EB-4 Green Card
The EB-4 visa is an employment-based, fourth preference green card category for certain special immigrants. Unlike other employment-based categories, EB-4 covers a wide range of humanitarian, religious, and specialized groups, providing a direct pathway to U.S. permanent residence.
Who is the Visa for?
Religious workers (ministers and certain other religious vocations)
Special Immigrant Juveniles (SIJ) (minors who have been abused, abandoned, or neglected)
Certain U.S. government employees abroad (including interpreters and Afghan/Iraqi nationals assisting U.S. missions)
Broadcasters employed by the U.S. Agency for Global Media (or grantees)
International organization employees or NATO employees and their families
Other designated special immigrant categories as defined by USCIS
Eligibility Requirements
Must fall into one of the recognized “special immigrant” categories under U.S. immigration law.
Each subcategory has its own specific criteria and documentation (e.g., continuous religious work for at least 2 years for religious workers; juvenile court order for SIJ cases).
Must demonstrate that the applicant qualifies under the statutory definition of a special immigrant.
Visa Duration
Grants permanent residence (green card) once approved.
Green card status is valid for 10 years and renewable indefinitely.
Processing Time:
Varies depending on the subcategory and petition type (Form I-360 is most commonly used for EB-4).
Visa bulletin wait times may apply, as EB-4 is subject to annual limits and per-country caps.
Adjustment of Status (Form I-485) or Consular Processing timelines depend on priority date availability.
OpenSphere Services:
Category assessment & eligibility strategy
Petition drafting (Form I-360 & supporting evidence)
RFE/NOID response support
End-to-end legal guidance through Adjustment of Status or Consular Processing
