Immigration > Green Card/Permanent Residence Visas > Employment-based Green Card > Special Immigrants

Special Immigrants

Employment Fourth Preference (EB-4)

Special Immigrants receive 7.1 percent of the annual worldwide limit. All such applicants must be the beneficiary of an approved I-360, Petition for Special Immigrant, except overseas employees of the U.S. Government who must use Form DS-1884. The following special immigrants are eligible for EB-4:

• Religious Ministers and Workers
• Broadcasters
• Iraqi/Afghan Translators
• Iraqis Who Have Assisted the United States
• International Organization Employees
• Physicians
• Armed Forces Members
• Panama Canal Zone Employees
• Retired NATO-6 employees
• Spouses and Children of Deceased NATO-6 employees

EB-4 Religious Worker

The most common special immigrant is the religious worker who is coming to the US to work for a "bona fide, nonprofit, religious organization" or a "bona fide organization which is affiliated with the religious denomination." There are three classes of religious workers - ministers, professionals working in a religious vocation, and other workers in religious vocations. There is a limit of 5,000 visas available annually to religious workers, and the applicant must have been working for the religious group for at least two years prior to making the application. This work may be done either in or out of the US.

Please contact our office to set up a free consultation to determine what employment-based category may be the most suitable process for you.