174:
Individuals staying in the US on an R-2 are not permitted to work, but may attend school. In order to qualify for an R-2, the principal R-1 worker must be able to demonstrate that they are able to financially support themselves and their dependents. Individuals staying in the U.S. on an R-2 visa are eligible to apply for permanent residency.
130:
Processing time for Form I-129 may be 8 to 9 months. An applicant may pay an additional fee for premium processing, which guarantees an approval, refusal, or a request for addition evidence within 15 calendar days. Premium processing is only available after the religious organization has been visited
160:
is not required to have a visa to enter the U.S. as temporary religious workers, although they still are required to have a temporary worker petition approved by U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services. Visa exempt workers must present their original Form I-797, Notice of Action, when entering the
143:
After 60 months in R-1 status has ended, the individual may apply for another R-1 visa only after residing outside the U.S. for the 12 months. There may be certain exceptions to this rule if the individual works intermittently or if the individual lives outside the U.S. and regularly commutes to the
45:
tax-exempt status or a tax-exempt organization affiliated with a religious denomination. In either case, the applicant must have a determination letter of its tax-exempt status that was issued by the
Internal Revenue Service. An organization that is authorized for the use of a group tax exemption is
173:
is a non-immigrant visa which allows travel to United States for the spouse or children of an individual who has received an R-1 visa. Children seeking an R-2 visa must be under 21 years of age and unmarried. The status of an R-2 visa holder is dependent on the status of the principal R-1 worker.
61:
The individual must be coming to the United States solely to work as a minister, in a religious vocation, or in a religious occupation. If working as a minister, the individual must be a trained member of the clergy, work as a minister, and perform ministerial duties. This generally includes
139:
The maximum initial duration of stay is 30 months, with the exception of those who reside outside of and commute to the US. One extension may be granted for an additional 30 months. Full days spent outside of the U.S. generally do not count against the 60-month maximum period of stay.
126:
The religious organization applies for the R-1 visa using Form I-129. As of 2022, the base filing fee was $ 460. As part of the processing of the Form I-129, U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services visits the premises of the religious organization in order to verify its eligibility.
86:, but it does not include lay preachers. Working in a religious occupation is performing religious duties involving traditional religious functions that fundamentally relate to the faith, such as liturgical workers, religious instructors,
117:
The individual must not be engaged in secular employment, such as clerical staff, fundraisers, musicians, maintenance workers, and janitors. The individual is allowed to perform limited incidental administrative duties though.
186:). By contrast, the Special Immigrant NonāMinister Religious Worker Visa Program is a separate category of visa (specifically an employment-based fourth-preference (EB-4) visa) that was created in 1990 and periodically
190:. The Special Immigrant NonāMinister Religious Worker Visa Program has a statutory cap of 5,000 workers. Congress has extended the Special Immigrant NonāMinister Religious Worker Visa Program several times.
700:
182:
The non-immigrant R visas are distinct from the
Special Immigrant NonāMinister Religious Worker Visa Program. The R visas are a permanent part of U.S. immigration law (through the
216:
744:
688:
241:
684:
363:
397:
716:
131:
by U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services as part of an application for either an R-1 visa or a Special Religious Immigrant Visa Petition.
575:
1518:
592:
503:
737:
320:
33:
for service as a minister or other religious occupation. Between
October 2019 and September 2020, there were 2,399 R visas issued.
753:
183:
1223:
730:
834:
380:
486:
242:
Table XV(A) Classes of
Nonimmigrants Issued Visas (Including Border Crossing Cards) Fiscal Years 2016-2020
111:
55:
504:"Updates on USCIS Site Visits for Religious Workers | Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC)"
469:
452:
87:
75:
1213:
1208:
1203:
1198:
1193:
1188:
635:
295:
558:
426:
346:
261:
1019:
847:
1337:
1165:
1160:
1144:
1097:
1092:
1087:
187:
79:
26:
83:
54:
The individual must have worked for at least the preceding two years as a member of a
1512:
30:
114:. Religious study or religious training does not qualify as a religious occupation.
722:
1183:
58:, and will work at least 20 hours a week for the institution while in the U.S.
