Religious visa in the United States

The Religious Visa to the USA (R) is issued to Ukrainian citizens for work in appropriate religious organizations. It can be obtained by individuals who are authorized representatives of the clergy of an officially recognized religion. They must have the right to perform all kinds of rituals specific to that church. Additionally, the visa can be opened for those with a religious vocation (monks, nuns); workers with religious education; individuals engaged in various religious activities (soloist in a church choir, church employee, etc.). This type of entry permit can be obtained at the American embassy by undergoing the standard procedure. If you wish to avoid errors when filling out the application and compiling the document package, as well as successfully passing the interview, seek assistance from our visa specialists – we will gladly provide all the necessary support!

Procedure for Obtaining a Religious Visa

The R Religious Visa is issued at the U.S. embassy, which should be contacted several months before the planned visit. To obtain it, you need to meet the following requirements:

1. You must belong to a denomination recognized in America as a voluntary religious organization or its subdivision, which are non-profit and tax-exempt, or have the right to be.
2. Your activity in the church must have lasted more than 2 years before applying for the visa, and you intend to continue your denomination in the United States.
3. You must reside outside the United States for one year before applying for the permit if you have already held this type of permit in the last 5 years.

If the trip to the United States is for attending religious services or conferences, personal worship, informal religious education, charity, etc., religious figures may obtain a B-1 visitor visa.

More details can be found here: travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/other-visa-categories/temporary-religious-worker.html

The spouse and unmarried children under 21 years old may accompany the R-1 visa holder. They are eligible for an R-2 visa. It is important to note that holders of this visa category cannot obtain work authorization in the United States.

More details can be found here: www.uscis.gov/working-united-states/temporary-workers/r-1-nonimmigrant-religious-workers

To obtain an R-1 visa, it is not necessary to have a permanent residence, as with other visa categories. However, during the interview, you will need to prove your intention to leave the U.S. upon the expiration of your stay authorization.

Before starting the visa application process, it is necessary to obtain approval of a petition for a nonimmigrant work visa using Form I-129, which must be filed by the employer with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). It should be filed in advance, as it takes time to approve (but not earlier than 6 months before the proposed start date of work). Your employer receives a notification of the petition’s approval on Form I-797. Only after this can you apply for a visa at the embassy.

The application process consists of the following steps:

1. Payment of the visa application fee of 190 USD.
2. Filling out the special form (DS-160) and submitting it for consideration at the embassy.
3. Preparation of necessary documents.
4. Scheduling an interview at the visa center and successfully passing it at the appointed time.

Our company is ready to provide you with quality visa support services – from detailed consultation to full support at each stage. We will ensure you are properly prepared so that the necessary visa to America is opened on time.

Documents for a Religious Visa to America

A religious visa to America requires the collection of the following documents:

• A printed form with a ten-digit barcode confirming the submission of the DS-160 form for consideration.
• A valid international passport with at least one blank page, whose validity expires at least 6 months after the end of the trip;
• Internal passport and tax identification number certificate;
• One color photograph measuring 5×5 cm, taken within the last 6 months;
• Receipt for payment of the consular fee of 190 USD;
• Printed confirmation of the date and time of the scheduled interview;
• The receipt number indicated on your approved I-129 petition. Be attentive, Form I-797 is no longer needed at the interview.

Additionally, for obtaining a religious visa, the following are required:

• A letter from an authorized official of your organization’s subdivision, confirming that the foreign and American churches belong to the same denomination and that immediately before your R visa request, you were a member for the required two-year period.
• A document that confirms the authority to perform religious rites of this denomination, in which they should be detailed.
• For specialists in the field of religion, it is necessary to attach a document of education (bachelor’s degree or higher) for conducting religious activities on a professional basis.
• Statements of designated monetary compensation, indicating its amount and sources, as well as other types, such as food, accommodation, and other benefits with monetary value. The documents should note which monetary compensation is payment for the work performed.
• The address and name of the denomination or its subdivision where you intend to work, as well as its statutory documents.
• Documents confirming the existence of assets of the religious organization and methods of conducting its activities.

More details can be found here: ustraveldocs.com/ua_ru/ua-niv-typer.asp

In addition to the above documents, sometimes additional certificates and papers may be required to open a visa. For example, information about marital status, children, and property. Properly prepared documents play a very important role in obtaining a positive decision. Our visa experts at the immigration center will gladly assist in forming the document package, which significantly increases the chances of opening a visa.

Examples of Recent U.S. Visas Obtained Through the Vizaus Visa Center

Video Instruction for Obtaining a U.S. Visa

Cost and Processing Time for Visa

The R visa to the USA, like any other, can be issued within 2-3 weeks. The process of gathering the necessary documents takes about a week, and the remaining time is spent processing your request at the consular section of the American embassy and making a decision by its employees. The cost of processing a religious visa consists of a consular fee of 190 USD and the cost of the services you request. To learn more, contact our managers. Our firm’s consultants will gladly provide you with quality visa support to ensure you achieve a successful result on time.