Applying for a Religious Worker (R) Visa

All R-1 and R-2 visa applicants, even children and babies listed in parents' passports are required to:

• Complete the visa application form DS-156.


• Pay a visa application fee;


• Present a passport or other travel document valid for at least six months beyond the holder's period of stay in the United States with at least one blank page - the six-month requirement does not apply to United Kingdom passports. If the passport is damaged, we recommend that you obtain a new passport before applying for the visa to avoid any delay in the processing of your application;


• Provide one photograph which meets State Department regulations;

and furnish evidence of their eligibility for the R visa in the form of:

• the religious organization's tax-exempt status in the United States, such as a copy of the organization's tax-except certificate;and


• a letter from an official of the religious organization in the United States which discusses the following:


• length of the applicant's membership in the religious denomination;
• applicant's qualifications for the position;
• a description of duties to be performed by the applicant
• a description of the amount and source of remuneration for services and any other types of compensation to be received
• an explanation of the relationship between the organization employing the applicant and the denomination; or


• If applying for a visa on the basis of a petition approved by the USCIS, a photo or facsimile copy of the approval notice, form I-797A or B sent to the petitioner when a petition is approved;

Additional processing requirements and information for the following:

Spouses and Children

The application procedure is the same for spouses and children under the age of 21. If applying separately from the principal, a copy of the marriage certificate and/or birth certificate(s) for the child(ren) will be required.

Issuance fees

Nationals of certain countries are required to pay an issuance fee in order for an approved visa to be issued. No fee is charged for the issuance of an R visa to a British citizen passport holder.

What do I do next?

Applicants aged 14 to 79 are required to schedule an appointment for an interview.

Applicants under the age of 14 and those 80 and over may be eligible to apply for a visa by mail.

Important Notice: Visa applications are subject to a greater degree of scrutiny than in the past which means that in some instances visa applications are taking longer to process to conclusion than has been customary. You will be advised at the time of the interview if your application requires additional processing.

Reminder: We always recommend that individuals apply for visas well in advance of their proposed date of travel. No assurances regarding the issuance of visas can be given in advance. Therefore, final travel plans or the purchase of non refundable ticket should not be made until a visa has been issued and you are in receipt of the passport.

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