EB4 Religious Worker Green Card

Texas EB4 Religious Worker Green Card Lawyers

The EB-4 Special Immigrant Religious Workers visa is an immigrant visa which allows foreign nationals who are members of religious denominations to enter into the U.S. to obtain permanent residency.

1. ELIGIBILITY:

To qualify as an EB-4 special immigrant religious worker, you must be a member of a religious denomination that has a non-profit religious organization in the United States. You must have been a member of this religious denomination for at least two years before applying for admission to the United States.

3. CRITERIA:

To qualify as an EB-4 Special Immigrant Religious Worker, you must:

• Be a member of a religious denomination that has a nonprofit religious organization in the U.S;
• Have been a member of this religious denomination for at least two years before applying for admission to the U.S;
• Be entering the U.S. to work in any one of the following categories:

- As a minister or priest of the religious denomination - In a professional capacity in a religious vocation or occupation for the religious organization. A professional capacity means that a U.S. baccalaureate degree or foreign equivalent is required to do this job - In a religious vocation or occupation for the religious organization or its nonprofit affiliate. A religious vocation means a calling or devotion to religious life. Taking vows can prove that you have a calling to religious life. A religious occupation is an activity devoted to traditional religious functions. Examples of religious occupations include, but are not limited to cantors, missionaries, and religious instructors

4. DEFINITIONS OF EB-4 RELIGIOUS WORKER AND OCCUPATIONS:

Religious workers include ministers of religion who are authorized by a recognized denomination to conduct religious worship and perform other duties usually performed by members of the clergy such as administering the sacraments, or their equivalent. The term does not apply to lay preachers.

Religious vocation means a calling to religious life, evidenced by the demonstration of a lifelong commitment, such as taking of vows. Examples include nuns, monks, and religious brothers and sisters.

Professional capacity means that a U.S. baccalaureate degree or foreign equivalent is required to do this job.

Religious occupation means a habitual engagement in an activity that relates to a traditional religious function. Examples include liturgical workers, religious instructors or cantors, catechists, workers in religious hospitals, missionaries, religious translators, or religious broadcasters. It does not include janitors, maintenance workers, clerks, fundraisers, solicitors of donations, or similar occupations. The activity of a layperson who will be engaged in a religious occupation must relate to a traditional religious function. The activity must embody the tenets of the religion and have religious significance, relating primarily, if not exclusively, to matters of the spirit as they apply to the religion.

Visa processing can be difficult and confusing. If you would like the assistance of an experienced immigration attorney, please contact the firm by e-mail or call our offices. Bertolino LLP maintains offices in Austin, Houston and San Antonio. To reach an immigration law attorney in the Austin office, call 512.476.5757. For the San Antonio office, call 210.223.5553. For the Houston office, call 713.225.7474.