| United States immigration law allows religious workers to visit the U.S. as nonimmigrants, on a temporary basis. An alien seeking temporary admission to the U.S. as a religious worker must show both that the organization for which he or she will work is nonprofit and that his or her work meets the criteria for a temporary religious worker visa, designated an "R" visa. Examples of occupations that qualify as religious workers are nuns, priests, ministers, religious instructors, catechists and religious hospital workers.
Who Qualifies As A Temporary Religious Worker?
To qualify for a temporary religious worker visa, an alien must meet certain requirements relating to the nature of his or her religious denomination, the length of time for which he or she has been a member of the denomination, and the type of work he or she will do in the U.S. The denomination must have a U.S. nonprofit religious organization, and the alien must have been a member of the denomination for at least two years preceding admission to the U.S. Additionally, the work the alien plans to do in the U.S. must meet one of three criteria: (1) work as a minister or priest; (2) work for the organization in a position that requires at least a baccalaureate-level degree; (3) or work for the organization or its nonprofit affiliate in a religious vocation or occupation, such as missionary work. Additionally, if the alien has previously been classified as a temporary religious worker for five years, he or she must show residence outside the U.S. for a full year before his or her application.
How Do I Apply For A Temporary Religious Worker Visa?
To obtain a temporary religious worker visa, the alien must file an application for a nonimmigrant visa with a U.S. consulate or embassy. In addition to the application, the worker must pay an application fee, show a valid passport, and present one nonimmigrant photograph. Additionally, males between the ages of 16 and 45 must submit a supplemental application, which provides additional details about the purpose of their trip.
The alien seeking an R visa must also be prepared to present proof of eligibility. This might include documentation establishing the nonprofit nature of the organization and the affiliation between the U.S. organization and the applicant's denomination. It might also require a letter from an official of the organization that shows that the alien has been a member of the denomination for at least two years. Additional documentation depends upon the nature of the alien's U.S. work. If the alien plans to work as a minister in the U.S., the letter must specify the religious duties the alien is authorized to perform. Similarly, if the alien plans to work as a religious professional, the letter must establish that a baccalaureate-level degree was received and that the degree is required to work in the alien's profession. Finally, if the alien will work as a nonprofessional, the letter must show that the alien is qualified to do work relating to a traditional religious function. The letter may also be required to show how the alien will be paid, and documentation relating to the organization's formation and assets may be required.
May My Family Members Travel To The U.S. With Me?
The spouse and unmarried, minor children of temporary religious workers are granted derivative status, so they need not establish separate eligibility for a U.S. visa in order to accompany the religious worker to the U.S. Although spouses and children may study in the U.S., they are not eligible to work during their stay. Copyright 2010 LexisNexis, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. |