What Jobs Qualify for an R-1 Visa?

An R-1 visa is a temporary, nonimmigrant visa designated for religious workers. You may apply for this visa type using Form I-129, Petition for Nonimmigrant Workers. Though this may appear straightforward, not all religious workers are included in this category. Continue reading to learn what jobs qualify for an R-1 visa and how an experienced Lyndhurst temporary work visa lawyer at The Law Offices of Salvatore A. Falletta, LLC can help you better understand your options to stay temporarily in the United States.

What jobs qualify for an R-1 nonimmigrant religious workers visa?

Generally speaking, you must be a minister or a non-minister who works in a religious vocation or occupation to be eligible for an R-1 visa. The more specific job positions that the USCIS recognizes are as follows:

• Priests.
• Rabbis.
• Ordained deacons.
• Salaried Buddhist monks.
• Missionaries.
• Liturgical workers.
• Religious cantors.
• Religious instructors.
• Religious counselors.
• Religious translators.
• Religious broadcasters.

Importantly, the USCIS does not consider administrative and supporting positions within a religious organization, or organization affiliated with a religious denomination, for the R-1 visa type. More specifically, it does not count maintenance workers, clerical workers, students, etc.

In turn, you must understand the additional eligibility criteria beyond the job position. For one, the United States employer, for which you are interested in working, must be classified as a non-profit religious organization; a non-profit organization affiliated with a religious denomination; or a religious organization authorized for a group tax exemption. Then, you must guarantee that the United States employer will schedule you to work at least part-time; that is, an average of 20 hours per week. Lastly, you must be able to prove that, for at least the past two years, you have been part of the same religious denomination associated with the United States employer.

What happens if I do not qualify for this temporary work visa?

Understandably so, it is difficult to meet each and every one of the eligibility factors needed for an R-1 visa. But you may rest easier knowing that one of the other visa types offered by the USCIS may be a better fit for you.

For example, you may sooner apply for a B-2 visa. This is a temporary, nonimmigrant visitor visa for tourism, pleasure, and/or visiting. So, within your Form DS-160, Nonimmigrant Visa Application, you may express your reasoning for wanting to visit the United States being that you wish to participate in informal religious study. Or, that you wish to attend religious services, perform missionary religious services, and the like.

In conclusion, you must not begin your application process without retaining legal representation from a skilled Lyndhurst employment immigration attorney. Contact our firm, The Law Offices of Salvatore A. Falletta, LLC, today.