Non-Immigrant Visas

Religious Workers

Religious workers may apply directly to the Consular Section for a non-immigrant "R" visa. Holders of these visas may remain in the United States for up to five years to pursue their calling.

Criteria for "R" Classification Are:

• The applicant is a member of a religious denomination having a bona fide nonprofit religious organization in the United States;
• The religious denomination and its affiliate, if applicable, are exempt from taxation, or the religious denomination qualifies for tax-exempt status;
• The applicant has been a member of the denomination for two years immediately preceding admission;
• The applicant is entering the United States solely to carry on the vocation of a minister of that denomination;
• At the request of the organization, the applicant is entering the United States to work in a religious vocation or occupation for that denomination or for an organization affiliated with the denomination, whether in a professional capacity or not; and
• The applicant has resided and been physically present outside the United States for the immediate prior year if he or she has previously spent five years in this classification

Documentation Required:

The applicant must be prepared to present to the consular officer any or all of the following documentation to verify that the applicant and the religious organization qualify for the R status:

• Proof of tax-exempt status, or eligibility for tax-exempt status.
• A letter from an authorized official of the specific unit of the employing organization certifying:
  1. That if the applicant's religious membership was maintained, in whole or in part, outside the United States, the foreign and United States religious organizations belong to the same religious denomination;
  2. That, immediately prior to the application for the R visa, the alien has been a member of the religious denomination for the required two-year period;
  3. That, (as appropriate):
     • If the applicant is a minister, he or she is authorized to conduct religious worship for that denomination. The duties should be described in detail; or
     • If the applicant is a religious professional, he or she has at least a baccalaureate degree or equivalent, and that such a degree is required for entry into the religious profession, or
     • If the applicant is to work in a nonprofessional vocation or occupation, he or she is qualified, and, for a religious occupation, that the type of work to be done relates to a traditional religious function.
  4. Arrangements for remuneration, including the amount and source of salary, other types of compensation such as food and housing, and any other benefits to which a monetary value may be affixed; and a statement whether such remuneration shall be in exchange for services rendered;
  5. The name and location of the specific organizational unit of the religious denomination or affiliate for which the applicant will be providing services;
  6. If the alien is to work for an organization which is affiliated with a religious denomination, a description of the nature of the relationship between the two organizations.

Evidence of the religious organization's assets and methods of operation;

The organization's papers of incorporation under applicable state law;

The spouse and children of a nonimmigrant religious worker are entitled to derivative nonimmigrant visas. Dependents may study but may not accept paid employment in the United States.

Please provide this information along with your visa application.

See additional information.