Health & Fitness
What is an R Visa?
Not everyone wants to come to the US to stay permanently. Some foreigners only want to come to the US on a temporary basis. There is an alphabet soup of temporary visas. One of these temporary visas is called the R-Visa, for Religious Workers.
At this holiday time of year, the R-Religious Worker Visa is a good visa to consider.
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The R-1 temporary nonimmigrant visa is for Religious Workers coming to the US temporarily to work either part time or full time with a non-profit religious organization, or an affiliate, in the US. The foreign national may be coming to work as a minister, priest, rabbi, clergyperson or in a religious vocation or occupation.
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The foreign national must have been a member of the religious denomination for the immediately preceding two years (prior to filing the petition), and the religious denomination must have an organization in the US.
The religious organization in the US must be tax-exempt and provide proof of non-profit status from the Internal Revenue Service.
If the religious worker is a minister, or other certified religious worker, the foreign national needs to submit a copy of the Certificate of Ordination, or other similar document. However, if the religious worker is a non-clergyperson, then proof of 2 years of membership in the denomination must be provided.
The petition packet must provide proof of salaried and/or nonsalaried compensation. If the religious worker will be compensated, then the US organization must be able to show a budget and source or income. However, some religious workers are missionaries, and non-compensated. In this instance, the worker must be able to show how he/she will support himself while in the US. Perhaps the US religious organization will be providing all room and board. A description of the duties and responsibilities is also a requirement.
The R-1 visa may be approved for an initial admission of up to 30 months, and may be extended for an additional 30 months. The total period of stay cannot exceed 5 years.
The spouse and unmarried children under the age of 21 years may also be included in R-2 status. They are not authorized to accepted employment in the US in R-2 status.
For those seeking entry to the US, the R-1 visa may be a viable option to consider.