999:
107:
103:
1438:
1397:
1392:
1014:
1009:
1004:
994:
989:
842:
95:
42:
1332:
1327:
1290:
1241:
1236:
1139:
1134:
1118:
1113:
1082:
1066:
1061:
1045:
1029:
1024:
971:
966:
961:
956:
951:
930:
925:
920:
904:
899:
894:
889:
884:
868:
863:
824:
819:
814:
777:
772:
767:
1497:
1492:
1487:
1482:
157:
102:, workers in religious hospitals or religious health care facilities,
1466:
1461:
1456:
1433:
1428:
1423:
1418:
1413:
1373:
1368:
1363:
1358:
1353:
1274:
1269:
1264:
1259:
1231:
946:
798:
793:
536:. United States Citizenship & Immigration Services. July 18, 2022
262:
R Visa: https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-2-part-o-chapter-3
153:
91:
63:
660:
1383:
99:
67:
364:
Clergy and religious immigration to U.S. continues sans headlines
1175:
404:. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. January 2011
71:
726:
529:
41:
The applicant must be a nonprofit religious organization with
599:. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. January 11, 2022
398:"The Catholic Church and Immigrant Religious Workers | USCCB"
327:. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. December 1, 2020
321:"R-1 Visa, Temporary Nonimmigrant Religious Workers | USCIS"
459:. Department of Homeland Security. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
16:
Religious-related non-immigrant visa for the United States
433:. U.S. Citizenship and ImmigrationServices. May 11, 2021
624:. Matthew Bender & Company, Inc. 2013. p. 50.
284:. Matthew Bender & Company, Inc. 2013. p. 49.
582:. U.S. Department of State. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
1475:
1447:
1406:
1382:
1346:
1320:
1299:
1283:
1250:
1222:
1174:
1153:
1127:
1106:
1075:
1054:
1038:
982:
939:
913:
877:
856:
833:
807:
786:
760:
685:
The
Catholic Church and Immigrant Religious Workers
476:. Department of Homeland Security. March 12, 2015.
687:, Office of Migration Policy and Public Affairs,
640:US Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs
300:US Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs
530:"Request for Premium Processing Service | USCIS"
719:: Link to Title 8, Code of Federal Regulations.
453:Form I-129: Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker
217:"R-1 Temporary Nonimmigrant Religious Workers"
738:
470:Optional Checklist for Form I-129 R-1 Filings
37:Qualifications for the religious organization
8:
703:, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
689:United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
593:"R-1 Nonimmigrant Religious Workers | USCIS"
347:R Visa: Chapter 4 - Beneficiary Requirements
616:
614:
553:
551:
421:
419:
745:
731:
723:
276:
274:
256:
254:
563:U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
510:. Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc
491:U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
474:U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
457:U.S. Citizenshup and Immigration Services
351:U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
266:U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
427:"Chapter 2 - Religious Workers | USCIS"
221:US Citizenship and Immigration Services
211:
209:
207:
205:
203:
199:
7:
559:R-1 Visa: Chapter 7 - Period of Stay
701:Special Immigrant Religious Workers
14:
636:"Temporary Religious Worker Visa"
296:"Temporary Religious Worker Visa"
754:United States nonimmigrant visas
362:Pattison, Mark (May 25, 2019). "
184:Immigration and Nationality Act
144:U.S. for part-time employment.
50:Qualifications for the employee
622:Immigration pocket field guide
282:Immigration pocket field guide
148:Citizens of Canada and Bermuda
1:
385:Goldstein Immigration Lawyers
1519:United States visas by type
29:which allows travel to the
1537:
580:Bureau of Consular Affairs
576:Temporary Religious Worker
493:. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
387:. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
248:. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
1347:Human trafficking victims
835:Northern Mariana Islands
246:U.S. Department of State
487:Form I-129 Instructions
1321:Witnesses / informants
112:religious broadcasters
56:religious denomination
1224:Extraordinary ability
1107:Intracompany transfer
368:Catholic News Service
108:religious translators
1076:Family of US Citizen
565:. February 22, 2022.
353:. February 23, 2022.
268:. February 23, 2022.
