U.S. Visas: R-1

An R-1 visa is used for religious workers coming to the U.S. temporarily.

What are the Requirements for Applying for an R-1 Visa?

VISANOW can prepare and submit the R-1 visa petition if the R-1 applicant is presently in the U.S. in valid status or if the Beneficiary is outside the U.S. The R-1 visa applicant must be a member of a religious denomination that has a bona fide nonprofit, religious organization in the U.S.

R-1 visa holders are any of the following:

1. Ministers of Religion Persons who enter the U.S. only to work as a minister of the religious denomination he/she has belonged to for the past two years. The minister must be authorized by a recognized religious denomination to conduct religious worship and to perform other duties usually performed by authorized members of the clergy of that religion.
2. Religious Professionals Persons who enter the U.S. to in a professional religious vocation (e.g. nun, monk, etc.) or professional occupation (activity that relates to traditional religious function such as liturgical workers, translators) at the request of the organization. A professional religious vocation or occupation requires a Bachelor’s degree.
3. Other Religious Workers Persons who enter the U.S. to work for a bona fide non-profit organization in a religious vocation or occupation at the request of the organization. This religious vocation or occupation does not require a Bachelor’s degree. These workers can be individuals who do not qualify as ministers of religion or religious professionals

U.S. non-profit, religious organization must meet two requirements:

1. Have a religious community with a form of worship, a code of doctrine and discipline, religious ceremonies, established places of worship, and religious congregations, or other evidence of a religious denomination.
2. Be exempt from U.S. taxation as described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or satisfy USCIS that it would be eligible for the tax-exempt status.

How Long is the R-1 Visa Valid?

An R-1 visa is valid for an initial period of up to three years. This can be extended for a further two years. The R-1 visa cannot be extended past the five-year period. An R-1 visa applicant who has spent five consecutive years in the U.S. as an R-1 visa may not re-enter as an R-1 visa holder until the R-1 visa holder has been physically present outside the U.S. for at least one year.