The EB4 green card checklist below provides a general idea of what type of evidence is usually needed for an EB4 green card petition. To have a better understanding of this list, please read the EB4 visa religious worker overview and then please go through EB4 requirements and documents to see the details of what is usually included or not included as evidence for religious workers.
Please click to download the EB4 green card checklist for religious workers.
The overall emphasis on the documents and requirements of an EB4 green card petition is that the person must have worked continuously in a religious position throughout the 2-year period immediately preceding the date filing the EB4 green card petition. For persons already in the R1 visa status (temporary religious work visa), transitioning into the EB4 green card is usually a smooth process due to how similar the visa requirements are and that the documents associated with the R1 visa status are in general considered more easily verifiable and trusted by the USCIS.
The requirements for an EB4 green card petition may seem straightforward and simple at first glance, however, with further examination it becomes tricky when figuring out whether the person actually has the qualified 2-year religious work experience or whether the documents of the religious organization submitted are up to the evidentiary standards of the EB4 green card petition. It is common practice and strongly encouraged to obtain an attorney for employment-based green card petitions.
Other alternative employment-based green card petitions are for workers in different fields and usually require a higher standard in eligibility than the EB4 green card petitions, however, these are still possible alternatives if the religious worker’s qualifications do not fit the EB4 green card petition just yet.
Other alternative employment-based green card petitions can include: (1) EB1 green cards (science, business, arts, athletics, educations, outstanding professors or researchers, multinational executives or managers), (2) EB2 green cards (advanced degree, science, business, art), (3) EB2 green cards under Schedule A Group II (performing arts, science, arts), (4) EB2 green cards filed with a National Interest Waiver (EB2 NIW), (5) EB2 green cards filed with a Physician’s National Interest Waiver (EB2 PNIW), (6) EB3 green cards (professional, skilled workers, unskilled workers), (7) EB3 green cards under Schedule A Group I (professional nurse, physical therapist) and (8) EB5 green card (investor).
Closer Alternatives
The closest immigrant visa (green card) alternative to the EB4 green card petition for religious workers would be the EB3 green card petitions (Professional, Skilled, Unskilled Workers). The EB3 green card petition are for 3 groups of workers: professional workers, skilled workers, and other unskilled workers. Professional workers under the EB3 green card petition are required to be a member of a profession with at least a bachelor’s degree (or its foreign equivalent) and a job offer that requires a bachelor’s degree. Skilled workers under the EB3 green card petition are required to have qualifications to perform a job that requires at least 2 years of training or work experience. Other workers under the EB3 green card petition are only required to be able to perform an unskilled job that requires less than 2 years of training or work experience.
Unlike the EB4 green card petitions for religious workers, all EB3 green card petitions require a sponsoring U.S. employer and a PERM Labor Certification. One exception for the PERM labor certificate requirement to be waived is if the occupation falls under Schedule A. Schedule A Group I occupations that include physical therapists and professional nurses are more commonly used for EB3 green card petitions.
Further Alternatives
The EB1 green card petitions require the highest standards in eligibility. There are three subcategories under the EB1 green card (1) persons who are nationally or internationally recognized for their extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics (EB1a green card), (2) professors or researchers who are internationally recognized as outstanding in their academic field (EB1b green card), or (3) executives or managers of multinational companies (EB1c green card). EB1 green card petitions do not require a PERM labor certification and the EB1a green card subcategory (for aliens of extraordinary ability) does not even require a specific U.S. employer for the petition just proof that the person will continue to work in their field of expertise.
The EB2 advanced degree green cards are for persons who have at least a master’s degree (or a bachelor’s degree and 5 years of post-college progressive work experience) and have a job offer for a position that requires that specific type of degree. The EB2 exceptional ability green card is for persons who have exceptional ability in the sciences, arts, or business. The Schedule A Group II EB2 green cards are for persons who have exceptional ability in the performing arts, sciences, or arts. A national interest waiver can be filed with an EB2 green card petition when the person qualifies for an EB2 green card and is also qualified in being able to make contributions that substantially benefit the United States as a nation. A physician’s national interest waiver can be filed with an EB2 green card petition for certain doctors who agrees to provide healthcare services in certain U.S. government-designated facilities or medical personnel shortage areas. The EB5 green card is for foreign investors who put a certain amount of capital (money) into a U.S. business.
HAVE A EB4 GREEN CARD IMMIGRATION QUESTION? CONTACT US
If you have an EB4 green card (Religious Workers) immigration question, please fill out our contact us form or send us an email with some basic information about your background and your immigration needs. We will do our best to respond within 48 hours.
How we can help?
Kylie Huang Law’s immigration attorney will help identify whether the EB4 green card is the appropriate immigrant visa category for the client’s (or the client’s beneficiary’s) professional background. We will work closely with our client to prepare a convincing case for their (or it’s) EB4 green card petition and we will also strategize on how the EB4 green card petition should be presented to achieve the best chances of approval. It is strongly advised and common practice to retain an immigration attorney for an EB4 green card petition (religious worker green card) due to the complexities in the immigration process and visa requirements.
What does the typical process look like to retain (hire) us?
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- Fill out the form (with some basic information on what your immigration needs are)
- Sign up and log into the client portal to schedule an appointment online
- Attend scheduled appointment (typically a phone call or zoom meeting)
- Retainment (signing a contract to hire us)
- Start processing case
- Gathering required documents
- Preparing paperwork
- Confirming contents of documents that will be submitted
- Filing the case
- Following up on the status of the case
- Close the case when a final determination is issued
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- Fill out the form (on what your immigration needs are)
- Sign up and log into the client portal to schedule an appointment
- Attend scheduled appointment (typically a phone call or zoom)
- Retainment (signing a contract to hire us)
- Start processing case
- Gathering required documents
- Preparing paperwork
- Confirming contents of documents that will be submitted
- Filing the case
- Following up on the status of the case
- Close the case when a final determination is issued
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- Fill out the form (on what your immigration needs are)
- Sign up and log into the client portal to schedule appointment
- Attend scheduled appointment (typically a phone call or zoom)
- Retainment (hire us)
- Start processing case
- Gathering required documents
- Preparing paperwork
- Confirming content of documents that will be submitted
- Filing the case
- Following up on the case status
- Close the case when a final determination is issued