IMMIGRANT VISAS ( GREEN CARDS )

The EB-4 special immigrant category allows for foreign individuals in the following diverse situations to apply on their own behalf for permanent residence in the United States:

1.	An immigrant lawfully admitted for permanent residence who is returning from a temporary visit abroad.
2.	An immigrant who was a citizen of the United States and wishes to apply for reacquisition of citizenship.
3.	An alien who is an employee of the United States abroad who has performed this service for at least fifteen years.
4.	An alien who was a Panama Canal Treaty employee.
5.	Aliens who were long-term G and N nonimmigrant employees of a qualifying international organization entitled to enjoy privileges, exemptions and immunities under the International Organizations Immunities Act, and certain relatives of the employee.
6.	Certain aliens who were members of the U.S. Armed Forces.
7.	A juvenile who: a. Is unmarried and less than 21 years old; b. Has been declared dependent upon a juvenile court in the United States or who such a court has legally committed to, or placed under the custody of, an agency or department of a state and who has been found eligible for long-term foster care; and c. Has been the subject of administrative or judicial proceedings in which it was determined that it would not be in the juvenile’s best interests to be returned to the juvenile’s or his/her parent’s country of nationality or last habitual residence.
8.	Aliens who were employees of the International Broadcasting Bureau and their families.
9.	Aliens who were on the NATO-6 visa and their families.

The EB-4 special immigrant petition is filed at the appropriate USCIS Service Center. The petition does not require labor certification. Once the petition is approved and a visa number is available, the individual may apply for adjustment of status with his/her spouse and children under 21 years of age. Alternatively, after approval he may chose to undergo consular processing of his immigrant visa at a U.S. consulate abroad.

The number of immigrant visas in the EB-4 special immigrant category is also subject to an annual numeric limitation.  The filing date of the immigrant visa petition establishes the priority date for the application.  Click the Department of State Visa Bulletin for the priority dates for preference category petitions and to find the backlog for each preference category.

To request a consultation regarding a petition as a special immigrant, please contact our office here.