If you are passionate about pursuing religious ministry work and want to share your knowledge about religion and learn about ministering and religious denominations in the United States, read on to discover how you can apply for the R-1 visa to the US.
Who Qualifies or is Eligible for the R-1 Religious Worker Visa?
The R-1 visa is a temporary non-immigrant visa for religious workers, working directly in religious work, like preaching. The intent is for the religious worker to work temporarily within the United States for a religious organization.
To be eligible for the R-1 visa, applicants must have been a member of a religious denomination having a bona fide non-profit religious organization in the United States for at least two years immediately before the filing of the petition.
What is the R-1 Visa?
The R-1 visa is for people going to the US to work in a religious organization.
The organization must be registered as a non-profit organization in the US, a religious organization that has ties to any religious denomination in the US, or that has a group tax exemption.
What are the Requirements to Apply for the R-1 Visa?
You must have been a member of the religious organization for at least the past two years and you must be a minister or the religious equivalent. You will be required to work at least 20 hours/week and not accept any other working positions while you are in the US.
What is the R-1 Visa Processing Time?
Processing times for US work visas vary depending on several factors:
- The office or service center responsible for processing the file
- The type of non-immigrant visa
- R-1 work visa interview wait times (if applicable)
- Whether the applicant can qualify for an expedited interview appointment
- Whether Expedited processing is available
- Whether Premium Processing is available
- Providing insufficient or incomplete documents can lead to delays in processing and even denials
Top 10 Reasons for Refusal of the R-1 Application
While there are many reasons why your R-1 work visa application could be refused, we have listed the top ten most common ones here:
- Current and or past immigration status and history for the US or abroad, including overstaying and unauthorized employment
- Insufficient funds to support themselves during their stay
- Incorrect or incomplete petition
- Insufficient supporting evidence
- Conflicts with travel documentation
- Health concerns
- Suspicious of malicious intent
- Problems with background check
- Criminal history/Being convicted of a crime/Suspected or known ties to terrorism
- Material Misrepresentation
The R-1 Visa » Other FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Can you study on an R-1 visa?
Yes, you are able to study on an R-1 visa in the US as long as you maintain your R-1 status and your visa has not expired. After being on an R-1 visa for two years you can apply for a green card.
Can I leave the US and re-enter on an R-1 Visa?
You can leave and re-enter the US on an R-1 visa; however, the number of times you can re-enter depends on the rules as prescribed by the country of your citizenship.
Why Contact My Visa Source for an Assessment?
Congratulations on taking your first step toward working and living temporarily in the United States.
The more research you do on the immigration process, the more you will learn about your specific situation and how we can help you navigate through the R-1 visa process.
Lawyers at My Visa Source dedicate themselves to your immigration case, providing legal representation tailored to your personal situation.
Our expertise focuses on immigration and visa programs for the United States and Canada, including global immigration.
Partnering with an award-winning immigration team greatly increases the likelihood of achieving your specific immigration or visa goals.
Begin Your Application for the R-1 Visa Today!
Securing personalized legal help is quick and simple. Begin with our one-minute online immigration assessment form or call us toll-free at 1-888-509-1987.
We have a dedicated team of licensed professionals standing by, ready to answer your immigration and visa questions.
Immigration is a complex process that requires strong legal strategy, precise paperwork and perfect attention to detail, reducing the risk of wasted time, money or permanent rejection.
Book a personal consultation to speak with an award-winning immigration lawyer about the R-1 visa over the phone or on Skype.
