United StatesCulture, faith and volunteering
Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.
The route is for ministers and non-ministers in religious vocations and occupations coming to the U.S. temporarily to perform religious work.
Ministers and non-ministers in religious vocations and occupations may come to the U.S. temporarily to perform religious work.
The worker must be employed by a non-profit religious organisation in the United States; a religious organisation authorised by a group tax exemption holder to use its group tax exemption; or a non-profit organisation affiliated with a religious denomination in the United States, working at least part time (an average of at least 20 hours per week). A prospective or existing U.S. employer must file Form I-129 on the worker's behalf.
An R-1 nonimmigrant is an alien who is coming to the United States temporarily to work at least part time (an average of at least 20 hours per week) as a minister or in a religious vocation or occupation and be employed by a:
Non-profit religious organization in the United States;
Religious organization that is authorized by a group tax exemption holder to use its group tax exemption; or
Non-profit organization which is affiliated with a religious denomination in the United States.
A prospective or existing U.S. employer must file Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, on behalf of an alien seeking to enter the United States as a nonimmigrant minister, or a religious worker in a religious vocation or occupation.
Evidence includes proof that the worker has been a member of a religious denomination having a bona fide non-profit religious organisation in the U.S. for at least two years immediately before filing Form I-129; evidence that the worker is qualified for the offered position (for ministers, a certificate of ordination or similar documents); a currently valid IRS determination letter showing the organisation is tax-exempt (where it holds its own IRS 501(c)(3) letter); and, for an organisation affiliated with a denomination, a religious denomination certification in Form I-129 Supplement R.
Evidence that the religious worker is a member of a religious denomination having a bona fide non-profit religious organization in the United States for at least two years immediately before filing Form I-129; and
Evidence to establish that the religious worker is qualified to perform the duties of the offered position. If the religious worker will work as a minister, the petitioner must provide:
A copy of the religious worker’s certificate of ordination or similar documents; and
If the petitioning organization has its own individual IRS 501(c)(3) letter, the petitioner must provide a currently valid determination letter from the IRS showing that the organization is tax-exempt.
A religious denomination certification, included as part of the Form I-129, Supplement R, stating that the petitioning organization is affiliated with the religious denomination.
The petitioner must give verifiable evidence of how it will compensate the worker, with specific monetary or in-kind compensation; evidence that the employer will provide room and board is accepted. Alternatively the worker may be self-supporting as part of an established programme for temporary, uncompensated missionary work that is part of a broader international missionary programme sponsored by the denomination. The official source does not state whether the worker may take other work outside the approved religious position.
The petitioner must submit verifiable evidence showing how it intends to compensate the religious worker, including specific monetary or in-kind compensation, or how the R-1 nonimmigrant will be self-supporting as part of an established missionary program.
Evidence that the prospective employer will provide room and board to the religious worker; and
Self-support means that the position the beneficiary will hold is part of an established program for temporary, uncompensated missionary work, and part of a broader international program of missionary work the denomination sponsors.
R-1 status may be granted for an initial admission of up to 30 months, with extensions of up to an additional 30 months; total R-1 stay cannot exceed five years (60 months). To change employers, the new petitioner must file a new Form I-129, attestation and supporting evidence. The spouse and unmarried children under 21 may be eligible for R-2 classification, but R-2 dependents are not authorised to work on that basis.
We may grant R-1 status for an initial period of admission for up to 30 months and subsequent extensions for up to an additional 30 months. Your total period of stay in the United States in R-1 classification cannot exceed five years (60 months).
An R-1 religious worker’s spouse and unmarried children under the age of 21 may be eligible for R-2 classification. An R-2 dependent is not authorized to work based on this visa classification.
For the religious worker to change employers, the new petitioner must file a new Form I-129, attestation, and supporting evidence.
These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.
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