United States•North America

Open

R-1 — Religious Worker

Work PR PathwayThis visa can lead to permanent residency, the right to live and work here indefinitely without renewing your visa. Dependents Allowed

At a Glance

Processing Time

3-6 months

Application Fee

715 USD

Stay Duration

30 months

Renewable

Yes

Job Offer

Required

Dependents

Allowed

PR Pathway

Available

Remote Work

Not Required

Official Information

Living in United States

Cost of Living

Baseline

Avg Salary$51,000

Quality of Life

186/200

Full Country Guide

Overview

Temporary employment in a religious vocation or occupation at a bona fide U.S. non-profit religious organization.

The R-1 is a US temporary visa for ministers and other religious workers employed by a non-profit religious organization. No academic degree is required; eligibility hinges on at least two years of membership in the same denomination as the petitioning employer.

Initial stay is up to 30 months, extendable to a 5-year maximum. A green card pathway exists via the EB-4 Special Immigrant Religious Worker category. Spouses and children under 21 may join on R-2 status but cannot work. A USCIS site visit program may inspect the organization to verify legitimacy.

This visa is ideal for foreign ministers or religious workers with a US non-profit employer offer who want a renewable work status and a path to permanent residence.

Fee Breakdown

Form I-129 filing fee	510 USD
MRV application fee	205 USD
Visa issuance fee	—

Processing Tracks

Standard (I-129 adjudication)	3 months – 6 months
Premium Processing	2 weeks

Stay & Extensions

Initial grant

2.5 years

Conversion Paths

Visas you can typically switch to from this status.

EB-4 — Employment Fourth Preference — Special Immigrant

United States

EB-4 — Employment Fourth Preference — Special Immigrant

ValidityIndefinite

Processing1-3 years

View Visa Details

Requirements

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Member of the same religious denomination as the U.S. employer for at least 2 years

Work as a minister or in a qualifying religious vocation or occupation

Employed by a non-profit religious organization in the U.S.

Work at least part-time (20+ hours/week)

KEY CRITERIA

Job Offer

Required

Education

none or higher

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Valid passport (valid at least 6 months beyond intended stay)

Form I-129 petition receipt number from employer

DS-160 confirmation page

Passport-style photo

Evidence of 2-year membership in the religious denomination

Evidence of non-profit status of the U.S. religious organization

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

Spouses and unmarried children under 21 qualify for R-2 derivative visas
No annual cap — petitions can be filed at any time
Canadian and Bermudian citizens are visa-exempt (only USCIS I-129 approval needed)
Pathway to EB-4 Special Immigrant Religious Worker green card

Worth Knowing

Employer must initiate and file the I-129 petition — self-sponsorship is not permitted
R-2 dependents may not work in the U.S.
Minimum 20 hours/week of qualifying religious work required
Maximum total stay capped at 5 years; must depart for at least 1 year before reapplying
Issuance fee varies by applicant's nationality

Application Process

Employer files Form I-129 (Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker) with USCIS

Applicant completes DS-160 online nonimmigrant visa application

Upload a compliant passport photo in the DS-160 system

Schedule and attend a visa interview at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate

Bring passport (valid 6+ months beyond intended stay), I-129 receipt number, and DS-160 confirmation

Provide fingerprints at the interview; pay any applicable issuance fee upon approval

Application Forms

I-129 Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker	Fill online
DS-160 Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application	Fill online

Verified Claims (26)

Last verified May 30, 2026

Application Steps	Employer files Form I-129 (Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker) with USCIS; Applicant completes DS-160 …	travel.state.gov
Dependent Visa	R-2	uscis.gov
Fee Breakdown	Form I-129 filing fee: 510 USD; MRV application fee: 205 USD; {"label":"Visa issuance fee","amount":…	uscis.gov
Fees	$510 Form I-129 filing fee; $205 MRV application fee; visa issuance fee varies by nationality	uscis.gov
Forms	Form I-129; DS-160	travel.state.gov
Forms · DS-160 · description	Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application	travel.state.gov
Forms · I-129 · description	Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker	uscis.gov
Included Nationalities	—	travel.state.gov

Ready to see if the R-1 — Religious Worker is your path?

Let's check your eligibility against published requirements. 2 minutes. Free trial.

Check Eligibility

Overview

Temporary employment in a religious vocation or occupation at a bona fide U.S. non-profit religious organization.

This visa is ideal for foreign ministers or religious workers with a US non-profit employer offer who want a renewable work status and a path to permanent residence.

Requirements

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Member of the same religious denomination as the U.S. employer for at least 2 years

Work as a minister or in a qualifying religious vocation or occupation

Employed by a non-profit religious organization in the U.S.

Work at least part-time (20+ hours/week)

KEY CRITERIA

Job Offer

Required

Education

none or higher

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Valid passport (valid at least 6 months beyond intended stay)

Form I-129 petition receipt number from employer

DS-160 confirmation page

Passport-style photo

Evidence of 2-year membership in the religious denomination

Evidence of non-profit status of the U.S. religious organization

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

Spouses and unmarried children under 21 qualify for R-2 derivative visas
No annual cap — petitions can be filed at any time
Canadian and Bermudian citizens are visa-exempt (only USCIS I-129 approval needed)
Pathway to EB-4 Special Immigrant Religious Worker green card

Worth Knowing

Employer must initiate and file the I-129 petition — self-sponsorship is not permitted
R-2 dependents may not work in the U.S.
Minimum 20 hours/week of qualifying religious work required
Maximum total stay capped at 5 years; must depart for at least 1 year before reapplying
Issuance fee varies by applicant's nationality

Application Process