Special immigrant green card
Congressional special categories including Afghan and Iraqi employees of the U.S. government (SIV), special immigrant juveniles (SIJ), religious workers, NATO employees, broadcasters, and others. Most use adjustment of status.
Next step for this family
Use the process guides to understand how this family usually moves forward. Check checklist coverage only after you know which pathway and process fit the case.
Open process guides See what this guide covers for every pathway
Process guides
These guides cover the processes most relevant to this pathway family.
- Adjustment of status (Form I-485)
- Consular processing overview
- Immigration medical exam
- Petition stage
- Biometrics
Checklist support
At least one pathway in this family has supported checklist support today. Exact support still depends on the specific pathway, processing context, and, for consular cases, sometimes the interview post.
Pathways in this family
Afghan SIV: U.S. government employeeAfghan nationals who worked directly for or on behalf of the U.S. government and meet the SIV program requirements. WARNING: DOS issued an operational pause effective January 1, 2026.Program status is volatile or officially paused. Verify current status before proceeding.No annual quota (visa always available when petition approved)Modes: Adjustment of status, Consular processingForms hint: I-360; verify current DOS operational status: issuance paused Jan 2026Open pathway →Iraqi SIV: U.S. government employeeIraqi nationals who worked directly for or on behalf of the U.S. government and meet the SIV program requirements.No annual quota (visa always available when petition approved)Modes: Consular processingForms hint: DS-157/DS-1884 or current equivalent; check DOS SIV pageOpen pathway →Afghan/Iraqi translator or interpreter SIVAfghan or Iraqi translators and interpreters who served with the U.S. Armed Forces and meet the program requirements.No annual quota (visa always available when petition approved)Modes: Consular processingForms hint: DOS SIV application process; see official DOS pageOpen pathway →Special immigrant juvenile (SIJ)Unmarried individuals under 21 who have been declared dependent on a juvenile court or placed under custody and meet SIJ requirements.Quota-controlled (subject to annual limits)Modes: Adjustment of statusForms hint: I-360, I-485; requires juvenile court orderOpen pathway →Religious workerMinisters of religion and certain religious workers employed by a qualifying nonprofit religious organization.Quota-controlled (subject to annual limits)Modes: Adjustment of status, Consular processingForms hint: I-360, I-485 or DS-260Open pathway →Special immigrant physicianPhysicians who have been licensed, practicing, and have served in underserved or VA areas under the special immigrant physician program.Quota-controlled (subject to annual limits)Modes: Adjustment of statusForms hint: I-360, I-485Open pathway →International broadcasterEmployees of qualifying international broadcast organizations employed in the U.S.No annual quota (visa always available when petition approved)Modes: Adjustment of statusForms hint: I-360, I-485Open pathway →NATO-6 employeeCertain employees of NATO organizations and their family members who qualify for special immigrant classification under NATO-6.No annual quota (visa always available when petition approved)Modes: Adjustment of statusForms hint: I-360, I-485Open pathway →International organization employeeLong-term employees of certain international organizations and their qualifying family members.No annual quota (visa always available when petition approved)Modes: Adjustment of statusForms hint: I-360, I-485Open pathway →U.S. government employee abroadCertain foreign nationals who have worked for the U.S. government abroad for at least 15 years and qualify under the special immigrant category.No annual quota (visa always available when petition approved)Modes: Adjustment of status, Consular processingForms hint: I-360, I-485 or DS-260Open pathway →U.S. Armed Forces memberCertain foreign nationals who have served honorably in the U.S. Armed Forces and qualify under the special immigrant categories for military service.No annual quota (visa always available when petition approved)Modes: Adjustment of statusForms hint: I-360, I-485Open pathway →Amerasian immigrantChildren born in Vietnam, Korea, Laos, Kampuchea, or Thailand after December 31, 1950 and fathered by a U.S. citizen who qualify under the Amerasian Act.No annual quota (visa always available when petition approved)Modes: Consular processingForms hint: See official USCIS Amerasian pageOpen pathway →Panama Canal Zone employeeCertain former employees of the Panama Canal Company or Canal Zone Government who qualify under the special immigrant provisions.No annual quota (visa always available when petition approved)Modes: Adjustment of statusForms hint: I-485; see USCIS Policy ManualOpen pathway →Section 13 diplomat or high-ranking officialCertain diplomats and high-ranking officials who were admitted as nonimmigrants and are adjusting under INA section 13.No annual quota (visa always available when petition approved)Modes: Adjustment of statusForms hint: I-485; specialist review recommendedOpen pathway →
Coverage note: Pathway overviews are available for special immigrant categories. Afghan SIV issuance is subject to current DOS operational status (paused as of January 2026; verify before relying on this route). Source-backed checklists are not yet available.