EB-4: Special Immigrants
⏱ Wait required🌿 Quick Summary
- •Who: International religious workers, Broadcasters, Certain U.S. government employees abroad, G-4 international organization employees, Certain physicians, U.S. Armed Forces members, Special Immigrant Juveniles (SIJS), Panama Canal Zone employees
- •Wait time: Wait required (~12–36 months)
- •Total estimated time: 12–36 months
Description
EB-4 is a collection of special categories for specific groups of immigrants who do not fit neatly into other employment-based categories. Each subcategory has its own eligibility requirements and process. The most commonly used subcategories are Special Immigrant Juveniles (SIJS) for abused or abandoned children, and international religious workers. All EB-4 subcategories share a single annual cap of about 10,000 visas, which is sometimes fully used — creating modest waits even for otherwise eligible applicants.