For ministers and workers in religious vocations or occupations serving a bona fide U.S. nonprofit religious organization, the R-1 is the leading religious visa in usa, for up to five years, with a green card path through EB-4. Here’s the whole r-1 visa guide, in plain English.
Years of membership in the same religious denomination required before filing.
Year maximum stay, entered through an initial admission of up to 30 months.
The green card path: qualifying service supports a special immigrant religious worker petition.
Four things make or break an R-1 case: the membership, the role, the sponsor, and the work. These r-1 visa requirements, the core religious visa usa requirements, decide it.
membership in the same religious denomination for at least the two years before filing.
work as a minister or in a religious vocation or occupation, not purely administrative or fundraising roles.
a U.S. nonprofit religious organization, or an organization affiliated with one.
at least part-time (20 hours/week) compensated work, salaried or supported.
The r 1 visa process runs the same five steps for every applicant.
Assemble the IRS 501(c)(3) determination, denominational affiliation, and the compensation plan.
File Form I-129 with the R-1 supplement and the worker's membership and qualification evidence.
Expect a USCIS site visit: inspectors verify the organization and the role, before or after approval.
Consular processing (DS-160) for workers abroad. Initial admission up to 30 months, extendable to a 5-year maximum.
Qualifying service supports the r1 visa to green card move through an EB-4 special immigrant religious worker petition (Form I-360) for permanent residence.
