Not always. The family-based immigration process permits specific individuals to become permanent residents of the United States through familial ties to U.S. citizens or permanent residents. However, it is common for immigrants to move for work or other purposes.
The “sponsor” is the citizen or permanent resident who files an immigration petition on behalf of a foreign national. The sponsor can be a family member, a spouse, or another agent, such as an employer. In contrast, the person who benefits from the immigration petition is referred to as the “beneficiary,” which is critical to understand in order to avoid making legal errors unintentionally.