The EB-4: How to Immigrate as a Religious Worker

The EB-4 green card category functions differently than many other types of green cards, but it can provide an ideal immigration pathway for qualifying individuals. Today, we’re going to examine the details.

The EB-4 is primarily for ministers and religious workers, but it also includes former US government employees, non-US medical school graduates, children who are dependents of a US juvenile court, Iraqi/Afghan translators, Panama Canal Zone employees, and international broadcasters. There are 10,000 cards allocated every year for the EB-4 category, of which no more than 5,000 may be allocated to these miscellaneous categories.

Ministers and religious workers can file for this green card on their own behalf or their employer may file a petition. This category has far fewer applicants than most, so the wait in this category is typically not as long.

How do you qualify for a green card as a minister or religious worker? According to US immigration law, a minister is anyone authorized by a recognized religious organization to conduct religious activities. The minister must have some kind of formal recognition from his or her religion, such as a license.

Religious workers are defined as working in a religious occupation. These jobs could include workers in religious hospitals, religious teachers, or religious translators.

The qualifying position must have been paid, not volunteer. Workers performing non-religious duties for a religious organization, such as clerical work, also do not qualify. The qualifying position also must be permanent.

To receive a green card as a minister or religious worker, the applicant must be able to show that he or she was a member of the religion for at least two years. The religious group must also have employed the applicant for at least two years. The applicant must be coming to the US to work at least 35 hours per week for the same religious organization. The religion must have a nonprofit organization within the US.

The primary applicant’s immediate family – spouse and children – may also apply for green cards. The children must be single and under the age of 21.

If you’re a religious worker and you meet these conditions, the EB-4 visa category may be ideal. But immigrating to the US is a difficult process, and we highly recommend that you consult an experienced immigration lawyer before beginning the process. If you’d like to learn more, please get in touch with us today!