When someone wishes to sponsor a visa for another person, whether it’s for family reunification, employment purposes, or other reasons, one of the most common questions is how long the process will take. Visa sponsorship times can vary greatly depending on multiple factors, including the country where the sponsorship is taking place, the type of visa being sponsored, and the complexity of the individual case. In this article, we will explore the typical timeframes for sponsorship visas in several popular immigration destinations around the world.
Sponsoring Visas in the United States
Family – Sponsored Visas
Immediate Relative Visas
I – 130 Petition Approval
For US citizens sponsoring their immediate relatives, like spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents (when the US citizen is 21 or older), the first step is filing the I – 130 petition. This petition usually takes around 5 – 12 months to be approved by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The USCIS needs to verify the relationship between the sponsor and the beneficiary, which involves checking documents such as marriage certificates, birth certificates, and proof of the US citizen’s status.
Consular Processing or Adjustment of Status
If the beneficiary is outside the US, after the I – 130 is approved, they must go through consular processing at a US embassy or consulate. This process typically takes an additional 2 – 6 months. The consulate will review the beneficiary’s eligibility, conduct interviews, and ensure all requirements are met. However, if the beneficiary is already in the US and eligible to adjust their status, they can file Form I – 485. The adjustment of status process can take 6 – 12 months after the I – 130 approval. So, in total, obtaining an immediate relative visa can take anywhere from 7 – 18 months if the beneficiary is abroad, or 11 – 24 months if they are in the US and adjusting status.
Family – Preference Visas
Lengthy I – 130 Petition Approval
Family – preference visas, which include sponsoring siblings, married children, and unmarried children over 21, have much longer processing times. The I – 130 petition approval can take 1 – 3 years or even more. For example, sponsoring a sibling as a US citizen can take over 10 years in some cases. This is mainly due to the high demand for visas in these categories and the limited number of visas available each year. The USCIS has to manage a large backlog of applications, and the wait times can be extremely long.
Waiting for Visa Numbers and Subsequent Processing
After the I – 130 is approved, the beneficiary has to wait for a visa number to become available. This waiting period can be several more years. Once a visa number is available, if the beneficiary is abroad, they go through consular processing, which takes about 2 – 6 months. If they are in the US and eligible for adjustment of status, the adjustment process takes another 2 – 6 months. So, the overall time for family – preference visas can be many years, with some cases taking over a decade.
Employment – Sponsored Visas
H – 1B Visas
Labor Condition Application (LCA) Approval
For the H – 1B visa, which is for skilled workers, the employer first needs to obtain a Labor Condition Application (LCA) approved by the US Department of Labor. This step can take 1 – 3 months. The LCA approval process involves the employer demonstrating that the foreign worker will not adversely affect the wages and working conditions of US workers in the same field. The employer has to advertise the job, determine the prevailing wage, and meet other requirements.
H – 1B Petition Processing
After the LCA is approved, the employer files the H – 1B visa petition with the USCIS. The regular processing time for the H – 1B petition is 3 – 6 months. However, if the employer pays an additional fee of $2,500 (as of [current year]) for premium processing, the USCIS will process the petition within 15 calendar days. But even with premium processing, the overall time from starting the LCA process to getting the H – 1B visa approved can be 2 – 5 months.
EB – 5 Investor Visas
I – 526 Petition Approval
The EB – 5 investor visa program allows foreign investors to obtain permanent residency by investing in a US business. The first step is for the investor to file the I – 526 petition. This petition usually takes 1.5 – 2.5 years to be approved. The USCIS has to review the investor’s business plan, the source of funds, and other aspects to ensure the investment meets the program requirements.
Consular Processing or Adjustment of Status
After the I – 526 is approved, if the investor is applying from outside the US, they need to go through consular processing, which can take another 6 – 12 months. If the investor is in the US and eligible for adjustment of status, the adjustment process (using Form I – 485) can take 1 – 2 years. In total, the EB – 5 visa process can take 3 – 6 years.
Sponsoring Visas in Canada
Family Sponsorship
Sponsoring a Spouse or Common – Law Partner
Sponsorship Application Review
In Canada, when sponsoring a spouse or common – law partner, the sponsor needs to submit the sponsorship application, along with supporting documents, to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The review of this application usually takes around 12 – 18 months. The IRCC checks if the relationship is genuine. They look at factors like how long the couple has been together, joint financial accounts, and shared living arrangements.
Medical and Biometric Requirements
Once the sponsorship application is approved, the applicant (spouse or common – law partner) has to complete a medical examination and provide biometric information. These additional steps do not add a significant amount of time to the overall process. So, the entire process from submitting the sponsorship application to getting the permanent resident visa can take up to 18 months, but it may be shorter if all documents are in order and there are no complications.
Sponsoring Parents and Grandparents
Lottery and Application Process
Sponsoring parents and grandparents in Canada is a more complex and time – consuming process. The application intake for the Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship Program is limited, and selection is done through a lottery system.
Once selected, the sponsor needs to submit the sponsorship application. This application can take 20 – 24 months to be processed. The long processing time is because the IRCC has to carefully assess the sponsor’s financial ability to support the sponsored relatives, as well as other factors like the genuineness of the family relationship.
