Non-Immigrant Visas

Religious Workers

The R-visa is for ministers of religion and full-time religious workers. The requirements for the R-visa are specific and may not be appropriate for many visitors even though their trip to the United States is for a religious activity. Visitors who do not qualify for R-visas might qualify for B-1/2 (business/tourism) visas.

To qualify for an R-visa, the applicant must:

• Be a member of a religious denomination having a bona-fide nonprofit, tax-exempt religious organization or affiliation in the US;
• Have been a member of the denomination for 2 years immediately preceding the application for visa;
• Be entering the US solely to carry on the vocation of a minister or to work full-time in a religious occupation for that denomination or affiliated organization;

Additionally, if the applicant was previously in the US under an R-visa for five years, the applicant must have resided and been physically present outside the US for one year immediately prior to the present application for an R-visa.

The applicant's affiliated denomination must show that it:

• Possesses some form of ecclesiastical government;
• Have a recognized creed and form of worship;
• Have a formal code of doctrine and discipline; and
• Holds religious services and ceremonies in established places of worship attended by congregations.

The principal applicant receives an R-1 visa. Spouse and children (unmarried and under 21 years old) receive R-2 visas as the applicant's dependents. R-2 visa holders cannot work in the US. Each applicant must pay separate application fees.

To Keep In Mind

Religious institutions in the US must provide:

Certificate issued by the US Internal Revenue Service showing the religious organization in the US is tax-exempt or proof that it can qualify if it applied for tax-exempt status.

Letter from an authorized official of the religious organization in the US affirming:

a) The affiliation between the US-based organization and the overseas religious denomination;

b) The duration of the applicant's membership in the overseas religious denomination;

c) The applicant's authority to function as a minister of religion, or the nature of the applicant's responsibilities as a professional religious worker;

d) Evidence of a baccalaureate degree if the applicant is a professional religious worker;

e) Arrangements for remuneration for the applicant's services in the US; and

f) The name and location of the religious congregation or organization in the US for which the applicant would be providing services.