Immigration Helpers- High School

These terms describe the legal mechanisms and contracts required when a third party—such as a relative, corporation, or attorney—gets involved in someone's immigration process.

• Sponsorship (income requirement) / Affidavit of support: An Affidavit of Support is a contract signed by an immigrant's sponsor. The sponsor must submit tax documents proving their income meets federal poverty guidelines, promising to financially maintain the immigrant so they will not become a public charge (dependent on government welfare).

• Employer-Based petition: A formal corporate application submitted to the government by a U.S. company seeking to sponsor a foreign professional for permanent or temporary residency based on their specialized skills or labor.

• Labor certification: A complex, mandatory recruitment process overseen by the Department of Labor. A U.S. employer must prove to the government that they actively tested the domestic job market and were unable to find a qualified, willing, and available American worker to fill the position before they are allowed to sponsor a foreign national.

• Marriage petition / Marriage fraud: A marriage petition is a family-based application filed by a U.S. citizen or LPR to obtain a green card for their foreign spouse. "Marriage fraud" is the severe federal crime of entering into a fake marriage solely to avoid immigration laws and secure legal status.

• Adoption for immigration purposes: The process of legally adopting an orphaned or abandoned foreign child in compliance with specific federal and international treaties, granting the child immediate eligibility to immigrate to the U.S. and obtain citizenship.

• Immigration Attorney Help: Engaging licensed, professional legal counsel specializing in the complex framework of federal immigration law to handle filings, provide strategic advice, or offer courtroom defense.

• Pro bono: Professional legal services performed by an attorney completely free of charge, typically provided to low-income individuals, refugees, or asylum seekers who cannot afford private legal representation.