Obtaining a Green Card as a Special Immigrant

If you are a special immigrant who is interested in obtaining a green card, there are certain requirements that you must meet.  For example, let’s say for the sake of illustration that you are a religious worker.  In order to qualify for a green card as an EB-4 (special immigrant) then you will need to be a member of a denomination of religion that is a non-profit organization in the United States.  There is a time restriction of two years of committed involvement with this non-profit organization before you can qualify to apply for an EB-4 green card.

Obtaining a Green Card as a Special Immigrant

Additional requirements as relevant to your religious work include that you would need to be a minister or a priest of the religious denomination.  If you are not a priest or minister within your religion, then you may qualify if you are a professional within the religious organization. 

• A professional is considered to be an individual who has a U.S. bachelor’s degree and works in a professional level position within the organization. 
• If you do not meet either requirement, then you must be a person who had a calling towards religious life. 
• You will need to be able to prove your devotional calling to religious service by providing an official copy of the vows that you took as a priest, minister, nun or bishop. 
• Furthermore, and finally you can qualify for the EB-4 visa if you hold a religious occupation such as a missionary, religious instructor, or a cantor.

Completing the Required Forms

You will need to complete Form I-360, which is the form that is specifically for people who are considered special immigrants.  You will also need to include all of your supportive documentation in addition to your filing fee.  Additionally, you will need to provide evidence verifying that your religious organization is a nonprofit organization within the United States.  Be sure that you include a letter from one of the official’s at your U.S.-based non-profit that verifies your affiliation as either a minister, religious profession, other religious vocation or occupation and verification that you have been a member of both the organization and the denomination for at least two years.  This letter will need to be included in your application packet.

Getting Help

You can submit your application package and filing fees with your local USCIS office.  Prior to submission, double check all of your materials for accuracy and perhaps give it to an immigration attorney to review.