R1 Visa Requirements for R1 Visa Approval
In March 2021, Lally Immigration Services, LLC received approval of a R-1 visa petition filed on behalf of a Buddhist Missionary.
What is a R-1 Visa?
R-1 visas are nonimmigrant visas which permit foreign nationals to come to the United States temporarily to be employed at least part-time (average of at least twenty hours per week) by a bona fide nonprofit religious organization in the United States (or a bona fide organization that is affiliated with the religious denomination in the United States) to work as a minister or other religious worker.
Examples of religious workers include, but are not limited to:
- Nuns;
- Monks; and
- Religious brothers and sisters
R1 Visa Requirements – R1 Visa USA
R-1 visa petitions must be filed with:
- A currently valid determination letter from the IRS regarding the employing organization’s tax-exempt status;
- Employer Attestation, which is part of the R-1 Classification Supplement to Form I-129;
- Verifiable evidence of how the employer intends to compensate the beneficiary, including salaried or non-salaried compensation;
- Evidence that the foreign worker has been a member in the religious denomination during at least the two years immediately preceding the filing of the petition; and
- Evidence to establish the foreign worker is qualified to perform the duties of the offered position.
If the employer is seeking to fill a minister position, the foreign worker must provide a certificate of ordination as well as evidence that they meet the qualifications as a minister in the religious denomination.
R-1 visa petitions may be rejected or denied for failure to submit required evidence or supporting documents. All required evidence should be submitted with the initial petition.
R1 Visa Fee
Costs of R-1 religious worker visas vary depending on a variety of circumstances.
R-1 religious worker visa costs generally include:
- $460 – Form I-129 Filing Fee;
- $1,500 – Form I-907 Premium Processing Fee*; and/or
- $190 – Form DS-160, Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application Fee.
* Premium process service is available only for petitioning employers who have previously completed a successful on-site inspection.
R1 Visa Process – Visa R1
Religious organization files Form I-129, with attestation, along with:
- A currently valid determination letter from the IRS regarding the employing organization’s tax-exempt status;
- Employer Attestation, which is part of the R-1 Classification Supplement to Form I-129;
- Verifiable evidence of how the employer intends to compensate the beneficiary, including salaried or non-salaried compensation;
- Evidence that the foreign worker has been a member in the religious denomination during at least the two years immediately preceding the filing of the petition; and
- Evidence to establish the foreign worker is qualified to perform the duties of the offered position.
If the employer is seeking to fill a minister position, the foreign worker must provide a certificate of ordination as well as evidence that they meet the qualifications as a minister in the religious denomination.
R1 Visa Processing Time
R-1 visa processing times vary depending on a variety of circumstances. Visit the USCIS Processing Times website for the most up-to-date information:
Form: I-129, Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker
Service Center: California Service Center
Click “+Read All Lines”
Form Type: R- Religious occupation
R1 Visa Extension Processing Time
R-1 visa extension processing times vary depending on a variety of circumstances. Visit the USCIS Processing Times website for the most up-to-date information:
Form: I-129, Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker
Service Center: California Service Center
Click “+Read All Lines”
Form Type: R- Religious occupation
R1 Visa Premium Processing
R1 visa premium processing is available for R-1 visa petitions. However, R1 visa premium processing service is only available for petitioning employers who have previously completed a successful on-site inspection. See USCIS website for details.
R1 Religious Visa Lawyer Boston Ma
If you would like to speak to a R1 religious visa lawyer in Boston, MA, contact Lally Immigration Services, LLC at (617) 870-1000 or send an email to R1 religious visa lawyer, Dayna Lally, at [email protected]. Ms. Lally is happy to discuss the R1 visa requirements, R1 visa fees, R1 visa process, R1 visa processing time, R1 visa extension processing time, and/or R1 visa premium processing.
Disclaimer: This blog article is provided by Lally Immigration Services, LLC for informational and marketing purposes. This article does not constitute legal advice nor does it establish an attorney-client relationship. No reader should act, or refrain from acting, on the basis of any information presented in this article, or elsewhere on this website, without seeking the advice of appropriate legal counsel, or other professional counsel, licensed in the relevant jurisdiction. Lally Immigration Services, LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability with respect to any actions taken, or not taken, based on any content of this article or website. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
