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Temporary Non-Immigrant Religious Workers (R-1)
Overview: Serving your faith in the U.S. can be more than a calling—it can be a real opportunity. The R-1 visa lets religious workers temporarily live and work in the U.S. for their ministry or vocation. It’s a path to share your mission while experiencing life in a new community.
An R-1 foreign national who is going to the United States temporarily to be employed at least part time (average of at least 20 hours per week) by a non-profit religious organization in the Untied States (or an organisation which is affiliated with the religious denomination in the United States) to work as a minister or in a religious vocation or occupation.
To qualify, the applicant must have been a member of a religious denomination having a bona fide non-profit religious organization in the United States for a t least 2 years immediately before the filing of the petition.
A prospective or existing U.S. employer must file Form I-129, Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker, on behalf of an R-1 worker. An R-1 vis cannot be issued at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad without prior USCIS approval of form I-129.
Both the applicant (religious worker) and the petitioning organization must satisfy certain requirements.
The successful applicant may stay in the US for up to30 months, with possible extension.
Requirements
For the applicant:
The applicant must submit documents that show:
- proof of membership of the religious organization
- certificate of ordinary or similar (for ministers) or other qualification or other
- evidence of meeting the requirements for the role
Requirements (for the organization)
The organization must submit documents that show:
- proof of tax-exempt status
- proof of compensation for the worker (salary or other) evidence of an established programme
- evidence that the organization’s religious denomination maintains missionary programmes both in the United States and abroad
- evidence of the religious worker’s acceptance into the missionary programme
- evidence of the duties and responsibilities associated with this tradition uncompensated missionary work
Take Away Points
🌎 Designed for ministers and religious workers serving a non-profit faith-based organization in the US.
📄 Requires proof of a genuine job offer from a qualified religious entity.
⏳ Typically granted for up to 30 months, with possible extensions to a maximum of 5 years.
🛂 Applicants must show they’ve been part of the denomination for at least two years.
💼 Allows work only in the approved religious role and location stated in the petition.