88:religious counselors
1476:Visa Waiver Program
1450:permanent residents
1128:Vocational Students
661:"R2 Dependent Visa"
25:is a non-immigrant
1251:Athletes, artists,
1154:SK visa dependents
1039:Media / journalist
76:religious brothers
1506:
1505:
1284:Cultural exchange
1055:Cultural Exchange
80:religious sisters
1526:
983:Temporary worker
747:
740:
733:
724:
704:
698:
692:
682:
676:
675:
673:
671:
657:
651:
650:
648:
646:
632:
626:
625:
618:
609:
608:
606:
604:
589:
583:
572:
566:
555:
546:
545:
543:
541:
526:
520:
519:
517:
515:
500:
494:
483:
477:
466:
460:
449:
443:
442:
440:
438:
423:
414:
413:
411:
409:
394:
388:
377:
371:
360:
354:
343:
337:
336:
334:
332:
317:
311:
310:
308:
306:
292:
286:
285:
278:
269:
258:
249:
238:
232:
231:
229:
227:
213:
135:Duration of stay
122:Application form
46:also eligible.
1536:
1535:
1529:
1528:
1527:
1525:
1524:
1523:
1509:
1508:
1507:
1502:
1471:
1449:
1443:
1402:
1378:
1342:
1316:
1295:
1279:
1252:
1246:
1218:
1170:
1149:
1123:
1102:
1071:
1050:
1034:
978:
935:
909:
878:Treaty investor
873:
852:
829:
803:
782:
756:
751:
717:8 CFR 214.2 (m)
713:
708:
707:
699:
695:
691:(January 2011).
683:
679:
669:
667:
659:
658:
654:
644:
642:
634:
633:
629:
620:
619:
612:
602:
600:
591:
590:
586:
573:
569:
556:
549:
539:
537:
528:
527:
523:
513:
511:
508:cliniclegal.org
502:
501:
497:
484:
480:
467:
463:
450:
446:
436:
434:
425:
424:
417:
407:
405:
396:
395:
391:
378:
374:
361:
357:
344:
340:
330:
328:
319:
318:
314:
304:
302:
294:
293:
289:
280:
279:
272:
259:
252:
239:
235:
225:
223:
215:
214:
201:
196:
180:
167:
150:
137:
124:
100:choir directors
52:
39:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1534:
1533:
1530:
1522:
1521:
1511:
1510:
1504:
1503:
1501:
1500:
1495:
1490:
1485:
1479:
1477:
1473:
1472:
1470:
1469:
1464:
1459:
1453:
1451:
1445:
1444:
1442:
1441:
1436:
1431:
1426:
1421:
1416:
1410:
1408:
1404:
1403:
1401:
1400:
1395:
1389:
1387:
1380:
1379:
1377:
1376:
1371:
1366:
1361:
1356:
1350:
1348:
1344:
1343:
1341:
1340:
1335:
1330:
1324:
1322:
1318:
1317:
1315:
1314:
1309:
1303:
1301:
1297:
1296:
1294:
1293:
1287:
1285:
1281:
1280:
1278:
1277:
1272:
1267:
1262:
1256:
1254:
1248:
1247:
1245:
1244:
1239:
1234:
1228:
1226:
1220:
1219:
1217:
1216:
1211:
1206:
1201:
1196:
1191:
1186:
1180:
1178:
1172:
1171:
1169:
1168:
1163:
1157:
1155:
1151:
1150:
1148:
1147:
1142:
1137:
1131:
1129:
1125:
1124:
1122:
1121:
1116:
1110:
1108:
1104:
1103:
1101:
1100:
1095:
1090:
1085:
1079:
1077:
1073:
1072:
1070:
1069:
1064:
1058:
1056:
1052:
1051:
1049:
1048:
1042:
1040:
1036:
1035:
1033:
1032:
1027:
1022:
1017:
1012:
1007:
1002:
997:
992:
986:
984:
980:
979:
977:
976:
975:
974:
969:
964:
959:
954:
943:
941:
937:
936:
934:
