EB - 4 Religious Workers
Religious workers may enter the U.S. as immigrants on an EB-4 visa to work in a legitimate non-profit religious organization in the U.S. This visa provides for the permanent stay of persons who will be full-time religious workers. The religious work proposed must directly serve an organization's religious objectives.
A religious occupation is defined as the demonstration of a lifelong commitment to the religious study or practices as is usually the case with priests, pastors, ministers, sheiks, rabbis, nuns, monks, liturgical workers, religious instructors, workers in religious hospitals, missionaries, religious translators, etc. You must enter the U.S to work as a religious professional of the denomination for the religious organization. A professional capacity means that a U.S. Bachelor’s degree or foreign equivalent is required.
In order to qualify for this visa, the applicant must have, for at least two years, been a member of a religious denomination that has a legitimate non-profit religious organization in the U.S. The applicant must also continuously perform ministry, vocation, professional, or other work during that two year period.
Application Procedure
You must submit the proper documentation evidencing the following:
- Proof that the religious organization qualifies as a non-profit organization
- A supporting letter from an official of the religious organization in the U.S. that establishes:
- You have been a member of the denomination for two years
- That you have at least two years of experience in your religious vocation or occupation
- You have been authorized to perform religious duties in general and should specify which duties you are authorized to perform
- You have a U.S. baccalaureate degree or the foreign equivalent that is required for your religious profession
- You are qualified to work in that religious vocation or occupation
- How the religious organization is affiliated with the denomination
- How you will be carrying on the work of a minister
- How you will be paid if you are working in another religious capacity
- You will not be dependent upon supplementary income from a second job or charity
Our staff is sensitive to the local community’s needs for religious workers. If you are a foreign religious worker or a local religious organization, please contact our office so that we may explain in more detail how foreign religious workers may enter the U.S.
Please contact us to start your immigration application now.