ELIGIBILITY:
A religious worker is a person who for the past two years has been a member of a religious denomination which has a bona fide nonprofit, religious organization in the United States; and who has been carrying on the vocation, professional work, or other work described below, continuously for the past two years; and seeks to enter the U.S. to work solely:
- As a minister of that denomination
- In a professional capacity in a religious vocation or occupation for that organization
- In a religious vocation or occupation for the organization or its nonprofit affiliate.
The R visa can be issued for a total of 5 years. However, it may be issued for 3 years initially, which then can be extended to 5 years.
The spouse and unmarried minor children of the R-1 holder are eligible for the R-2 visa and can attend school or perform volunteer work only, but not permitted to work.