SR — Special Immigrant Religious Worker - Non-Minister

United States•North America

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SR — Special Immigrant Religious Worker - Non-Minister

Work PR PathwayThis visa can lead to permanent residency, the right to live and work here indefinitely without renewing your visa. Dependents Allowed

At a Glance

Processing Time

6 months – 1.5 years

Estimated Cost

$1,060 USD

Varies by filing options

Stay Duration

Indefinite

Not renewable

Renewal

Not renewable

Family

Dependents allowed

PR Pathway

Yes

Sponsor

Job offer required

Work

Remote not required

Official Information

Living in United States

Cost of Living

Baseline

Avg Salary$51,000

Quality of Life

186/200

Full Country Guide

Overview

Religious workers in a religious vocation or occupation (not ministers) entering permanently. Requires 2+ years membership.

The SR visa grants US permanent residence to non-minister religious workers — monks, nuns, liturgical musicians, catechists, and others in qualifying vocations or occupations. Sponsored by a nonprofit tax-exempt religious organization, it sits in the EB-4 special immigrant category.

Applicants must prove two years of continuous denomination membership and qualifying religious work. The employer files Form I-360 ($515); processing runs 12–36 months. The program is capped at 5,000 non-minister visas per year and is authorized through September 30, 2026 — act promptly.

This visa is ideal for dedicated non-minister religious workers with a US job offer from a qualifying nonprofit who want permanent residence and are ready to immigrate before the Sept 30 2026 sunset.

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Cost Breakdown

Form I-360 filing fee$515 USD

Immigrant visa application fee (DS-260)$325 USD

USCIS immigrant fee (paid after visa issuance)$220 USD

Medical examination (varies by physician)—

Total$1,060 USD

Stay & Extensions

Status type

Permanent / indefinite

Annual Cap & Quota

EB-4 special immigrant category; approximately 10,000 visas per year shared across all EB-4 subcategories, with a specific annual limit of 5,000 for non-minister religious workers.

Requirements

PUBLISHED REQUIREMENTS

Member of the same religious denomination for at least 2 years immediately preceding petition

Working in a qualifying religious vocation or occupation (non-ministerial role)

Job offer from a qualifying nonprofit religious organization in the U.S.

Employer must file Form I-360 Special Immigrant petition

Must have carried on the qualifying religious vocation/occupation continuously for 2 years

Employer organization must maintain qualifying nonprofit religious status

KEY CRITERIA

Experience

2+ years

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Form I-360 (filed by employer)

Valid passport

DS-260 immigrant visa application (or I-485 for adjustment of status)

Proof of denomination membership for 2+ years

Evidence of qualifying religious vocation or occupation (not ministerial)

Employer letter confirming job offer and qualifying nonprofit status

IRS determination letter confirming 501(c)(3) or equivalent nonprofit status

Photos meeting visa requirements

Medical examination results

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

Leads directly to lawful permanent residence (green card)
Spouse and unmarried children under 21 qualifying as derivative immigrants
Full work authorization incident to status
No language requirement

Worth Knowing

Non-minister subcategory subject to EB-4 annual numerical cap (~10,000/year across all EB-4 subcategories) — priority dates may retrogress
Program requires periodic Congressional reauthorization; non-minister category has sunset provisions
Must maintain continuous qualifying employment; cannot change to unrelated work
Organization must remain a qualifying nonprofit religious organization throughout process
Processing times can be lengthy; consular backlogs vary significantly by country

Application Process

Employer files Form I-360 with USCIS on applicant's behalf

Await USCIS petition approval

If outside U.S.: complete DS-260 and attend immigrant visa interview at U.S. embassy/consulate

If inside U.S.: file Form I-485 for adjustment of status

Complete medical examination (Form I-693 for AOS; panel physician for consular processing)

Pay USCIS immigrant fee after visa issuance

Application Forms

I-360 Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant	Fill online
DS-260 Immigrant Visa Electronic Application	Fill online
I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status	Fill online
I-693 Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record	Fill online

Verified Claims (29)

Last verified May 30, 2026

Annual Allocation

EB-4 special immigrant category; approximately 10,000 visas per year shared across all EB-4 subcateg…

uscis.gov

Application Steps

Employer files Form I-360 with USCIS on applicant's behalf; Await USCIS petition approval; If outsid…

uscis.gov

Dependent Visa

Dependents allowed

uscis.gov

Discontinued Note

The non-minister special immigrant religious worker program (EB-4 SR) has a sunset date of September…

uscis.gov

Fee Breakdown

Form I-360 filing fee: 515 USD; Immigrant visa application fee (DS-260): 205 USD; USCIS immigrant fe…

uscis.gov

Fee Breakdown · DS-260 · amount

325

travel.state.gov

Fee Breakdown · USCIS immigrant fee · amount

220

uscis.gov

Fees

$515 Form I-360 + $325 immigrant visa application fee (DS-260) + $220 USCIS immigrant fee

uscis.gov

Official Information

Living in United States

Cost of Living

Baseline

Avg Salary$51,000

Quality of Life

186/200

Full Country Guide

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Overview

Religious workers in a religious vocation or occupation (not ministers) entering permanently. Requires 2+ years membership.

This visa is ideal for dedicated non-minister religious workers with a US job offer from a qualifying nonprofit who want permanent residence and are ready to immigrate before the Sept 30 2026 sunset.

Requirements

PUBLISHED REQUIREMENTS

Member of the same religious denomination for at least 2 years immediately preceding petition

Working in a qualifying religious vocation or occupation (non-ministerial role)

Job offer from a qualifying nonprofit religious organization in the U.S.

Employer must file Form I-360 Special Immigrant petition

Must have carried on the qualifying religious vocation/occupation continuously for 2 years

Employer organization must maintain qualifying nonprofit religious status

KEY CRITERIA

Experience

2+ years

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Form I-360 (filed by employer)

Valid passport

DS-260 immigrant visa application (or I-485 for adjustment of status)

Proof of denomination membership for 2+ years

Evidence of qualifying religious vocation or occupation (not ministerial)

Employer letter confirming job offer and qualifying nonprofit status

IRS determination letter confirming 501(c)(3) or equivalent nonprofit status

Photos meeting visa requirements

Medical examination results

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

Leads directly to lawful permanent residence (green card)
Spouse and unmarried children under 21 qualifying as derivative immigrants
Full work authorization incident to status
No language requirement

Worth Knowing

Non-minister subcategory subject to EB-4 annual numerical cap (~10,000/year across all EB-4 subcategories) — priority dates may retrogress
Program requires periodic Congressional reauthorization; non-minister category has sunset provisions
Must maintain continuous qualifying employment; cannot change to unrelated work
Organization must remain a qualifying nonprofit religious organization throughout process
Processing times can be lengthy; consular backlogs vary significantly by country

Application Process