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► Overview
► Foreign Medical Graduates
► Employees and Former Employees of the U.S. Government Abroad
► Retired International Organization Employees (G-4s)
► Armed Services
► Juvenile Court Dependents
► Religious Workers
► Others Overview Only 7.1% of worldwide visas per year are allocated for this category. The salient categories are: [Back to Top] Foreign Medical Graduates You qualify as a special immigrant if you came to the U.S. before January 10, 1978, with an H or J visa if you meet the following conditions: ► On or before January 9, 1978, you were licensed to practice medicine in a U.S. state
► You were physically present in the U.S. and practicing medicine on January 9, 1978
► You have lived continuously in the U.S.
► You came to the U.S. on a J-1 visa and were subject to the two-year home residency
requirement, you were granted a waiver of the home residency requirement, or you
received a “no objection letter” from your home government. [Back to Top] Employees and Former Employees of the U.S. Government Abroad ► If the U.S. government employed you abroad for at least 15 years, you may qualify for
a green card as a special immigrant. ► Your spouse and children may apply with you. ► You must have the recommendation of the principal officer-in-charge of the U.S.
government foreign office in which you were employed. ► The U.S. Secretary of State must approve the officer-in-charge’s recommendation ► If you are an employee of the American Institute in Taiwan, the Director or the
Institute must recommend you. [Back to Top] Retired International Organization Employees (G-4s) Qualifications: ► You have resided in the United States for 15 years minimum prior to retiring on a
G-4 or N visa - You apply to receive a green card within six months after your retirement
and
- You lived and were physically present in the U.S. for at least half of the
seven years immediately before applying for a green card
► Unmarried child of an officer, employee, former officer or former employee of an
international organization qualifications: - You possess a G-4 or N visa
- You lived and were physically present in the United States for at least
half of the seven years before filing your application for a green card
- You resided in the United States for at least a total of seven years
between the ages of five and 21, and
- You apply for a green card before you reach your 25th birthday.
► Spouse of an officer, employee, former officer or former employee of an international
organization qualifications: - You qualify for a green card as an accompanying relative.
- If you were married to a qualifying officer or employee who has died, you
can still obtain a green card if you lived in the United States for at least 15
years on a G-4 or N visa prior to the death of your spouse
- You lived in the United States for at least one half of the seven years
before you applied for your green card and
- You apply within six months after your spouse’s death.
[Back to Top] Armed Services You are eligible for a green card if you meet one of the following requirements:
► You served honorably and on active duty for 12 years in U.S. Armed Services after
October 15, 1978.
► You enlisted outside the United States under a treaty or agreements with the
Philippines, Micronesia, Marshall Islands or Palau.
► If you served for 6 years on active duty and re-enlisted for 6 additional years. [Back to Top] Juvenile Court Dependents If you are an alien who has been declared a ward by a juvenile court in the United States, you qualify for a green card as a special immigrant as follows: ► You are under age 21 and unmarried ► You have been declared dependent on a juvenile court located in the United States ► The court says you are eligible for long-term foster care or you have been committed
to the care of a state agency and ► The court has determined that it is in your best interest to remain in the
United States. ► If you receive a green card in this category you will never be allowed to sponsor your
natural or adoptive parents. [Back to Top] Religious Workers To qualify for as green card in this classification, you must belong to a religious denomination that has a non-profit religious organization in the U.S. You must have been a member of this denomination for at least two years before applying for your green card. The two-year period may have been in the U.S. Once in the U.S., the following options are available: ► You must work as a minister or priest of the religious denomination; OR ► If before October 1, 2008, you seek to work as a professional, requiring a bachelor’s
degree or foreign equivalent, for a religious organization or its nonprofit affiliate in a
religious vocation or occupation. Example: cantors, missionaries, religious
instructors, etc. ► Your spouse and children may accompany you or follow to join. Others Other classifications under this category are: ► Broadcaster in U.S. employed by the International Broadcasting Bureau of the
Broadcasting Board of Governors or a Grantee of same ► Employees of the U.S. Mission in Hong Kong or Immediate Family Members ► Certain Former Employees of the U.S. Government in the Panama Canal
Company or Canal Zone Government ► Certain Former Employees of the U.S. Government Canal Zone ► Certain Former Employees of the Panama Canal Company or Canal Zone
Government on 4/1/1979 ► Certain Retired NATO-6 Civilians ► Persons who lost U.S. citizenship or status due to Specified Terrorist Activity of
September 11, 2001
► Returning Residents and Persons Seeking Reacquisition of Citizenship (not subject
to numerical limitation.)
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