sponsoring someone

[noobienoob 0]

I know someone who got into the DV lottery, and I was wondering what being a sponsor is all about. I read through the information on this website, and there seems to be some debate about whether or not a sponsor is needed, but on the form DS-230, it asks for name and address of petitioner. Is that the same as financial sponsor? If I would sponsor this person, what are my obligations? Is it better for a citizen to be the sponsor/petitioner for someone for a diversity visa, or doesn't it matter? I would think it would "look better" if it was a citizen who was petitioning and/or sponsoring the person, right?

thank you!

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

Being a sponsor means that if the people you sponsor claim any means tested benefits the government can come to you for payback. Your sponsorship lasts until

you or the immigrant die, until the immigrant becomes a USC, until the immigrant leave the US, until the immigratant completes 40 quarters of work ( commonly refered to as 10 years , but that is assuming the person finds work immediately and always works )

[Rearviewmirror 397]

As far as I was aware, petitioner is you - i.e. you are petitioning for a visa.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

Visa lottery winners basically self petition. They "win" a green card.

[noobienoob 0]

Thank you for your replies. Yeah, I guess I was actually asking 2 different things....

So, as long as I can trust the person not to illegally apply for government welfare benefits, I don't have anything to worry about? I just wasn't sure if I would have to do anything. I would be happy to provide food and a place to stay, but can't afford to buy things like insurance, clothing, etc. He'll have to do that on his own! I just can't provide 100% for another person right now.

I thought the person hoping to get the visa was the beneficiary. I know for other visas, the petitioner is the person applying for the visa for someone to come to this country. Since diversity visas are applied for by the person who wants one, I wasn't sure how it worked in this case. So, the person who is the beneficiary in this case is also the petitioner?

sorry - I just don't know about this type of visa...

[Superkruz 6]

At question 36 (on DS-230) you write the name of each family member, while at Q39 you write the name of the DV selectee.

Essentially a DV selectee self-petitions and does not require a USC to do it.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

Yes, the person that one the visa is the person that is applying for the visa. They then have to show that they meet the educational or job skills requirements ( so many apply and never read the instructions ) once you pass that part you then have to provide sponsorship before the visa is issued. ( unlike the spam that was recently posted on VJ , the winner doesn't get free education , housing or jobs just a visa for the winner and immediate family)

With the current job market it may be hard for the winner to get employment for awhile so to keep them off of welfare you may have to help with some food monies. If your budget is tight I would look into sources like angel food ministries , great for making a budget go further and not income based.