Aliens coming to the United States temporarily as religious workers may obtain R-1 Visa.

The R-1 category covers ministers of religion and religious workers who will work for the denomination in a professional capacity, in a religious vocation or occupation, or who will work for the denomination or a bona fide organization which is tax-exempt and affiliated with the denomination in a religious vocation or occupation (not necessarily in a professional capacity). Family members of ministers andreligious workers can enter in the R-2 category.

An R-1 visa holder can enter the US initially for a period of three years and can be extended for two years up to a total of five consecutive years. Beyond this five-year period, the R-1 visa cannot be extended.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

The basic criteria for classification of an R religious worker are:

1. The alien is a member of a religious denomination having a bona fide nonprofit, religious organization in the United States;
2. The religious denomination and its affiliate, if applicable, are exempt from taxation, or the religious denomination qualifies for tax-exempt status;
3. The alien has been a member of the organization for two years immediately preceding admission;
4. The alien is entering the United States solely to carry on the vocation of a minister of that denomination; or
5. At the request of the organization, the alien 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; or
6. The alien is the spouse or child of an R-1 nonimmigrant who is accompanying or following to join him or her; and
7. The alien has resided and been physically present outside the United States for the immediate prior year, except for brief visits for business or pleasure, if he or she has previously spent five years in this classification.