What Are the R-1 Visa Benefits?
Non-U.S. citizens who are clergy members or have religious training or other theological credentials may be eligible to work and reside in the United States for up to two and a half years and, possibly, for five years if they qualify for an R-1 Visa. The U.S. Customs and Immigration Service (USCIS) has established minimum requirements that an applicant must meet to procure this visa, and the application process can take up to ten months. Nonetheless, the R-1 Visa offers substantial benefits to its recipients.
As with all visa applications, however, verifying your credentials for an R-1 Visa can be challenging. To avoid errors and improve the odds that the application will be approved, applicants should contact an immigration lawyer in Tampa, Florida, at Bassey Immigration Law Center, P.A. Our attorneys have represented applicants for religious visas for more than 20 years, and we can guide you and represent your best interests through the application process.
What Are the Most Significant Benefits of an R-1 Visa?
In addition to enabling an R-1 Visa recipient to live and work in the United States for two and a half years, it allows them to:
- Bring their dependent family members into the United States and enroll children in local schools
- Travel to and from the United States with no loss of visa privileges
- Establish a legitimate path to procure permanent U.S. residency with a green card (note, however, that it does not guarantee U.S. citizenship)
- Apply to extend the visa for an additional two and half years, for a total residency period of five years.
- Further, unlike other visa categories, the United States does not place an annual cap on the number of visas that may be available.
What Are the Qualifications and Requirements for an R-1 Visa?
R-1 Visa applicants must have been employed or sponsored by a bona fide religious organization for at least two years before applying. The organization is responsible for submitting proof of its legitimacy on Form I-129 (i.e., a Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker), which requires it to submit evidence of:
- Its tax-exempt status
- Its payment of salaries and other financial support or its self-supporting structure
- Its membership in a recognized religious denomination
- The prospective position held by the prospective recipient of the R-1 visa.
The organization that submits this petition will pay application and filing fees totaling $640.00. The applicant must also submit a Form DS-160 (Nonimmigrant Visa Application) and pay a separate $190.00 filing fee to begin the process.
Organizations and applicants anticipating entering the United States through Florida or other southern states should consult a religious visa attorney in Tampa to verify their qualifications before submitting their application materials.
What Happens After the R-1 Visa Application Materials Are Filed?
After the sponsoring religious organization and applicant submit Forms I-129 and DS-160, the applicant should schedule an interview with a local embassy or consulate and collect and organize the required documents for that interview, including:
- Correspondence showing the scheduled interview
- A valid, current passport
- Copies of all forms and materials submitted as part of the application
- The Form I-797C (Notice of Action) showing receipt and verification of those forms and materials
- Proof of the applicant’s eligibility for an R-1 Visa (e.g., employment or sponsorship contracts with a religious organization and U.S. religious employer, documents showing qualifications as a religious worker, etc.)
- Clear color photographs that meet current U.S. visa requirements.
Call the R-1 Visa Lawyers at the Bassey Immigration Law Center, P.A.
Our seasoned, ethnically diverse, multilingual team of lawyers is inspired by our clients. We always welcome the opportunity to help you build your life or career in the U.S. We educate, advocate, and navigate an often rocky, time-consuming legal process for clients from all walks of life.
Our lawyers can help you and your sponsoring organization to navigate the process successfully. Please call us for more information about how you can procure an R-1 Visa and for answers to any other immigration and visa questions that you may have.
About Bassey Immigration Law Center, P.A.
Bassey Immigration Law Center, P.A., led by attorney Aniefiok Bassey, provides comprehensive immigration services to individuals, families, and businesses in Florida and beyond. With over 20 years of experience, the firm assists clients with a wide range of immigration matters, from family reunification and green cards to business visas and deportation defense. The diverse, multilingual team is dedicated to supporting clients through the complex immigration process, with a special focus on citizenship, asylum, and LGBTQ+ immigration needs. They offer affordable initial consultations and are committed to delivering personalized, strategic guidance for achieving clients’ immigration goals.
