More Information on NIV

Religious Visas (R-1 and R-2)

Religious workers include ministers of religion who are authorized by a recognized denomination to conduct religious worship and perform other duties usually performed by members of the clergy such as administering the sacraments, or their equivalent. The term does not apply to lay preachers. A religious vocation means a calling to religious life, evidenced by the demonstration of a lifelong commitment, such as taking vows. Examples include nuns, monks, and religious brothers and sisters. A religious occupation means a habitual engagement in an activity which relates to a traditional religious function. Examples include liturgical workers, religious instructors or cantors, catechists, workers in religious hospitals, missionaries, religious translators, or religious broadcasters. It does not include janitors, maintenance workers, clerks, fund raisers, solicitors of donations, or similar occupations.

All applicants for visas to perform religious work in the U.S. are scheduled for appointments for an interview on Monday through Friday beginning 7:30 a.m., except Polish and American holidays and the last working Friday of the month. They can make this appointment by following the procedures outlined in the How to Apply section of this site. They must have the electronic application form DS-156 filled in on-line.

Applicants must present the documents described in Basic documents and photographs.

R applicants must be prepared to present to the consular officer any or all of the following documentation to verify that the applicant and the religious organization qualify for R status:

(1) Proof of religious organization’s tax-exempt status or eligibility for tax-exempt status

(2) A letter from an authorized official of the specific unit of the employing organization certifying:

1. That if the applicant's religious membership was maintained, in whole or in part, outside the United States, the foreign and United States religious organizations belong to the same religious denomination;
   
2. That, immediately prior to the application for an R visa, the alien has been a member of the religious denomination for the required two- year period;
   
3. The arrangements for remuneration, including the amount and source of salary, other types of compensation such as food and housing, and any other benefits to which a monetary value may be affixed, and a statement whether such remuneration shall be in exchange for services rendered;
   
4. The name and location of the specific organizational unit of the religious denomination or affiliate for which the applicant will be providing services; and
   
5. If the alien is to work for an organization which is affiliated with a religious denomination, a description of the nature of the relationship between the two organizations:
   
6. Evidence of the religious organization's assets and methods of operation;
   
7. The organization's papers of incorporation under applicable state law.