To sponsor a Venezuelan migrant in the U.S., he or she must have legal status in the country and have an income that exceeds at least 125% of the federal poverty level.
How to Sponsor a Venezuelan Migrant in the U.S. – Eligibility Requirements and Income Limits
Joe Biden’s administration signed an immigration agreement with Mexico to allow 24,000 Venezuelans to enter the United States legally and ease the border crisis. As part of this agreement, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) established the following guidelines:
To be eligible, Venezuelans must meet the following requirements:
- Apply online from their current location.
- Have entered Mexico before October 12, 2022.
- Travel by air to the United States.
- Pass thorough and rigorous national security and public safety checks and investigations.
- Meet immunization and other public health requirements.
- Have a sponsor in the United States to provide financial and other support.
Venezuelans are not eligible if they:
- Have been removed from the United States within the past five years.
- Crossed illegally between ports of entry after October 12, 2022.
- Have entered Mexico or Panama illegally after October 12, 2022, or are permanent residents or dual nationals of a country other than Venezuela, or currently have refugee status in another country.
- Failed to comply with immunization and other public health requirements.
DHS emphasized that Venezuelans should not travel to Mexico to enter the United States. They added that Venezuelans approved through this process will be able to travel to the United States by air directly to a port of entry within the country.
Once in the United States, they will be able to apply for work authorization. U.S. immigration officials also warned that those Venezuelans who enter the U.S. between ports of entry without authorization will be returned to Mexico.
About the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is a federal agency of the United States government responsible for ensuring the security of the country and its citizens.
Created in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, DHS is charged with protecting the United States from terrorism, cyber-attacks and other threats, as well as managing immigration, customs and border security.
DHS is responsible for implementing national security measures such as border control, airport security and immigration policy.
DHS is headed by a Secretary and operates through several components, including the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the United States Coast Guard (USCG) and the United States Secret Service (USSS).
