Fourth Preference
EB-4 Classification: Religious Workers and Employees or Former Employees of the US Government
The EB-4 classification includes two primary groups of foreign nationals:
- Religious workers
- Employees and former employees of the US Government abroad who are foreign nationals
The EB-4 employment-based visa application category includes a variety of special categories of applicants. Among other applicants, the EB-4 category includes:
- battered or abused spouses or children of US citizens or Lawful Permanent Residents;
- a religious worker;
- a Panama Canal Company Employee;
- a Canal Zone Government Employee;
- an employee of the US Government in the Canal Zone;
- a physician;
- an International Organization Employee or Family Member;
- a Juvenile Court Dependent;
- a member of the armed forces;
- an Afghan or Iraqi national who supported the US armed forces as a translator;
- an Iraqi national who worked for or on behalf of the US Government in Iraq; or
- Afghan national who worked for or on behalf of the U.S. Government in Afghanistan.
Religious workers represent a common route for application as a permanent resident. In this category, the applicant must have been working with his/her religious organization for at least two years prior to the filing of the application. The applicant must be applying to work in one of the following capacities:
- As a minister or priest of a religious denomination;
- In a professional capacity in a religious position for the religious organization that requires a bachelor's degree or its equivalent; or
- In a religious vocation or occupation for the religious organization or its nonprofit affiliate.
Applicants for permanent residence as religious workers must provide the following documentation:
- Proof that the sponsoring religious organization is a non-profit organization.
- A letter from an official of the religious organization in the US stating that the applicant has been a member of the denomination for at least two years and that the applicant has at least two years of experience in the position.
- The sponsoring organization also should explain how the applicant will be paid for the work, and that he does not intend to supplement his her income with a second job or depend on charity for support.