933:
928:
923:
917:
915:
911:
910:
908:
907:
902:
897:
892:
887:
881:
879:
875:
874:
872:
871:
866:
860:
858:
854:
853:
851:
850:
845:
839:
837:
831:
830:
828:
827:
822:
817:
811:
809:
805:
804:
802:
801:
796:
790:
788:
784:
783:
781:
780:
775:
770:
764:
762:
758:
757:
752:
750:
749:
742:
735:
727:
721:
720:
712:
711:External links
709:
706:
705:
693:
677:
652:
627:
610:
584:
567:
547:
521:
495:
478:
461:
444:
415:
389:
372:
355:
338:
312:
287:
270:
250:
233:
198:
197:
195:
192:
179:
176:
166:
163:
149:
146:
136:
133:
123:
120:
84:lay missioners
51:
48:
38:
35:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1532:
1531:
1520:
1517:
1516:
1514:
1499:
1496:
1494:
1491:
1489:
1486:
1484:
1481:
1480:
1478:
1474:
1468:
1465:
1463:
1460:
1458:
1455:
1454:
1452:
1446:
1440:
1437:
1435:
1432:
1430:
1427:
1425:
1422:
1420:
1417:
1415:
1412:
1411:
1409:
1407:Crime victims
1405:
1399:
1396:
1394:
1391:
1390:
1388:
1386:professionals
1385:
1381:
1375:
1372:
1370:
1367:
1365:
1362:
1360:
1357:
1355:
1352:
1351:
1349:
1345:
1339:
1336:
1334:
1331:
1329:
1326:
1325:
1323:
1319:
1313:
1310:
1308:
1305:
1304:
1302:
1298:
1292:
1289:
1288:
1286:
1282:
1276:
1273:
1271:
1268:
1266:
1263:
1261:
1258:
1257:
1255:
1249:
1243:
1240:
1238:
1235:
1233:
1230:
1229:
1227:
1225:
1221:
1215:
1212:
1210:
1207:
1205:
1202:
1200:
1197:
1195:
1192:
1190:
1187:
1185:
1182:
1181:
1179:
1177:
1173:
1167:
1164:
1162:
1159:
1158:
1156:
1152:
1146:
1143:
1141:
1138:
1136:
1133:
1132:
1130:
1126:
1120:
1117:
1115:
1112:
1111:
1109:
1105:
1099:
1096:
1094:
1091:
1089:
1086:
1084:
1081:
1080:
1078:
1074:
1068:
1065:
1063:
1060:
1059:
1057:
1053:
1047:
1044:
1043:
1041:
1037:
1031:
1028:
1026:
1023:
1021:
1018:
1016:
1013:
1011:
1008:
1006:
1003:
1001:
998:
996:
993:
991:
988:
987:
985:
981:
973:
970:
968:
965:
963:
960:
958:
955:
953:
950:
949:
948:
945:
944:
942:
938:
932:
929:
927:
924:
922:
919:
918:
916:
912:
906:
903:
901:
898:
896:
893:
891:
888:
886:
883:
882:
880:
876:
870:
867:
865:
862:
861:
859:
855:
849:
846:
844:
841:
840:
838:
836:
832:
826:
823:
821:
818:
816:
813:
812:
810:
806:
800:
797:
795:
792:
791:
789:
785:
779:
776:
774:
771:
769:
766:
765:
763:
759:
755:
748:
743:
741:
736:
734:
729:
728:
725:
718:
715:
714:
710:
702:
697:
694:
690:
686:
681:
678:
666:
662:
656:
653:
641:
637:
631:
628:
623:
617:
615:
611:
598:
597:www.uscis.gov
594:
588:
585:
581:
577:
571:
568:
564:
560:
554:
552:
548:
535:
534:www.uscis.gov
531:
525:
522:
509:
505:
499:
496:
492:
488:
482:
479:
475:
471:
465:
462:
458:
454:
448:
445:
432:
431:www.uscis.gov
428:
422:
420:
416:
403:
402:www.usccb.org
399:
393:
390:
386:
382:
376:
373:
369:
365:
359:
356:
352:
348:
342:
339:
326:
325:www.uscis.gov
