EB-4 Special Immigrants
EB-4 Special Immigrants
The fourth-preference green card for special immigrants that most commonly religious workers serving U.S. faith-based organizations.
The fourth-preference green card for special immigrants that most commonly religious workers serving U.S. faith-based organizations.
Advantages
Advantages
No labor certification
No labor certification
Skip PERM labor-market process entirely.
Skip PERM labor-market process entirely.
Family included
Family included
Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 obtain permanent residence with you.
Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 obtain permanent residence with you.
Permanent category for ministers
Permanent category for ministers
The minister pathway is permanently authorized
The minister pathway is permanently authorized
Who Qualifies
Who Qualifies
Religious workers
Religious workers
Ministers | Religious brothers & sisters | Missionaries | Religious instructors | Other religious vocations & occupations
Other special immigrants
Other special immigrants
Special Immigrant Juveniles | Certain broadcasters | Certain U.S. government employees abroad
Start With R-1, Then EB-4
Start With R-1, Then EB-4
Most religious workers enter the U.S. on the R-1 religious-worker visa, then pursue EB-4 for permanent residence.
Most religious workers enter the U.S. on the R-1 religious-worker visa, then pursue EB-4 for permanent residence.
R1 Overview
Who Qualifies
How it works
Path to EB-4
The R-1 is a nonimmigrant visa for ministers and other religious workers coming to the U.S. to work for a bona fide nonprofit religious organization or an organization affiliated with a religious denomination. It allows qualified workers to serve congregations temporarily, and often serves as a first step toward permanent residence through the EB-4 category.
The R-1 is a nonimmigrant visa for ministers and other religious workers coming to the U.S. to work for a bona fide nonprofit religious organization or an organization affiliated with a religious denomination. It allows qualified workers to serve congregations temporarily, and often serves as a first step toward permanent residence through the EB-4 category.
Overview
Who Qualifies
How it works
Path to EB-4
The R-1 is a nonimmigrant visa for ministers and other religious workers coming to the U.S. to work for a bona fide nonprofit religious organization or an organization affiliated with a religious denomination. It allows qualified workers to serve congregations temporarily, and often serves as a first step toward permanent residence through the EB-4 category.
Overview
Who Qualifies
How it works
Path to EB-4
Our Process
Our Process
1
I-360 petition
Strategic Planning & Category Selection.
The sponsoring religious organization files Form I-360, establishing the worker's eligibility and that it is a genuine, qualifying organization
The sponsoring religious organization files Form I-360, establishing the worker's eligibility and that it is a genuine, qualifying organization
2
Priority date & visa availability
PERM Labor Certification (If Required)
The I-360 filing date sets the priority date. A green card can't be issued until that date is current in the Visa Bulletin
The I-360 filing date sets the priority date. A green card can't be issued until that date is current in the Visa Bulletin
3
Final step
The I-140 Petition Filing
Once current, we file adjustment of status (I-485) from inside the U.S., or consular processing abroad
Once current, we file adjustment of status (I-485) from inside the U.S., or consular processing abroad
How We Work
How We Work
A deliberately limited caseload
A deliberately limited caseload
We take on fewer matters than a high-volume firm, by design. Your case receives focused, senior-level attention, not a place in a queue of hundreds.
We take on fewer matters than a high-volume firm, by design. Your case receives focused, senior-level attention, not a place in a queue of hundreds.
Every filing reviewed, then reviewed again
Every filing reviewed, then reviewed again
Before anything reaches the government, it passes through a careful, multi-step review. The small errors and inconsistencies that trigger Requests for Evidence, delays, and denials are precisely what that process is built to catch.
Before anything reaches the government, it passes through a careful, multi-step review. The small errors and inconsistencies that trigger Requests for Evidence, delays, and denials are precisely what that process is built to catch.
Direct access to your attorney
Direct access to your attorney
You work with the attorney handling your case from start to finish, clear answers, proactive updates, one point of accountability, not a rotating cast of assistants.
You work with the attorney handling your case from start to finish, clear answers, proactive updates, one point of accountability, not a rotating cast of assistants.
© 2016-2026 Mamdani Law. All Rights Reserved.
The content on this website is for informational purposes only, does not constitute legal advice, and does not establish an attorney-client relationship until a formal engagement agreement is signed. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
© 2016-2026 Mamdani Law. All Rights Reserved.
The content on this website is for informational purposes only, does not constitute legal advice, and does not establish an attorney-client relationship until a formal engagement agreement is signed. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
© 2016-2026 Mamdani Law. All Rights Reserved.
The content on this website is for informational purposes only, does not constitute legal advice, and does not establish an attorney-client relationship until a formal engagement agreement is signed. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.