You may already find the United States immigration process difficult to break through. However, another barrier may be if you must rely on another individual to sponsor you. That is, you have to trust that they correctly fill out and file the forms and do so efficiently. If you wish to maintain autonomy, you may consider sponsoring yourself for a visa. Well, with that in mind, please read on to discover the available visa options for self-sponsorship and how one of the seasoned green card lawyers at Lupton Law LLC can work to determine your eligibility for any of them.
What United States visas are available for self-sponsorship?
Namely, several employment-based visas provide an option for self-sponsorship. Firstly, you may apply for an EB-1A visa if you have an extraordinary ability and a demonstrated national or international acclaim in the fields of science, art, education, business, or athletics. Alternatively, if you are looking more for a temporary work visa option, your extraordinary ability may qualify you for a self-sponsored O-1 visa.
Secondly, you may sponsor yourself for the EB-2 visa if you have an advanced degree or exceptional ability in your field, with the potential to produce work that may be of national interest to the U.S. Again, for temporary work in a specialized occupation, you may consider the H-1B visa. Notably, new regulations now allow self-sponsorship for this visa type if you own 50 percent or more of a U.S.-based company.
Thirdly, you may be fortunate enough to qualify for and self-petition for an EB-5 visa. This is if you have $1.8 million to invest in a new commercial enterprise in the U.S. or $900,000 in a targeted employment area. Further, this enterprise must open up at least 10 full-time job positions for U.S. workers. As someone who already works for yourself, sponsoring yourself may make the most sense.
Besides the employment-based visas, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and widow(er) visas are other self-sponsorship options.
What visa options do not require sponsorship at all?
Your background may not exactly align with the eligibility criteria for the self-sponsorship visa options mentioned above. But at the same time, you may not want to start your search for a U.S.-based sponsor just yet. Rest assured, you may continue to explore visa options that do not require sponsorship at all. They read as follows:
- A B-2 visa (i.e., a tourist visa).
- An F-1 visa (i.e., a student visa).
- A granted status as a refugee or asylee.
- A visa that is awarded through the diversity visa lottery program.
To ensure you do not go through this critical yet complex process alone, please reach out to one of the competent green card lawyers. Our team at Lupton Law LLC is more than happy to serve you.
