The Immigration and Nationality Act provides two categories of visas for religious workers, one for temporary or nonimmigrant "R" status and one for legal permanent resident or immigrant "SD" status in the United States. This brochure covers requirements and application procedures for the immigrant "SD" visa.

DEFINITIONS OF RELIGIOUS WORKERS
Religious workers include ministers of religion who are authorized by a recognized denomination to conduct religious worship and perform other duties usually performed by members of the clergy such as administering the sacraments, or their equivalent. Religious vocation means a calling to religious life, evidenced by the demonstration of a lifelong commitment, such as taking of vows. Examples include nuns, monks, and religious brothers and sisters. Religious occupation means a habitual engagement in an activity which relates to a traditional religious function. Examples include liturgical workers, religious instructors or cantors, catechists, workers in religious hospitals, missionaries, religious translators, or religious broadcasters. The activity of a lay-person who will be engaged in a religious occupation must relate to a traditional religious function.

Criteria
In a professional capacity in a religious vocation or occupation for that organization; or
In a religious vocation or occupation for the organization or its nonprofit affiliate.

Petition
After the petition is approved by the USCIS, the applicant will be sent instructions on how to apply for a fourth preference special immigrant visa for religious workers.
A letter from the authorized official of the religious organization establishing that the proposed services and applicant qualify as listed above;
A letter from the authorized official of the religious organization attesting to the applicant''s membership in the religious denomination and explaining, in detail, the person''s religious work and all employment during the past two years, and for the proposed employment; and

VISA INELIGIBILITY/WAIVER
The immigration laws of the United States, in order to protect the health, welfare, and security of the United States, prohibit the issuance of a visa to certain applicants. If found to be ineligible, the consular officer will then advise the applicant if the law provides for some form of waiver.

Documents for Visa Application
The U.S. consular office will inform visa applicants of the documents needed as their applications are processed.

Medical Examinations
Before the issuance of an immigrant visa, every applicant, regardless of age, must undergo a medical examination. Examination costs must be borne by the applicant, in addition to the visa fees.

Visa Fees
Each immigrant pays a visa application processing fee that changes from time to time. There are additional fees charged for filing petitions. Call Attrorney Tracy C. Udenwagu to discuss these fees and charges further.

Numerical Limitations
Whenever there are more qualified applicants for a category than there are available numbers, the category will be considered oversubscribed, and immigrant visas will be issued in the chronological order in which the petitions were filed until the numerical limit for the category is reached. The filing date of a petition becomes the applicant's priority date. Immigrant visas cannot be issued until an applicant's priority date is reached. Check or Call Attrorney Tracy C. Udenwagu to discuss these limitations further, and understand the process of the availability with priority dates.

Family Members
An immigrant religious worker's spouse and unmarried children under 21 years of age may be granted derivative immigration status.
Some visa applications require further administrative processing, which takes additional time after the visa applicant’s interview by a Consular Officer. An immigrant visa can be valid for six months from date of issuance.

With few exceptions, a person born in the United States has a claim to U.S. citizenship when or if :
Either parent was born or naturalized in the United States, or

Either parent was a United States citizen at the time of applicant's birth.

Further information about the immigration process for religious Visas can be discussed with professional insight and openness - with FREE initial Consultation by contacting Attorney Tracy to schedule an appointment.