  We study the Bieri-Neumann-Strebel-Renz invariants and we prove the following
criterion: for groups $H$ and $K$ of type $FP_n$ such that $[H,H] \subseteq K
\subseteq H$ and a character $\chi : K \to \mathbb{R}$ with $\chi([H,H]) = 0$
we have $[\chi] \in \Sigma^n(K, \mathbb{Z})$ if and only if $[\mu] \in
\Sigma^n(H, \mathbb{Z})$ for every character $\mu : H \to \mathbb{R}$ that
extends $\chi$. The same holds for the homotopical invariants $\Sigma^n(-)$
when $K$ and $H$ are groups of type $F_n$. We use these criteria to complete
the description of the $\Sigma$-invariants of the Bieri-Stallings groups $G_m$
and more generally to describe the $\Sigma$-invariants of the Bestvina-Brady
groups. We also show that the "only if" direction of such criterion holds if we
assume only that $K$ is a subnormal subgroup of $H$, where both groups are of
type $FP_n$. We apply this last result to wreath products.
