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EB4: Special Immigrants

EB-4 Visa – Special Immigrant Green Card Category

Overview of the EB-4 Visa Category

The EB-4 visa is the Employment-Based Fourth Preference category for U.S. permanent residence, reserved for individuals who qualify as “special immigrants.” In other words, instead of being based on a typical job offer for skilled or professional work, EB-4 covers unique groups defined by law – from religious ministers to certain international employees and humanitarian cases. It is often called a Special Immigrant Visa in the USA. If you fall into one of these special categories, the EB-4 can offer a direct path to a green card (lawful permanent residency). Like the EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3 categories, the EB-4 results in a green card, but eligibility is not based on education or investment – it’s based on your role or circumstances.

EB-4 Visa Subcategories (Special Immigrant Groups)

The EB-4 category encompasses a wide range of specific subcategories defined in U.S. immigration law. You may be eligible for an EB-4 green card if you belong to one of the following groups:

Religious Workers

(ministers and certain other religious vocations)

Special Immigrant Juveniles (SIJs)

children who cannot reunite with parents due to abuse, neglect, or abandonment)

Certain broadcasters

for U.S. international media organizations (USAGM) – limited to 100 visas per year.

Retired officers or employees of certain international organizations

(e.g. United Nations, World Bank) and NATO-6 civilian personnel, and their family members

Certain employees of the U.S. Government abroad

(including employees of the American Institute in Taiwan) who have long-term service

Members of the U.S. Armed Forces

(who enlisted overseas and meet length-of-service criteria)

Panama Canal Company or Canal Zone government employees

(certain individuals who worked for the U.S. in the Panama Canal Zone)

Certain physicians

who were licensed and practicing in the U.S. as of January 9, 1978

Afghan and Iraqi translators or interpreters

who worked with the U.S. Armed Forces (Special Immigrant Visa program)

Iraqi nationals

who were employed by or on behalf of the U.S. government in Iraq

Afghan nationals

who were employed by the U.S. government or the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan

Other qualifying special immigrants

such as informants who provided information to U.S. law enforcement (S visa holders),

Each of these subcategories has its own eligibility rules.