322:
316:
313:
301:
297:
291:
288:
283:
277:
275:
271:
267:
263:
257:
255:
251:
247:
243:
237:
234:
222:
218:
212:
210:
208:
206:
204:
200:
193:
191:
189:
185:
177:
175:
172:
164:
162:
159:
155:
152:A citizen of
147:
145:
141:
134:
132:
128:
121:
119:
115:
113:
109:
105:
101:
97:
93:
89:
85:
81:
77:
73:
69:
65:
59:
57:
49:
47:
44:
36:
34:
32:
31:United States
28:
24:
19:
1311:
1306:
1253:entertainers
696:
680:
668:. Retrieved
664:
655:
643:. Retrieved
639:
630:
621:
601:. Retrieved
596:
587:
579:
570:
562:
538:. Retrieved
533:
524:
512:. Retrieved
507:
498:
490:
481:
473:
464:
456:
447:
435:. Retrieved
430:
406:. Retrieved
401:
392:
384:
375:
367:
358:
350:
341:
329:. Retrieved
324:
315:
303:. Retrieved
299:
290:
281:
265:
245:
236:
224:. Retrieved
220:
181:
178:Similar visa
170:
168:
151:
142:
138:
129:
125:
116:
104:missionaries
60:
53:
40:
22:
20:
18:
670:October 11,
665:US Visa FAQ
645:October 11,
305:October 11,
226:October 11,
761:Diplomatic
603:August 27,
540:August 27,
514:August 27,
437:August 27,
408:August 27,
331:August 27,
194:References
96:catechists
1448:Family of
1300:Religious
787:Temporary
43:501(c)(3)
1513:Category
940:Official
914:Students
381:R-1 Visa
171:R-2 visa
165:R-2 visa
23:R-1 visa
857:Crewman
808:Transit
188:sunsets
158:Bermuda
92:cantors
64:priests
1214:NATO-7
1209:NATO-6
1204:NATO-5
1199:NATO-4
1194:NATO-3
1189:NATO-2
1184:NATO-1
154:Canada
110:, and
82:, and
68:rabbis
1384:USMCA
1000:H-1B1
161:U.S.
72:imams
1439:SIJS
1176:NATO
1020:H-2R
1015:H-2B
1010:H-2A
1005:H-1C
995:H-1B
990:H-1A
905:E-3R
900:E-3D
848:CW-2
843:CW-1
672:2016
647:2016
605:2022
542:2022
516:2022
439:2022
410:2022
333:2022
307:2016
228:2016
169:The
27:visa
21:The
1467:V-3
1462:V-2
1457:V-1
1434:U-5
1429:U-4
1424:U-3
1419:U-2
1414:U-1
1374:T-5
1369:T-4
1364:T-3
1359:T-2
1354:T-1
1338:S-7
1333:S-6
1328:S-5
1312:R-2
1307:R-1
1291:Q-1
1275:P-4
1270:P-3
1265:P-2
1260:P-1
1242:O-3
1237:O-2
1232:O-1
1166:N-9
1161:N-8
1145:M-3
1140:M-2
1135:M-1
1119:L-2
1114:L-1
1098:K-4
1093:K-3
1088:K-2
1083:K-1
1067:J-2
1062:J-1
1046:I-1
1030:H-4
1025:H-3
972:G-5
967:G-4
962:G-3
957:G-2
952:G-1
931:F-3
926:F-2
921:F-1
895:E-3
890:E-2
885:E-1
869:D-2
864:D-1
825:C-3
820:C-2
815:C-1
799:B-2
794:B-1
778:A-3
773:A-2
768:A-1
578:".
561:".
489:".
472:".
455:".
383:".
366:".
349:".
264:".
244:".
156:or
1515::
1498:GT
1493:GB
1488:WT
1483:WB
1398:TN
1393:TD
663:.
638:.
613:^
595:.
550:^
532:.
506:.
429:.
418:^
400:.
323:.
298:.
273:^
253:^
219:.
202:^
106:,
98:,
94:,
90:,
78:,
74:,
70:,
66:,
947:G
746:e
739:t
732:v
674:.
649:.
607:.
574:"
557:"
544:.
518:.
485:"
468:"
451:"
441:.
412:.
379:"
370:.
345:"
335:.
309:.
260:"
240:"
230:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.