The R-1 Religious Worker Visa
1) What is the R-1 Visa?
The R-1 Visa is a temporary nonimmigrant religious workers visa which allows a foreign national to come to the United States temporarily to be employed by a non-profit religious organization within the United States for a period not exceeding five years.
2) What are the requirements for the R-1 Visa?
Several requirements:
- The foreign national must have been a member of a religious denomination having a bona fide non-profit religious organization in the United States for at least 2 years immediately before the filing of the petition.
- Work at least part-time of an average 20 hours per week.
- The non-profit be a religious organization or be affiliated with a religious denomination in the United States.
- Work as a minister, or in a religious vocation or occupation.
- Come to the United States at the request of the petitioner to work for the petitioner.
3) What are the necessary forms or documents to file for a R-1 Visa?
A Form I-129 Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker to request an initial admission of R-1 status must be filed by a prospective or U.S. Employer. The I-129 Form must be approved by USCIS before it is issued at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad.
4) What evidence related to R-1 Visa?
- Documents required by the Religious organization:
- Proof of tax-exempt status
- Proof of salaried and non-salaried compensation
- Documents required by the Religious worker:
- Proof of membership of a religious denomination
- If working as a minister, copy of ordination and acceptance of qualification as a minister in the religious denomination.
- Proof of previous R-1 employment (for extension)