R-1 religious worker visa

Members of the clergy and people who work for legitimate religious organizations may apply for the R-1 Religious Worker visa. An applicant may be a minister, a person working in a professional capacity in a religious occupation, or an employee of the religious organization.

In order to qualify for an R-1 Religious Worker visa, you must:

• Document the tax-exempt status of the legitimate religious organization in the United States
• Demonstrate that the religious organization to which you belong and the religious organization for which you wish to work in the United States are part of the same religious denomination
• Prove that you have belonged for at least two years to that religious organization
• Show that you have a job offer from an affiliate of that religious organization in the United States.

Visas may be issued to accompanying relatives of R-2 religious worker visa holders. Accompanying relatives may stay in the United States but are not eligible to work there.

 

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

Annual quota: unlimited

Length of application process: Varies according to the applicant’s country of origin.

Maximum duration of stay: five years

Visa extensions: After an R-1 visa expires, you may reapply only after remaining outside the United States for one year.