Hi,

A long time friend of mine is a US citizen, and we briefly heard about some kind of visa that the foreign individual can get while the US citizen sponsors him or her. The US citizen is required to have income of 35k or so a year, and he/she needs to prove it upon sponsoring the foreign individual.

Q1. Is this visa/sponsorship's official name I-134 Affidavit of Support?

Q1.2. If not, what is the official name?

Q2. If so, what steps do I need to take next in order to go ahead, ask his sponsorship and get visa/sponsorship?

Q3. Should I hire an immigration lawyer to handle this properly?

Q4. How long does this take usually?

It is called "I-134, Affidavit of Support".

You can download the 1-134 form (http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=fe3647a55773d010VgnVCM10000048f3d6a1RCR D&vgnextchannel=db029c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1 RCRD) on the US Department of Homeland Security website.

The form is filled out by the person sponsoring you. You can make an expedite request, (http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=16a6b1be1ce85210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCR D&vgnextchannel=db029c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1 RCRD) however, you will need to make it using one of the approved criteria like extreme financial hardship.

I find Immigration Law to be remarkably complex. One mistake and you are set back months and months.

I wouldn't attempt this without an Attorney.

The person who wants to enter the US hasn't yet asked the citizen to sponsor him/her? That's step #1 - and it's a big step for the sponsor.