R-1 visa for religious workers
R-1 visa is a non-immigrant visa available to foreign members of the clergy (priest, mullah, rabby etc). It allows employment in the US, if it is not less than 20 hours per week. Visa holders are entitled to be accompanied to the US by their family members. Family members will receive R-2 visa.
R-1 visa allows change of status to become a permanent resident (green card holder). Change of employer is permitted.
Who can get the R-1 visa
This visa is available to foreign members of the clergy who have been granted permission to conduct religious ceremonies in the US. Monks and nuns are also entitled to this religious visa.
Apart from the above, visa R-1 is issued to individuals with a religious degree, or those involved in religious activities, such as being members of church choir, an interpreter to a member of the clergy, missionaries etc.
R-1 visa requirements
- The applicant must be a member of a recognised in the US confession for at least 2 years. The confession has to be nonprofit and voluntary.
- The applicant will continue to serve their confession while in the US.
- If the applicant had been previously granted this visa for 5 years, they have to remain outside the US for a period of one year.
Visa R-1 gets approved after the interview at the US embassy or consulate.
Do I need a lawyer to apply for religious visa R-1
Due to previous fraud cases, applications and applicants for R-1 visa undergo a rigorous background check, thus involvement of an immigration lawyer is required.