Categories
R-1: For ministers or individuals in a religious vocation or occupation. This includes liturgical workers, religious instructors, or those engaged in religious studies or administrative functions connected to a religious organization.
Requirements
To qualify for an R-1 visa, applicants must: be entering the U.S. to work solely as a minister, in a religious vocation, or a religious occupation; intend to work at least part-time (average of 20 hours per week) for a qualifying religious organization; and be a member of a religious denomination that has a bona fide nonprofit religious organization in the U.S. for at least two years immediately preceding the application.
Application Process
The U.S. employer must file Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, on behalf of the applicant with USCIS. The petition must include evidence of the applicant's membership in the religious denomination and proof of the employer's tax-exempt status. Once the petition is approved, the applicant can apply for the R-1 visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate. The initial stay is granted for up to 30 months, with the possibility of an extension for an additional 30 months, not exceeding a total of five years.
Family Members
Spouses and children under 21 may accompany the R-1 visa holder under the R-2 status. While they can live and study in the U.S., they are not permitted to work.