R1 Religious Worker Visa

R-1 VISA:
The R-1 visa is a non-immigrant visa that enables religious workers to come to the United States to work in that capacity for a limited period of time. To qualify as a religious worker, one must either be authorized by his employer to perform duties generally performed by the religion’s clergy or be a worker at a religious occupation. These occupations can include nuns and priests as well as religious instructors and missionaries. Eligibility for the R-1 visa also requires membership in the religious denomination the applicant is employed by for at least the two years immediately preceding application for the R-1 visa. Additionally, the denomination itself must have a bona fide nonprofit religious organization in the United States.

R1 Visa Attorney

The R-1 visa permits residence in the United States for a period of three years. This period can be extended for a maximum of two years, after which the visa expires and the holder of the visa must return to his or her native country. R-1 visa holders are permitted to change employers during their stay, but must file a new form I-129 in order to do so. The R-1 visa allows the religious worker to bring a spouse as well as unmarried children under age 21, but they are not permitted to work while in the United States.