R-1 Religious Worker Visas

Religious workers entering the U.S. to pursue work in their religious field should use the R-1 nonimmigrant visa.

To qualify for an R visa the applicant must be:

• A minister,
• A person working in a professional capacity in a religious occupation or vocation, or
• A person who works for a religious organization or an affiliate in a religious occupation who has been a member of the religious group for at least the two years immediately preceding the application.

If the applicant is outside the U.S., they can apply for an R-1 visa without prior INS approval. The applicant can go to the appropriate consulate and present the required evidence and be issued the visa on the spot.

Among the most important evidence that must be presented is documentation of the sponsoring religious group's tax exempt status in the U.S. as well as a letter from the organization that will employ the R-1 visa holder. This letter should outline the applicant's two-year minimum membership, including where that membership occurred, in or out of the US. It should also include a statement that the foreign-based religious group and the U.S. based religious group for which the applicant will work belong to the same denomination. It must state the name and location of the organization in the U.S. for which the applicant will work. Finally, it should outline the applicant's qualifications and salary.

If a person is in the U.S. and wants to change from one nonimmigrant category to R-1 status, an application must be made with the INS.

The maximum stay in R-1 status is 5 years. A person can obtain R-1 status again after remaining outside the US for one year before making another application.