Specializes in the unique legal requirements for ministers and those in religious occupations. This section tracks the R-1 non-immigrant visa, the elimination of the One-Year Hiatus, and the EB-4 Special Immigrant green card backlogs. It provides critical continuity strategies for churches, mosques, and non-profit ministries.
The EB-4 Special Immigrant Religious Worker category provides a path to permanent residency for ministers and other religious workers who have been working in a religious capacity in the United States. Unlike most employment-based green card categories, the EB-4 religious worker petition does not require PERM labor certification. Eligibility Must have been a member of … Read more
The R-1 visa program enables religious organizations to bring qualified religious workers to the United States. However, the R-1 has one of the highest denial rates of any nonimmigrant visa category, largely due to USCIS skepticism about the qualifying nature of the religious organization and the religious worker’s duties. A well-prepared petition is essential. Step-by-Step … Read more