Employment-Based, Fourth Preference
EB-4 Special Immigrant Religious Workers
A green card pathway for ministers and other religious workers employed full-time by qualifying US nonprofit religious organizations.
Get StartedNo PERM labor certification required
Distinct from R-1 temporary visa, leads to green card
Spouse and children under 21 may receive green cards
Priority date established on I-360 receipt
Eligible Religious Roles
Religious Vocation
A calling to religious life evidenced by a lifetime commitment through vows, investiture, or other ceremony.
Includes: Ministers, missionaries, nuns, monks, religious brothers and sisters
Religious Occupation
An occupation with religious duties not classified as a vocation but relating directly to and required by the denomination.
Includes: Cantors, religious broadcasters, religious translators, religious instructors, religious counselors
Eligibility Requirements
Must be a member of the same religious denomination as the petitioning organization for at least 2 years immediately preceding the filing
Must have been carrying on the religious vocation, professional work, or occupation continuously for at least 2 years
Must be coming to the US to work in a full-time (at least 35 hours/week) religious vocation or occupation
The petitioning organization must be a US nonprofit religious organization or a tax-exempt organization affiliated with a religious denomination
Step-by-Step Process
Organization Selects Candidate
The US nonprofit religious organization identifies the foreign national and confirms eligibility under EB-4 requirements.
File Form I-360
The organization (or self-petitioner if eligible) files Form I-360 (Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant) with USCIS.
Wait for Approval & Visa Availability
Priority date is set when I-360 (Petition for Special Immigrant) is received. Monitor the Visa Bulletin for current dates.
Consular Processing or Adjustment of Status
Once priority date is current and I-360 is approved, apply for immigrant visa at a US consulate or adjust status with I-485.
Important: Non-minister religious workers (those not ordained) may experience retrogression or backlog in the EB-4 category. Ministers generally have current priority dates. Monitor the monthly Visa Bulletin closely.
Help Your Religious Worker Achieve Permanent Residency
We specialize in supporting churches, faith communities, and religious workers through the EB-4 green card process.