RELIGIOUS and POLITICAL WORKER VISAS

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What are the Requirements for an R-1 Visa?

You must be a member of a religious denomination that has a bona fide nonprofit religious organization in the U.S.

R-1 Visa holders are any of the following:

• Religious Professionals – Persons who enter the U.S. only to work for a bona fide non-profit organization in a professional religious vocation or occupation at the request of the organization.  A professional religious vocation or occupation requires a U.S. 4-year college degree or foreign equivalent.
• Ministers of Religion – Persons who enter the U.S. only to work as a minister of the religious denomination they have belonged to for the past two years.  The minister must be authorized by a recognized religious denomination to conduct work and perform other duties by authorized members of the clergy of that religion
• Other Religious Workers - Persons who enter the U.S. to work for a bona fide non-profit organization in a religious vocation or occupation at the request of the organization.  The religious vocation or occupation does not require a college degree.  These workers can be individuals who do not qualify as ministers or religious professionals.

The U.S. non-profit religious organization must meet two requirements:

• Have a religious community with a code of doctrine and discipline, a form of worship, established places of worship, religious ceremonies, religious congregations or other evidence of a religious denomination.
• Be exempt from U.S. taxation under 501-C (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or satisfy the USCIS that it would be eligible for tax exempt status.

How Long is the R-1 Visa Valid?

An R-1 visa is valid for an initial period of up to 3 years and can be extended for two years for a total of 5 consecutive years.  If you have spend five consecutive years in the U.S., you may not reenter as an R-1 visa holder until you have been physically present outside the U.S. for at least one year.

Who Qualifies for an R-2 Visa Classification?

R-2 visa is for dependents of R-1 religious workers coming to the U.S. temporarily.

What are the Requirements for an R-2 Visa?

You must be either a spouse or unmarried child under 21 of an R-1 visa holder.  You must accompany the R-1 visa holder to the U.S. or join the R-1 visa holder that is already employed and residing in the U.S.

Can R-2 Dependents be Employed?

No, there is no employment allowed under this visa classification.

How Long is the R-2 Visa Valid?

You may stay in the U.S. as long as the R-1 visa holder is in the U.S. in status.  An R-2 visa is valid for an initial period of three years and can be extended for two years for a total of five consecutive years.  The R-2 visa cannot be extended past the five-year period.