R-1 Visa: Religious Workers
The R-1 visa is specifically designed for religious workers who wish to temporarily live and work in the United States to perform religious duties. This visa is ideal for individuals affiliated with a recognized religious denomination.
Categories:
R-1: For ministers or individuals in a religious vocation or occupation. This includes liturgical workers, religious instructors, or those engaged in religious studies or administrative functions connected to a religious organization.
Requirements:
To qualify for an R-1 visa, applicants must:
- Be a member of a religious denomination that has a bona fide nonprofit religious organization in the U.S. for at least two years immediately preceding the application.
- Intend to work at least part-time (average of 20 hours per week) for a qualifying religious organization.
- Be entering the U.S. to work solely as a minister, in a religious vocation, or a religious occupation.
Application Process:
The U.S. employer must file Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, on behalf of the applicant with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The petition must include evidence of the applicant’s membership in the religious denomination and proof of the employer’s tax-exempt status. Once the petition is approved, the applicant can apply for the R-1 visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate. The initial stay is granted for up to 30 months, with the possibility of an extension for an additional 30 months, not exceeding a total of five years.
Family Members:
Spouses and children under 21 may accompany the R-1 visa holder under the R-2 status. While they can live and study in the U.S., they are not permitted to work.
