting them in getting the legal permission to work in the United States. This process typically involves submitting forms and documents to prove that the job can't be filled by a U.S. worker and that the foreign national is qualified for the position.

Types of visa sponsorship

There are three main types of visa sponsorship: family-based sponsorship, employment-based sponsorship, and humanitarian financial sponsorship.

Family-based sponsorship

Family-based sponsorship allows U.S. citizens or green card holders to sponsor certain family members for immigration to the United States.

Employment-based sponsorship

Employment-based sponsorship happens when a U.S. employer sponsors a foreign worker for a specific job in the United States.

Humanitarian Financial sponsorship

Humanitarian sponsorship supports individuals coming to the U.S. for humanitarian reasons.

How can I get sponsorship for a US work visa?

Getting visa sponsorship for a U.S. work visa involves finding an employer in the United States willing to hire you and sponsor your visa application.

Depending on the visa type, there are different requirements a job must meet to qualify for visa sponsorship.

U.S. immigration law requires a valid sponsor — usually an employer or organization — to file your visa petition. The only exceptions apply to self-petition visas like the EB-1A or EB-2 National Interest Waiver.

Not sure if you meet all the U.S. visa sponsorship requirements?

Keller Law has a team of immigration lawyers who have experience helping people obtain visa sponsorship. Book a free consultation to learn about your visa options.

Nonimmigrant work visas that require employment sponsorship

H1B Visa

The H1B visa is for people with specialized skills who want to work in the U.S. It typically applies to roles requiring expertise in fields like IT, finance, engineering, science, medicine, and more.

Getting Visa Sponsorship :

• To get an H-1B visa , you need a job offer from a U.S. employer.
• Your job must require special skills, and your employer has to prove that you're the right person for the job.

What You Need :

• You must have a bachelor's degree or higher in a related field.
• Your employer must pay you a fair wage for the job.
• Your employer has to apply for a Labor Condition Application (LCA) from the Department of Labor.

How Long It Lasts :

• You can get an H-1B visa for up to six years.
• After that, you might be able to extend it if you're working on getting permanent residency.

L-1 Visa

The L-1 visa is for employees transferring within the same company from a foreign office to a U.S. office. It is typically used for managers, executives, or employees with specialized knowledge.

O-1 Visa

The O-1 visa is for people who have extraordinary ability or achievement in their field, such as science, education, business, athletics, or the arts.

E-3 Visa

The E-3 visa is a work visa for Australian citizens who will work in a specialty occupation in the United States.

Immigrant work visas that require employment sponsorship

EB-1 Visa

The EB-1 visa is an employment-based green card category for priority workers, such as individuals with extraordinary ability, outstanding professors/researchers, or multinational managers and executives.

EB-2 Visa

The EB-2 visa is an employment-based green card category for individuals with advanced degrees or exceptional ability in the sciences, arts, or business.

EB-3 Visa

The EB-3 visa is an employment-based green card category for skilled workers, professionals, and other workers.

EB-4 Visa

The EB-4 visa is an employment-based green card category for special immigrants, which can include certain religious workers and other specific groups.

EB-5 Visa

The EB-5 visa is an investment-based green card category for individuals who invest in a U.S. business and create jobs for U.S. workers.

Employment-based visa sponsorship process

Employment-based visa sponsorship generally involves a U.S. employer filing a petition for a foreign worker, demonstrating eligibility and meeting applicable requirements for the visa category.

Finding visa sponsorship jobs

There are multiple ways to look for jobs that may offer visa sponsorship, including online job portals, company career pages, and recruitment agencies.

Online job portals

Online job portals are a great place to start your search for visa sponsorship jobs.

Websites like Indeed, Glassdoor, and LinkedIn have filters that let you specifically search for jobs offering visa sponsorship.

When you're browsing, try using keywords such as "visa sponsorship," "H-1B sponsorship," or "sponsorship available" to narrow down your search results.

Company career pages

If you have a specific company or position in mind, try exploring company career pages, as some companies explicitly mention if they offer visa sponsorship.

Recruitment agencies

Recruitment agencies may also help connect candidates with employers willing to sponsor visas, depending on industry and role.

H-1B visa sponsorship jobs

H-1B visa sponsorship jobs are typically in specialty occupations and require an employer willing to file the H-1B petition.

EB-3 visa sponsorship jobs

EB-3 visa sponsorship jobs can include skilled, professional, and other worker roles, often involving labor certification and employer sponsorship for permanent residence.

Sponsorship letter for visa

A sponsorship letter is often used to support a visa application by explaining the relationship between the sponsor and the applicant and describing what support is being provided.

What is a sponsorship letter?

A sponsorship letter is a written statement that supports a visa application, typically provided by the sponsor.

What’s included in the sponsorship letter?

A sponsorship letter commonly includes identifying details for the sponsor and applicant, the nature of the relationship, and details about what support will be provided.