Overview

Special Immigrant Religious Worker classification is available to ministers, religious professionals, and other religious workers.  The sponsoring organization must be a nonprofit religious organization granted (or eligible for) tax exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.  To qualify as an Special Immigrant Religious Worker, an individual must have been a member of a religious denomination having a bona fide nonprofit religious organization in the United States for at least two years immediately preceding the application, and must have carried on the vocation, professional work, or other work for a period of two years before seeking immigrant status.

To obtain classification as a Special Immigrant Religious Worker, the individual or organization must file Form I-360 with U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS).  Upon receipt of an approved I-360 immigrant petition, an individual may obtain permanent residence status either by filing a Form I-485 application for adjustment of status from within the United States, or through consular processing at a U.S. consulate outside the United States. 

Application Procedures

Application Preparation

1. Foreign national and sponsoring organization provide the firm with completed worksheets along with all requested documents.
2. Firm drafts letter of support and application forms for sponsoring organizations review and signature.

Filing Petition

1. Firm files Form I-360, employer letter of support, and evidence of employer's ability to pay the offered wage with USCIS office having jurisdiction over proposed place of employment.
2. Foreign national uses approved I-140 to obtain permanent residence through either adjustment of status or consular processing.