The EB-4 Special Religious Immigrant Visa is a visa for members of other nationalities who are members of religious denominations with the right to apply for permanent residence in the United States.
Green Card EB-4. Religious Officers – Appointment
The categories of employees of religious confessions include persons:
Officials of religious denominations, such as pastors, nuns, priests, rabbis, deacons, or monks, who have been authorized by recognized religious organizations to conduct religious activities.
Foreign nationals with traditional religious duties, such as teachers of theology, spiritual mentors or catechists, church health workers, and religious speakers.
Religious workers who receive religious sponsorship when applying for a green card.
Their immediate family. To receive the EB-4 Special Green Card for Religious Immigrants, you must:
be a member of a religious denomination that has a non-profit organization in the United States.
be a member of a religious denomination for at least two years prior to applying to travel to the United States.
go to the United States to work in one of the following categories:
a priest in a religious denomination;
by professional activity or religious vocation or position for work in religious organizations. Professional activity requires a US bachelor’s degree or an equivalent scientific degree from another state to perform the work;
by religious vocation or positions for work in religious organizations or their non-profit affiliates. A religious vocation is dedication to a religious life. Vows can confirm that you are committed to the religious life. A religious office is an activity aimed at fulfilling the traditional functions of a religion. Religious positions include, but are not limited to, singers, missionaries, and teachers of religion.
Green Card EB-4. Officials of religious denominations. Registration procedure
Your employer or you must file Form I-360, a petition for an Asian, widow / widower, or special immigrant with a US Citizenship and Immigration Services Regional Service Center. You must also submit the following documents:
Proof that the religious organization is not a for-profit organization.
Letter from an official of a religious organization in the United States:
The letter must certify that you have been a member of the religious community for two years and that you have at least two years of experience in a religious vocation or activity.
If you are a priest, the letter must confirm that you have permission to perform the duties of a priest, and the letter must also indicate which duties you are entitled to perform.
If you have a degree in theology, the letter must confirm that you have a US bachelor’s degree or an equivalent degree from another state, which is necessary for your specialty. You must also submit an official academic profile. If you are applying for a job in the United States for a different occupation or vocation, the letter must certify that you can do the job. For example, if you want to become a nun or monk, you must provide proof that you are a nun or monk.
If you are applying for a job that does not include the duties of a pastor and is not related to professional activity, with a religious organization to which a religious denomination is affiliated, the letter must indicate how the religious organization is associated with the religious denomination.
The letter should also indicate how you will fulfill the duties of a shepherd, or how your work will be paid if the work requires professional or religious training. The letter must also confirm that you will not be dependent on additional income from a second job or donations (funds that are at your disposal).
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