Religious visa (R-1) requirements, filing process and privileges!
Are you a religious worker and thinking of going to U.S. to perform some religious duties? If yes, then you need to apply for R-1 visa. If you are not aware of it, this document would help you give a clear perspective regarding its requirements and process that is followed to attain it.
Let's get started:
In general, R-1 visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows religious people to enter and work in U.S. for at least 5 years. Usually, these workers include ministries, professional workers and other religious people who are involved in the religious occupation. However, there is certain criterion for it; means not all are fit to apply for this visa, only people who are member of some religious group or organization, exempt from taxation, member of organization for at least 2 years, only they are viable to apply for this visa process.
Filling process of R-1 visa:
Letter of the organization who is sponsoring the religious immigrant to visit U.S. The letter must certify few things like :
Privileges:
After attainting it, a religious person can enjoy various luxuries like study in U.S., apply green card, travel anywhere in U.S., receive payments for the religious working and lastly spouse and unmarried children below 21 can apply for R-2 visa.
Let's get started:
In general, R-1 visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows religious people to enter and work in U.S. for at least 5 years. Usually, these workers include ministries, professional workers and other religious people who are involved in the religious occupation. However, there is certain criterion for it; means not all are fit to apply for this visa, only people who are member of some religious group or organization, exempt from taxation, member of organization for at least 2 years, only they are viable to apply for this visa process.
Filling process of R-1 visa:
- The immigrant needs to file for form no DS-156 and applicants who are between the ages 16 to 45 they need to apply for form no DS-157.
- Submit the copy of passport that has validity of up to six months to your best immigration attorney in Miami or elsewhere you are residing.
- Two passport size photographs that clearly displays the face of the immigrant.
- A religious person must wear a headdress of the organization of which he is member of.
- Copies of previous passports.
- Proof of sponsorship organization, qualification of immigrant in a religious group and denomination of the person for about two years etc.
- Proof of non-profit status.
Letter of the organization who is sponsoring the religious immigrant to visit U.S. The letter must certify few things like :
- U.S. and foreign organization belong to same denomination.
- The person is member of religious group for about two years.
- If an immigrant is a minister, he or she needs to show proof of his work (i.e. whether he has conducted religious worship or not).
- The person needs to have baccalaureate degree or any other degree for that matter but needs to be equivalent to this degree.
- The religious person must be comfortable working in traditional form of religious functions.
- The letter should contain the name and location of the organization in which the religious immigrant would be working.
- Show the evidence of the methods that are carried by the religious organization.
Privileges:
After attainting it, a religious person can enjoy various luxuries like study in U.S., apply green card, travel anywhere in U.S., receive payments for the religious working and lastly spouse and unmarried children below 21 can apply for R-2 visa.
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