R-1 Visa

For religious workers seeking work authorization.

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Qualifications

• Work as a minister or in a religious vocation or occupation at minimum 20 hours/week (average)
• Employed in the U.S. by non-profit religious organization, religious organization that can use group tax exemption, or non-profit affiliated with a religious organization.
• At least 2 years of membership in the religious denomination immediately prior to filing

Timeline

• Average USCIS processing time: 3-7 months; 2 weeks when filed with Premium Processing and if there is no Request for Evidence. (it may take several weeks to prepare the paperwork for filing)
• R-1s can be admitted for up to 2.5 years extendable to maximum 5 years.
• R-1s may use Premium Processing only if USCIS has already conducted an on-sight inspection from a prior petition.