United States•North America6-18 months
1,060 USD
Indefinite
No
Required
Allowed
Available
Not Required
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.
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) | — |
| Status type | Permanent / indefinite |
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.
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
Job Offer
Required
Experience
2+ years
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
| 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 |
| 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 |
Let's check your eligibility against published requirements. 2 minutes. Free trial.
Check Eligibility