EB-4 Visa Attorneys in Cincinnati

Obtaining Green Cards for Religious Workers

A religious worker is a person who, for at least two years prior to filing the petition, has been a member of a religious denomination that has a bona fide nonprofit religious organization in the United States.

To qualify for the EB-4 immigrant visa (green card), the applicant must be coming to the United States solely for the purpose of:

• Carrying out the duties of a minister of that religious denomination;
• Working professionally or nonprofessionally in a religious vocation; or
• Working professionally or nonprofessionally in a religious occupation.

Further, religious workers must have been performing the vocation, professional work, or other work continuously (either abroad or in the United States) for at least the two-year period immediately preceding the filing of the petition.

For the purposes of this petition, a minister is someone who is duly authorized by a recognized religious denomination to conduct religious worship and to perform other duties usually performed by an authorized member of the clergy of that religion. There must be a reasonable connection between the activities performed and the religious calling of the minister. This term does not include a lay preacher who is not authorized to perform such duties.

“Professional capacity” refers to activities in a religious vocation or occupation for which the minimum of a United States baccalaureate degree or a foreign equivalent degree is required.

“Religious occupation” means an activity that relates to a traditional religious function, such as work done by liturgical workers, religious instructors, religious counselors, canters, catechists workers in religious hospitals or religious health care facilities, missionaries, religious translators, and religious broadcasters. This does not include janitors, maintenance workers, clerks, fundraisers, or other individuals solely involved in solicitation of donations.

If you believe you may be qualified for an EB-4 visa, let The Fleischer Law Firm LLC handle your case. Call (513) 880-9969 or send us an online message to schedule your free consultation* today. We serve clients in Warren County, Butler County, & surrounding areas.

*Given the volume of inquiries the Firm receives, the Firm cannot guaranty it will consult with every possible client or evaluate every potential client’s matter. Moreover, a case evaluation or case consultation does not mean the Firm will provide a potential client with actual legal advice on a matter and does not create an attorney-client relationship. A free consultation or free evaluation is intended to enable the Firm to understand the nature of a potential client’s matter and to inform the potential client if the Firm will consider representing the potential client in connection with the matter. Before the Firm can provide legal advice to any person or entity, and before an attorney-client relationship is formed, the Firm must have a signed fee agreement with a client setting forth the Firm’s scope of representation and the fees that will be charged.