Employer Sponsorship
Employer sponsorship is the process by which a business asks the government to admit or keep a foreign worker. The employer files a petition with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and in some programs also with the Department of Labor, to show that the job and the worker qualify. It covers both temporary work visas and employment-based green cards.
People usually bring questions about which visa programs employers use, what a company must show to sponsor someone, and what costs and duties come with it. Others ask about limits on the number of visas, protections for workers, and how sponsorship affects a worker's ability to change jobs.
An independent team explaining how government works
Referenced by Brookings, CNN, Forbes, Fox News, Pew Research, Snopes, The Hill and USA Today.
The Webby-recognized AI behind our articles »
All Articles on Employer Sponsorship
The H-2B Visa for Temporary Foreign Workers
The H-2B visa program lets American businesses hire foreign workers for temporary, non-agricultural jobs. It serves as a pressure valve for seasonal industries facing…
About the H-2A Visa for Foreign Agricultural Workers
The H-2A visa program lets U.S. agricultural employers hire foreign nationals for temporary or seasonal farm jobs when American workers aren't available. It operates…
About the H-1B Visa Program
The H-1B visa allows U.S. employers to hire foreign professionals for "specialty occupations" that typically require a bachelor's degree or higher. Since its creation…