(Permanent Residence in the USA)

Most Green Cards in the E-4 Preference Category (Special Immigrant) are allocated to Religious Workers. However, Permanent Residence is also available to the following group of applicants:

Special Immigrant Juveniles, Former Employees of the Panama Canal, Certain Foreign Nationals employed by the US Government abroad, Foreign Workers formally Employed at least three years in the US Consulate in Hong Kong

The information below as well as our Self-Help US immigration Kit will only cover Special Immigrant Permanent Residence status as a Religious Worker.


Who Can Apply?

If the application process is somewhat different, the restrictions for Temporary Religious Worker and Permanent Religious Worker are basically the same.
• You must work in a Religious vocation or occupation for an organization within the denomination or for a bona fide organization which is affiliated with the Religious Denomination.
• This Bona fide religious organizations must have tax exempt status (or must be eligible) as an organization described in section 501 C of the Internal revenue code of 1986.
• You must have been a member of that denomination at least two years before applying for admission to the United States.
• You must be entering the United States to work as a Minister or Clergy Member of the Religious denomination including Ministers, Rabbis and Priests.
• You must work in a professional capacity in a Religious vocation or occupation or organization within that denomination. (A professional capacity means that a US Bachelor's degree is required to do the job).

There are 3 general steps in the application process to obtain Permanent Residence as a Special Immigrant. The applicant (you) must first file a Petition followed by an Application for yourself and accompanying Relatives.


• First , you must file your Petition (I-360) with the appropriate USCIS regional service center along with the proper supporting documents.
• If the Petition is approved, (notice of action I-797) and once you have obtained your priority date, you will now file an Application for your Permanent Status in order to get a Green Card. The application process is different if conducted from abroad or from within the United States.

• Read more information on eligibility requirements.