Employer – Sponsored Work Visas
Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) – High – Wage Stream
Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) Approval
In the High – Wage stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program in Canada, the employer first needs to obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). This process can take 4 – 8 weeks if there are no issues. The ESDC reviews the employer’s need for a foreign worker and ensures that there are no qualified Canadian citizens or permanent residents available for the job.
Work Permit Application Processing
After getting a positive LMIA, the foreign worker can apply for a work permit. The IRCC usually takes another 2 – 4 weeks to process the work permit application. So, in total, the process for the High – Wage stream of the TFWP can take 6 – 12 weeks.
Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) – Low – Wage Stream
Longer LMIA Process
In the Low – Wage stream, the LMIA process may take longer, around 8 – 12 weeks. This is because there are additional requirements and more scrutiny. The ESDC has to be extra cautious to ensure that the employment of foreign workers in low – wage jobs does not negatively impact the Canadian labor market.
Work Permit Application Similar to High – Wage Stream
The work permit application process for the Low – Wage stream is similar to the High – Wage stream, taking 2 – 4 weeks. So, the overall time for the Low – Wage stream can be 10 – 16 weeks.
Sponsoring Visas in Australia
Family – Sponsored Visas
Partner Visas
Relationship Assessment
Sponsoring a partner for a visa in Australia can take a long time. The application for a partner visa (subclass 820/801 for applicants in Australia and subclass 309/100 for applicants outside Australia) usually takes 12 – 24 months. The Department of Home Affairs spends a significant amount of time assessing the genuineness of the relationship. They consider factors such as the length of the relationship, whether the couple shares a residence, and their financial interdependence.
Health and Character Checks
The applicant also has to meet health and character requirements. The health check may involve a medical examination, and the character check may include criminal record checks. These checks add to the overall processing time, which is designed to ensure that the relationship is real and the applicant is suitable to live in Australia.
Parent Visas
Contributory Parent Visas
For the contributory parent visa (subclass 143) in Australia, the processing time is 2 – 3 years. This visa requires the sponsor (the Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen) to contribute a substantial amount of money towards the processing costs. The long processing time is due to the high volume of applications and the need to verify all aspects of the sponsorship.
Non – Contributory Parent Visas
The non – contributory parent visa (subclass 103) has an even longer waiting time, often more than 30 years. This is because of the limited number of visas available in this category. The Australian government sets a low annual quota for non – contributory parent visas, leading to a very long backlog.
Employer – Sponsored Work Visas
Subclass 482 (Temporary Skill Shortage Visa)
Sponsorship Approval
For the Subclass 482 visa in Australia, the employer needs to be a registered sponsor. The sponsorship approval process can take 4 – 8 weeks. The Department of Home Affairs reviews the employer’s eligibility to sponsor a foreign worker, including factors like the employer’s business operations and compliance with Australian laws.
Employee Visa Application Processing
After the sponsorship is approved, the employee’s visa application can take another 4 – 8 weeks to be processed. So, in total, the process for the Subclass 482 visa can take 8 – 16 weeks. However, if there are issues with the application, such as incomplete documentation or additional verification requirements, the process can take longer.
Sponsoring Visas in the United Kingdom
Family – Sponsored Visas
Spouse Visas
When sponsoring a spouse for a visa in the UK, the application process can take around 6 – 9 months. The UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) assesses the relationship to ensure it is genuine. The sponsor needs to meet certain financial requirements, usually having a minimum income of £18,600 per year (in most cases) to prove they can support their spouse. The applicant also has to pass an English language test and meet other criteria.
Other Family Member Visas
Sponsoring other family members, such as parents or adult dependents, can take even longer, often 9 – 12 months or more. The UKVI has strict rules regarding the financial and relationship aspects of these sponsorships. For example, if sponsoring an elderly parent, the sponsor needs to show that the parent is dependent on them financially and that there are no suitable support options in the parent’s home country.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the time it takes to sponsor a visa varies significantly depending on the country and the type of visa. In the United States, family – sponsored visas for immediate relatives can take 7 – 24 months, while family – preference visas can take over a decade. Employment – sponsored visas like the H – 1B can take 2 – 6 months with premium processing or longer without it, and the EB – 5 investor visa can take 3 – 6 years. In Canada, sponsoring a spouse can take 12 – 18 months, and sponsoring parents can take 20 – 24 months. Employer – sponsored work visas in Canada can take 6 – 16 weeks depending on the stream. In Australia, partner visas can take 12 – 24 months, and parent visas can take anywhere from 2 – 3 years (contributory) to over 30 years (non – contributory). Employer – sponsored work visas in Australia, like the Subclass 482, can take 8 – 16 weeks. In the UK, family – sponsored visas can take 6 – 12 months or more.
It’s important for sponsors and applicants to be patient, as the visa sponsorship process often involves thorough background checks, relationship verifications, and compliance with immigration laws. Planning ahead and ensuring all documentation is in order can help streamline the process, but it’s clear that obtaining a sponsorship visa is a time – consuming endeavor in most cases.
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