Special Immigrant Petition

22.07.2025 14:39:56 Yes, it is possible to convert an R-1 Religious Worker Visa into a Green Card through the EB-4 (Special Immigrant Petition) category. The EB-4 visa is specifically designed for special immigrants, including religious workers who have been employed in a religious capacity in the U.S. Here’s an overview of the process and timeframes involved: 1. **Eligibility Requirements**: To qualify for an EB-4 visa as a religious worker, you must: - Have been a member of a religious denomination with a bona fide nonprofit religious organization in the U.S. for at least two years immediately preceding the filing. - Be seeking to enter the U.S. to work in a full-time, compensated position as either a minister or in another religious vocation or occupation. - Have been working continuously (either abroad or lawfully in the U.S.) for at least two years immediately preceding your application. 2. **Filing Form I-360**: Your employer must file Form I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant, on your behalf. This form establishes your eligibility as a special immigrant religious worker. 3. **Adjustment of Status (Form I-485)**: If you are already in the United States on an R-1 visa and an immigrant visa number is available, you can file Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, concurrently with your I-360 petition if eligible. Otherwise, you will need to wait until your I-360 is approved and then apply for adjustment of status when your priority date becomes current. 4. **Consular Processing**: If you are outside the U.S., once your Form I-360 is approved and an immigrant visa number becomes available, you'll go through consular processing to obtain your green card. 5. **Timeframes**: - The processing time for Form I-360 can vary significantly but often takes several months. - Once approved, if you're adjusting status within the U.S., processing times for Form I-485 can also take several months. - If going through consular processing abroad after approval of Form I-360, additional time will be needed for scheduling interviews and other formalities at a U.S. consulate. 6. **Visa Availability**: One critical factor affecting timelines is visa availability under the EB-4 category since it has annual limits per country which can lead to backlogs depending on demand. Overall processing times can vary based on individual circumstances and USCIS workload at any given time. It's advisable to consult with an immigration attorney to navigate this process efficiently and address specific concerns related to your case.

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22.07.2025 14:46:13 Yes, you can convert an R-1 religious worker visa into a green card through the EB-4 Special Immigrant category, as long as you meet the requirements — primarily, having at least two years of continuous, paid religious work before filing. Your sponsoring religious organization must file Form I-360, and once approved, you can apply for adjustment of status (if in the U.S.) or consular processing. The overall timeframe can range from 12 to 24 months, depending on visa bulletin priority dates and USCIS processing times.

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22.07.2025 14:51:26 An R-1 visa holder may become a lawful permanent resident by transitioning to EB-4, provided they’ve completed two years of qualifying religious work and the employer files Form I-360 on their behalf. Once that’s approved and a visa number is available, you can apply for a green card. If already in the U.S., you may file adjustment of status (Form I-485). Timelines vary, but expect around 1 to 2 years, depending on processing times and whether the immigrant visa category is current.

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