EB-4 Special Immigrant & Religious Workers

What is an EB-4 visa?

The EB-4 visa is an employment-based green card for special immigrant religious workers. Generally intended for religious denominations in the United States, it also covers various other applicants:

• Religious Workers
• Special Immigrant Juveniles
• Broadcasters
• Retired Officers or employees of a G-4 International organization
• NATO-6 Civilian employees
• S. Government employees and their families
• Members of the U.S. armed forces;
• Panama Canal company or Canal Zone government employees;
• Certain physicians licensed and practicing medicine in a U.S. state as of Jan. 9, 1978;
• Afghan or Iraqi translators or interpreters;
• Iraqis who were employed by or on behalf of the U.S. government; and
• Afghans who were employed by the U.S. government or International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).

For at least two (2) years immediately before filing, the applicant must have been a member of a religious denomination having a bona fide non-profit, religious organization in the U.S. and must have been performing the ministry, vocation, professional work, or other work continuously during that period.

Applying for an EB-4 visa

To obtain an EB-4 visa, the employer must file an I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant. There are certain situations where the employee may be able to self-petition.

Can my family accompany me?

Once your EB-4 green card is approved, immediate family members such as a spouse or unmarried children under 21 years of age may be join you through one of the following three options:

• Adjustment of Status
• Consular Processing
• Concurrent Filing

For more information about EB-4 National Interest Waivers, give us a call at 214-251-8011 (Dallas, TX) or 817-332-1100 (Fort Worth, TX), or schedule your next appointment online here.