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R-1 Religious Workers
The R-1 nonimmigrant
visa is available to foreign religious workers who have been invited to
work in the United States by a religious organization. The R-1 is a temporary
visa that will be issued to you for an initial period of 3 years. This
visa can be extended for an additional two years.
In order to qualify
in this category you must establish the following:
- That you have been
a member of the particular religious denomination for at least two years.
- That you have been
offered temporary full-time employment to work as a religious worker
with a qualifying US religious organization.
- That the religious
organization is a nonprofit organization as determined by the Internal
Revenue Service (i.e. registered under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal
Revenue Code).
A religious worker
may include the following:
- Someone employed
in a religious vocation or occupation for which the minimum of a U.S.
baccalaureate degree or a foreign equivalent degree is required.
- Someone employed
in a traditional religious function such as liturgical workers, religious
instructors, religious counselors, cantors, catechists, workers in religious
hospitals or religious health care facilities, missionaries, religious
translators, or religious broadcasters.
- Someone pursuing
a calling to religious life evidenced by the demonstration of commitment
practiced in the religious denomination, such as the taking of vows
including nuns, monks, and religious brothers and sisters.
Once an R-1 nonimmigrant
visa has been issued to you as a religious worker your spouse and unmarried
minor children are immediately eligible for R-2 visa status. R-2 nonimmigrants
will be permitted to remain in the United States for the duration of your
R-1 visa. The children will be permitted to attend school and will be
permitted to perform volunteer work only. R-2 nonimmigrants are not permitted
to work in the United States.
If you
would like to learn more about your specific visa options please send
a request to us at:
visas@usimmigrationlaw.net
or contact
Leibl & Kirkwood
12865 Point Del Mar, Suite 190
Del Mar, CA 92014, USA
Tel. (858) 481-5211
Fax. (858) 481-7271
questions@usimmigrationlaw.net
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