What Is EB-4
EB-4 is the employment-based fourth preference green card category reserved for special immigrants. Unlike other employment-based categories, EB-4 does not require employer sponsorship in most cases. Instead, you petition for yourself using Form I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant. The category includes religious workers, NATO-6 employees, physicians who completed medical degrees outside the US, Iraqi and Afghan translators, and certain US government employees.
EB-4 Eligibility Categories
- Religious workers: Ministers, priests, rabbis, imams, and other clergy with at least two years of experience in your religious denomination before filing.
- Iraqi and Afghan nationals: Translators and interpreters who worked for the US government for at least one year with a favorable recommendation from a US military commander or US government official.
- Physicians: International medical graduates who completed a medical degree and have been practicing in the US for at least ten years, with a state medical license.
- NATO employees: Current or former employees of NATO organizations including the US embassy or its consulates.
- Panama Canal Zone employees: US government employees or contractors who worked in the Canal Zone prior to 1977.
The Application Process
The EB-4 process differs significantly from employer-sponsored employment categories like EB-1 through EB-3. Since you petition on your own behalf, you file Form I-360 directly with USCIS. There is no labor certification requirement, meaning you do not need to prove that no US workers are available for your position.
After USCIS approves your I-360, you proceed to the second stage. If you are in the United States, you file Form I-485 for adjustment of status. If you are outside the US, you go through consular processing at a US embassy or consulate. Processing times vary significantly. EB-4 typically has a current priority date, meaning visa numbers are readily available and you are not waiting years in a backlog like some EB-1 and EB-2 applicants experience.
Priority Dates and Visa Availability
As of 2024, EB-4 maintains a current priority date in most months, according to the State Department Visa Bulletin. This means you can file for adjustment of status or consular processing shortly after your I-360 approval, without the multi-year waits that occur in EB-1C or EB-2 PERM categories. The annual EB-4 allocation is 10,000 visa numbers, shared among all four subcategories. While demand is lower than EB-1 and EB-2 categories, religious worker numbers have increased in recent years.
Common Questions
- Do I need a job offer to apply for EB-4? No. Most EB-4 categories do not require a job offer. You demonstrate that you meet the special immigrant definition. Religious workers are expected to continue working in a religious capacity, but there is no formal sponsoring employer.
- How long does the entire EB-4 process take? From I-360 filing to green card in hand typically takes 12 to 18 months if you are adjusting status in the US, or 12 to 24 months if you are undergoing consular processing abroad. Approval times for I-360 alone average 8 to 12 months.
- Can my family members get green cards through my EB-4 petition? Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 can derive benefits from your approved I-360 petition. They file their own I-485 or consular processing application once your petition is approved, and their priority date follows yours.
Related Concepts
- Form I-360 - The petition form you file to apply for EB-4 status
- Special Immigrant - The underlying classification that EB-4 is based on